At my hosital, all of our OB patients present to the ER, where they are assessed and then sent to us if further monitoring is required. Once we receive them, they are again assessed (fetal monitoring and another admission assessment) and the doctor is notified of the results. However, if they are determined to be in false labor by the nurse, they cannot be discharged home until the physician sees them. Thus, they sometimes stay overnight just for braxton hicks contractions (which sucks for the patient!). In other hospitals where I've worked, we were able to discharge them with the doctor's phone order (for false labor). My hospital states that every other hospital is wrong and that it is an EMTALA issue. How do you guys do it at your hospital? I'd like to get feedback on my scope of practice as an L&D nurse and other hospitals' policies and procedures.
HardDaysNight:confused: