dodgemama

I was given my current position on our unit (L&D, PP, Nursery, Gyn, and Peds) as a new grad. My orientation was 12 weeks for the floor (PP, Nursery, Gyn, and Peds) and then about 4 weeks or so of L&D (in that time I think I did somewhere around 15 deliveries - very very busy with deliveries for our hospital!. In order to be "fully oriented" to L&D, all of the older nurses have to be okay with it - if anyone thinks you are not ready to "do it on your own" you have more training.) Since then, I have been "on my own" with labor/courtesy checks. However, all of the older girls have said time and again if I have a question to just call them! Usually though there are at least two of us here when we have a labor pt - always if they're active. If I question my exam, I just have the other nurse check. Never be afraid to ask questions!!!

I too am feeling your pain... our unit is very small (297 deliveries last year) and includes GYN and PEDS. So far for the year we are down 60 deliveries, there aren't as many hysters staying over, and the peds admissions are few and far between (hopefully RSV season will help out a little in the coming months!). Our hospital has been through a lay-off at the beginning of this summer and we're still struggling. Being that our unit is also a closed unit, we have always taken call (at minimum wage) on a rotating basis to help dispel the costs of when we have no patients. This can really put a damper on the paycheck - one paycheck I had 6 call shifts out of my 9 scheduled.... OUCH!!! Thankfully we usually have an overflow of pts come in the next week and there are chances to double for the overtime which can help a little!

Hi everyone - I work at a very small hospital that does just under 300 deliveries a year, we have three Ob docs with a possible fourth coming later this year. Our docs are all at an age in which they could retire at any day, the new one is younger (thank God!), if she does indeed come. Our unit has had continuing problems with one of the current Ob's - she's very abusive verbally to the staff (most of the time in front of the patient) and makes unbelievable demands. For instance, the other day one of the newer nurses was off on her vag exams and called the doc in for delivery when the pt (a multip) was dilated to 6 (per this doc). The doc was irate and screaming at this nurse in front of the pt, calling her incompetent among other things. The nurse had to leave the room because she was crying. Twice. The doc slept in one of the other rooms (because this was of course a night shift) until delivery... about 0530ish. The doc then called the director of nursing at home and screamed at her and told her that this nurse was not to be left in house alone, ever. The DON of course sides with the doc to get her to calm down and has not said anything to the nurse that this happened to. In the meantime, there are new orders to be put with this doc's standing orders that include 1) all pts must be checked by two nurses prior to calling the doc 2) vag exams will be done every 1/2 hour and 3) the nurse will update the doc every hour while she is on call regarding pt status. There have been numerous other occassions that are documented regarding this doc, and nothing continues to be done. Our unit manager at this time is the DON for the hospital who continues to side with the doc and the Chief of Staff happens to be this docs "boyfriend". We're all at a standstill regarding what we can do!!! Any comments, suggestions, research regarding excessive vag exams ill-effects on pts, etc. would be greatly appreciated! :banghead: