Opening new unit

[Lamp Lady, RN]

Our dept just opened a new L&D unit. The manager sent an email out asking us if there was anything else we thought we needed to make our jobs easier or better. She still has an equipment allotment left. Any suggestions that any of you would make to your manager given the opportunity to ask for something?

[smilinjen]

Get some peanut balls if you don't have them already! They're amazing!

[klone, MSN, RN]

Do you have wireless tele?

[Elvish, BSN, DNP, RN, NP]

Tubs? If the unit has already been constructed (or if you already have them) it may be a moot point, but if you don't have them and they are willing to redo a couple bathrooms that could make labor a lot nicer for some ladies. :)

[nyLDrn]

Birthing balls, wireless Tele is very helpful on my unit with central monitoring, also a thermometer in every room and plenty of pillows!

[NurseNora, BSN, RN]

If they're still building, ask for them to put in more electric outlets. I don't care how many they've planned, put in more. And put them in the middle of the wall, not just at floor level.

[NurseNora, BSN, RN]

And peanut balls and rocking chairs.

[TexasCourgette]

Pie in the sky dream: birthing tubs. But maybe there isn't THAT much equipment allotment left?

Wireless Tele with water-safe monitors (even without birthing tubs, you can monitor your patients while they're in a shower if you have the telemetry box sealed outside the water area--such as in a plastic bag on an IV pole) have made for some AWESOME labors on my unit. I'd ask for those.

Birthing balls are wonderful--so are rocking chairs. Steady devices are great for moving post-epidural patients.

One other thing I wish we had on our unit: good heating pads. Without heating pads that get warm enough for use in labor, I've jerry-rigged infant heal warmers, towel-chux pad creations, and washcloths--heating pads (single-use, or re-usable with single-use covers) would save a lot of time.

[chiandre]

A good cappuccino /coffee maker and crushed ice maker.