OB nurse, can't find cervix. Can fingers be too short?

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Okay, this is a little embarrassing, but is it possible to not be able to do an adequate cervical exam for dilation and effacement due to having too short of fingers? I can't ever feel a cervix, or reach the "end" of the lady parts, my fingers seem too short. Also, I feel like my ring finger is ramming against the poor mama's perineum because I'm trying to get more length out the two fingers that are in there. I'm new to OB, it's my 4th week, and I'm starting to get worried. I've done about 25 exams. I never thought of my fingers as being short until I got to OB. Are there any tricks for those of us that don't have long fingers??:imbar

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Specializes in Critical Care.

This is why as a Murse, lol. I would never personally do OB. I don't have any tricks try your middle finger perhaps ? Uhhh...i mean everything is gonna get stretched anyways so i supposed going elbow deep wouldnt really do much considering the patients going to shoot a baby out of there. Is it bad if I'm laughing while typing this ? lolol

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Specializes in L&D, PP, Nursery.

Don't feel bad! It takes alot of practice. I've done OB for 13 years now and probably have the smallest hands, shortest fingers on staff. Many times I have to get someone with longer fingers to reach a cervix. Often I can just barely reach the outer os but can't grab it to pull it forward. Of 25 exams, however, surely somone's cervix was anterior enough for you to reach it. Just keep practicing!

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That is why I am a psych nurse...i have oven mitt hands....

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This is entirely possible.

I purchase my gloves in the kids department and use kid size bowling balls due to short fingers, small hands.

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im sorry i started laughing when I was reading this...I know its part of the OB nurse job but just the way you worded it...must be hard though when your expected to do this as part of an important nursing function at work and its hard for you and its not really your fault!

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Specializes in Ante-Intra-Postpartum, Post Gyne.

a lot of women are posterior, reach farther back. And yes, I have small short fingers. I wear a five and half sterile glove.

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Have you compared your hands to some of the other nurses on your unit? lady partsl exams are tricky to learn and if the woman doesn't have an epidural it is very uncomfortable for her to have someone "digging" around. I remember when I first started I had a hard time too and then someone told me "it's like sticking you finger in a coke bottle" and after that it became easier since I now had an image in my mind. Sometimes putting your opposite hand on the fundus and pushing down a little helps too. Ask your peers to let you exam a patient that they know is 3-4 cm. so you get the "feel" Good luck, keep trying.

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You may already know this, but try having the mom make 2 fists and put underneath of her bottom. Just this slight position change can help you reach a posterior cervix...

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Specializes in neonatal, womens health.

Get someone to double scrub with you, you do an examination after them and then get them to talk you through where the cervix is, etc.

Good Luck

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