No vaginal exams??

DebblesRN, ASN, BSN, RN · Jun 27, 2012

I have had a few coworkers that worked at a University hospital that had never done a lady partsl exam either. The residents did them. I don't know if that is how all of them work, but I know there are some hospitals that function that way.

jodyangel, RN · Jun 27, 2012

I am finding myself really worked up about it lol. I mean I worked hard to learn the skill..and love the autonomy and satisfaction of assessing my patients progress.

Hey OB RNs..anyone else ever see this?

jodyangel, RN · Jun 27, 2012

Oh and No they don't all work that way. Where I came from the residents assessed their clinic patients, or the ones who had no prenatal care ect..but if my patient had their own physican I would assess and keep touch via phone with them to let them know the progress. IE if they were 8 cms when I checked them it was time to give a call so the doctor could plan on coming in soon..

Oh and if the resident was busy..then if my pt was feeling pressure I certainly could throw my glove on and check her myself...no babies just falling into the bed here lol.

klone, MSN, RN · Jun 27, 2012

The university hospital where I work prefers that the residents do the cervical checks. They need the opportunities to learn those valuable skills, out of respect and safety for the women, they try to minimize the number of fingers in the women's hoohaws. Of course, if a woman was suddenly feeling super pushy and there is no resident around, the nurse can certainly check, but for routine progress checks, they want the residents to do the exams. For midwife patients, the midwives like to do all their own exams as well.

I came from a small community hospital where the nurses did all the exams, but after two years working at a teaching hospital, I found it was like riding a bike - it's not something you forget how to do.

eden · Jun 27, 2012

When I first started on my unit, someone forgot to warn me about one of the family practice doc's. I did a cervical check on her patient and she went on a rampage. I told her if she didn't want me doing checks she needed to be here at all times with her patient like a midwife was.

She was the only person I know who didn't want anyone else checking her patients, midwives excluded who stay with their patients at all times. Any other Ob would bite your head off for not checking before calling them with an update or new orders.

Elvish, BSN, DNP, RN, NP · Jun 27, 2012

Where I am now, the nurses check pts in triage if they are term, otherwise the residents do it. Once they are admitted, they do want the residents to get practice but no one gets worked up about it the nurse beats them to it. LOL

jodyangel, RN · Jun 27, 2012

Ok so I guess its Not that weird? Still feels weirdish to me. But the hospital I came from did 7200 deliveries a year. More than enough for the residents to practice on and still have us do them.

O well..

Fyreflie · Jun 27, 2012

We do 7000 a year and we check our own pts all the time. The residents do like to get the practice but usually once they're admitted with epidurals. If they do early exams in triage they're usually with their OB or a nurse who also checks because we want to make sure they're accurate.

I don't call for a resident to examine unless they've asked to be called to re-examine. However--if they've been the one checking the whole day and I come on at night, I'll usually keep them involved a bit more because they ultimately know the pts cervix better than I do, especially someone who has been changing slowly.

At my last exam we even checked our prems in triage ourselves! I agree, I would feel like my skills were going to waste. Is there an actual policy that says you can't, or is it simply the culture there?

jodyangel, RN · Jun 28, 2012

I am not sure..but Im gonna look tomorrow lol. Yes this is a very small hospital compaired to the unit I came from.

But I still don't get it. I'll let you know tomorrow what I find out!