Do you stick around?

mark_LD_RN · Apr 11, 2003

Originally posted by SmilingBluEyes
Thanks for your support ladies. Mark, I am not putting you down, but I felt kind of bad after your last post, I guess and wanted to remember what is important to me........please don't take it as looking for a fight.

so Deb you looking for a fight huh? well you will not find it with me:) just kidding:)

hey deb did not post it to make anyone feel bad. I may have failed to mention that i do not do it for all patients just a few I feeel would really benifet from me staying. sometimes i to have to say no, as i have a wife and kids that do come first. I am just lucky enough to have schedules that allow me to work like i do and see my wife and kids and my kids are older 21,19,and 7 so i have more flexability.not to mention i don't need much sleep:)

sbic56, BSN, RN · Apr 11, 2003

Originally posted by mark_LD_RN
I almost always stay, I punch out and stay for free if i have to,especially for some patients who insist i stay. I also have a few patients that i promise to be their with them for their labor and delivery. they get my home number and I come in for them even with out pay.

That is some extreme dedication. I am envious of nurses who still derive that kind of pleasure in the profession as to do this with or without pay!

Those as dedicated as yourself are far and few between and a true gift!

SmilingBluEyes · Apr 11, 2003

Oh my, yes mark is extremely dedicated. He is a gift to nursing. I feel I am in my own way, but my time is not my own. I am not sure I ever will be that dedicated because I am not sure I will ever have that much of me to give. I am ....

....................................................................................

ordinary (sniff)

Mark, just kidding. You know we love ya!!!! After that out of control BF thread, we need some levity here. Have a great weekend all!

mark_LD_RN · Apr 12, 2003

thanks for the kind words, you'll making me blush:)

i know you love me,thats why i hang around.

Deb you are quite a gift to nursing yourself ,remember i told you so in another thread a short while back:)

so far i am the only one i have seen that will stay and volunteer as much as i do. maybe i am crazier than i thought.

seriously i just love what i do and where i work. but even i have my moments rember a couple months or so ago i pushed my self to far and was thinking of quiting:)

SmilingBluEyes · Apr 12, 2003

Mark, do NOT ever change. Yours is gift to be proud of.

RMH · Apr 13, 2003

I think most people who work in OB love their job, or else they shouldn't be doing it. I think L and D is a very special area and the patients remember their nurses long after the delivery. I still remember my labor nurse, not her name though, and that was 15 years ago.

I work with stevielynn, and we usually stay with our patients, either for consistency, or staffing needs. I hate to leave near the end because it's like missing the last 20 minutes of a movie or not reading the last chapter of a book!! If we do stay, we do get paid. Isn't there a liability issue if you stay, and work, and are not clocked in?

Just last week I stayed 18 hours, had to leave 2 hours before the baby was born (ended up c/s) I felt terrible leaving, but was exhausted. 18 hours seems a long time but in our facility ususally we just have 1 patient..The patient is the one working hard.

Burr · Jun 4, 2003

When I can, I do stay on. I work 12 hour night shifts 6pm-6am. These are usually 13-14 hours long with no difference in pay. I am a military nurse, so no differential pay either. I love following new first time parents especially. If unable to stay due to prior committments, I also call to see how they are doing. Then I make sure that I am able to take the same couple the next night. We are a combined L&D and Post Partum area. The ideal is to be in for there delivery and stay with them till their discharge. This way I offer to watch their babies between feeding. As I call it "My Grandma Fix". I hope my comments are not too long as my first time up to bat. Stay safe, and hugg the little ones for me. Burr:rolleyes:

rdhdnrs · Jun 4, 2003

Don't usually stay anymore. Would love to, and used to, but that was before my feet hurt so bad!!!

NurseyNursey · Jun 5, 2003

I went in last night at 1845 and left this am at 1100, nuff said!

HazeK · Jun 7, 2003

when I worked 8 hr shifts, I always stayed....

now that I do twelves, I cannot...too tired and sore and family gets upset!

DawnG · Jul 26, 2003

I would like to thank you all! You have such a great attitude no matter what your answer was. I am a new student. My dream has always been to work on the Maternity Ward. I am 32 years old and have three children and a grandson. When I had my last two children it was a night mare. The nurses were so rude and hateful. I don't know if it was because I was on Medicaid at the time or if it was just them but the births were four years apart and BOTH times at the same hospital I was treated terrible. My grandson was born one year ago and the nurses were fabulous. And one did stay a bit over her shift to be there with my daughter. It was amazing and ALL the nurses (she went three times in pre-mature labor) were great and made us feel so welcome. I can't wait to be part of a team like that. You all discuss things and everyone has such different answers but you are all so kind in how you answer and I notice you're there to give advice anytime you have it. I went on another chat with nurses and I found a couple that were labor and delivery and I never got any response out of them but this discussion board is great! Thank you all for letting me see what I kind of people I have to look forward to working with!

Sable's mom · Jul 26, 2003

I sure enjoyed this thread - I was facing this dilemma last Fri am.

:rolleyes:

Like several of you said - I used to stay for delivery, but with aging and family issues I no longer can.

But, I do tend to bond with my patients, so I usually call in when I get home to see how they are doing.