wubbakat

We are a level 1 hospital, we've had OB Trace Vue for a little over a year now, Love It!, quick and easy, allows for more patient care instead of all the time charting. We have upgraded this year, and I have been fortunate enough to be a part of designing our new charting, not only are we using it for L&D, now in Newborn nursery and post partum, and our couplet unit. The "go live" time for the expanded charting is in February, am very excited. The rest of the hospital uses meditech, which is really not user friendly. Granted, we will be using 2 charting systems, but we have been able to use a virtual printer to place our "made" forms from OB Trace Vue, to place the assessments and charted care into the Meditech system. It has really been interesting developing the upgraded OB Trace Vue.

I delivered my second baby in the labor and delivery that I work at. It was such a great experience. I think that my nurses were more intimidated that it was me than I was nervous. There was not one nurse that I was apprehensive about in taking care of me or my baby, I know most everyone's abilities. I was spoiled rotten. What's even more wonderful, now that my daughter is 4, everyone that was involved, I share a specialness with them yet. It's funny, we deliver our own OB's when they have their babies, and it really hasn't been intimidating with them. I, during my pregnancy had some uneasiness about having people that know and work with me, see me in labor, and vulnerable, but I think that was a strength for me, I didn't have an epidural, or any pain medication for that matter, and it was a good experience.

Bethany, Congratulations on wanting to be a CNM! While you highly value "natural" birth, you will learn in midwifery school that there is a time and place for interventions. You will be fine. Susan-CNM

You know, I really think that there is always some feeling of being uncomfortable with what you are doing, and always should be. I think that when a nurse is being too confident appearing, or seems like she knows it all, that is not always a good sign. Undoubtedly an experience will come that will "wake her up" to tell her she needs to be more cautious in checking herself. It takes a long time to feel comfort levels. I have been a nurse for 16 years, 8 in Cardiac ICU and Neuro ICU, and 8 years in L&D. Here recently I have reached a level of comfort and confidence, of which I am very proud of. Take it easy on yourself. Think of your uncomfortableness as your way of double checking yourself. All those fearful feelings you have will pay off when the time comes when it is needed for you to pay extra attention to something. Don't think that because other orientees or other student nurses are better nurses because they don't appear nervous, or seem to be able to do everyting on their own. It may mean that they are not asking for help when they should.

From my experience in labor and delivery, "stripping of the membranes" only works when a person is actually close to being labor ready, otherwise it is just plain uncomfortable if you are pushing the "want to be in labor", and have this done before you are "ready." It should never be done for mom's who are Group B strep positive for sure, and having it done repeatedly, you are only increasing your risk for chorio. It would also be nice if physicians tell the patients what to expect after it has been done, ie the bleeding especially. We get so many people come in after doctors appointments with bleeding, only to find out that they did have an appointment that day, and the doctor did a "real rough lady partsl exam" that day, and to their dismay, they weren't in labor.

about 700 deliveries per year, No Anesthesiologist 27/7 in house, except during business hours, on call on weekends, but if epidural infusing CRNA stay in house until delivered, the anesthesiologist doesn't stay in house. OB on call 24/7 but doesn't have to be in house, but is easily accessed.

Here at my facility, request of an epidural is at the pt's discretion of when they want it. It is encouraged that they wait until labor is established before they get an epidural due to the fact that it is possible that if it turns out to be a failed induction at that time, that they could go home if there are no pressing problems, instead of their only option being a cesarean. There really hasn't been a negative response from pts when talking with them about their options, risks, benefits, etc.

Breastfed both kids 2-2 1/2 years each. I think with the second child, she stopped at 2 1/2 years. I too had people that "disapproved" of breastfeeding for that amount of time, and felt very self concious about telling people that I still was. My kids have no adjustment issues that I know of. I work with new babies and moms now, and when giving them breastfeeding support, I proudly tell them of my breastfeeding experience. Shoot, there are countries on this earth that there are no other options of feeding their baby and it is accepted. It's too bad that there has to be a bad stigma about it.

I have come across a very touchy subject today at work. I have a new mom. Was married to her first cousin, had a baby, now FOB not involved. The baby is actually the FOB's son and cousin. My question is, are there any laws regarding incest, and at what "removed" (ie, twice removed, 3X removed) cousin is considered at a "safe" distance for families. I have not come across this before, yes this is a very small town area, and it doesn't surprise me. Kinda makes me relieved that I am an "outsider" to this area. Anyone else come across this?

Are you "On The Journey" too?

Working labor and delivery, providing mom's with breastfeeding support, and when we bring the baby's back to mom, and it's time for the baby to nurse, or when the nursery nurse is checking on mom's feedings, and nurse asks, "When did you feed the baby last" mom says, "Oh, I was suppose to feed her?, Do you feed her in the nursery?"The nursery nurse then gets a little confused about mom's feeding preference and asks how she intends to feed her baby, and mom states, "I'm going to breastfeed."

