bvb

I have been asked to collect data about how other hospitals staff their L&D units. We have been having ongoing problems with this at our hospital. We had some docs leave and now our deliveries are down and they want to cut staff to 3/shift. Our average deliveries/yr. were 1600-1700 now projected to be 1200-1300. We think this is a really bad idea as we have a 16 bed unit, receive high risk transfers, do our own c/sections, triage and antepartums. We realize our numbers are down but as all L&D RN's know, you never know what's coming in the door or when fetal distress will occur! Closing beds is not an option either. We usually have a secretary and an OB tech who scrubs for sections, but not always. We also have a voluntary call system but alot of our nurses live 30-60 min. away so 3 with one on-call still seems unsafe to us. (right now we sign up for call to make the 5th nurse) If any of you could provide me with the following info I would greatly appreciate it! Beds in your unit; number of deliveries/yr; do high risk, AP's, own c/sections, triage?; number of nurses/shift; on-call system?; mandatory call-off or on-call for low census?; induction policy? Thanks so much for your help! P.S. It would be helpful, but not necessary, if you could provide the name of your hospital and where it is.