You have to be extremely careful about using cell phones or even your cordless phones in your own home. I have a neighbor, who has not been a very nice one, that routinely listened in on my phone conversations on my cordless, she had a scanner. How I knew she listening, she sent me a nasty letter (copy of the original), via mail, with no return address on the outside envelop, with an almost verbatum (sp?) wording of a phone conversation I had with my sister regarding her dog in my trash cans. We have had some real altercations since. Word of caution, if you have anything private you wish to discuss with anyone, use a land line!!!:trout:

Our unit tends to wait until the 16th or 18th of ROM with a term IUP. Though some of our Docs are leaning towards non-treatment unless symptoms arise. As nursing goes, we tend to ask if they would like any Abx when those certain hours of ROM are drawing near, and they sometimes do and sometime don't.

I think your wording on obtaining is really a great way to express it (ie. being able to do ADL's versus not being able to do them due to pain.) Will try that, Pain is very subjective to the patients, and is sometimes extremely hard to assess it if they really don't have a very good pain threshold. Again thank you for the tip:nurse:

I think your wording on obtaining is really a great way to express it (ie. being able to do ADL's versus not being able to do them due to pain.) Will try that, Pain is very subjective to the patients, and is sometimes extremely hard to assess it if they really don't have a very good pain threshold. Again thank you for the tip

Had a husband that came home from his job one day, shortly after I got my RN, and said "I've quit my job, and I think I will work out of the house now" Didn't quite sit too well for me, but supportingly I asked "Doing What?" He decided that he was going to do auto body repair in our back yard! We did not have a building, he didn't have the tools, and he was anticipating on getting everything he needed. Well, we did all that, I found that he was watching more TV during the day than doing anything in his line of work. I then insisted that he obtain a time clock, and punch in when he goes to work, to keep track of how long of a day he was putting in, he didn't go for that. Needless to say, after 8 years of marriage, we ended up going our separate ways. And the funny thing about it, it took an ugly divorce for him to do everything he said he was going to do when we were married, and he now has become quite successful. Weird enough, he attributes alot of his success to me, he said he would have not done it if he didn't have to, which he didn't when I was bringing home the money. It forced him into pushing to do something with his life. I thank goodness I was not in school when we were going through the leaner years. I don't know what kind of man your husband is, but you need to discuss with him NOW before it gets really carried away for you. I did not speak up soon enough.

Currently live on the coast of NC, Morehead City, Have heard of only good things about the hospitals up there in Raleigh/Durham area, very updated on technology. Another great thing, you are only 3 hours drive from the beach!!!:flowersfo

Hi! NC nurse right here right on the coast, Morehead City to be exact. Am originally from OH too. It seems your looking more inland, mountainlike. Try looking coastal. Alot of great places to check out.

My hospital has been using meditech now since last January, Has not been an easy road, if any of you have used it yet. Alot of BUGS to be worked out still:madface: . We have had 2 "redo's" on the system itself to make it work for us. I know change is hard for all, and inevitable, and I like the computer charting, I just got to say, when a hospital is looking for an up to date charting system, this one may not be your best choice.

Hi, Just saw you were going to work at St Mary's Hospital. My career started on the 3100 unit, cardiac/telemetry/neuro. I don't know if it still the same these days, was a great place to work. Left and moved to NC in 1998. As far as the best living areas, the northern side of Tucscon was better as far as crime and things. I used to live not far from St Mary's off of Speedway. It was OK, did have a drive by near my house, that was one of the main reasons why I left, I had small children at the time, got scared. I wish you the very best. I really loved working there!!!

There's nothing wrong with calling the nurse manager and asking your questions. I work OB/L&D, and I do alot of the orientation of new nurses to our unit. Alot of them did call and inquire before they decided that it was my hospital that they wanted to come. I have also answered the phone to nurses looking to move to a coastal area, and just call to ask what our facility is like. So, I guess my answer would be "yes, by all means, call and ask!!" You never know, whatever place you are inquiring about may be in a big hiring cycle, and you just might be welcomed with open arms

IV catheter insertion is still being taught in schools, at least in NC, I currently work with several RN students, and they all have had instruction in school with this skill. In my day, it was a basic RN skill, once you have passed your boards, you were considered to be able to do it. During your orientation as an RN, wherever you got your job, you were to already have the knowledge. Unfortunately, sometimes nursing students don't get alot of opportunities to do some skills, but it is expected that you know the procedure, and it was understood you may just need more practice. I hope that who ever is orienting new nurses to whatever field of nursing they may enter that they aren't "eating their young."

Is there any true technique involving the subcutaneous stick of lidocaine prior to IV catheter insertion, or is it something that nurses try, with the advice of other nurses who happen to be good at it? I do numb my patients, and have good results, I have alot of people asking me to teach them how, but I would like to know if there is a true way that should be taught.