JenRN99

Several years ago I was a travel nurse and seemed to see it both ways. Most consistently I saw 1000ml sterile water with 40g mag. I think this approach is very dangerous. The first 7 years of my OB career I was at one hospital and they did it that way too....didn't know any different or think anything different until the huge lawsuit that happened somewhere in the states when a mom died from an accidental mag bolus. We then changed to the 500ml bags with 20g mag and the 2 and 4gm boluses. I like it much better that way. At our facility just about a year ago, they had an accidental pitocin bolus due to an alaris pump camber failure...anything can happen.

Most of us have had days like this so I sure the majority can relate. I know that doesn't make it easier however know you have a crowd to support you! I have been a Labor and delivery nurse for 12 years now and can not tell you how many times we have had babies that we thought were going to need resuscitation but didn't and then get those surprises every now and again that the baby is born and at the end we are left scratching our heads saying "What the hell just happened?!?!?!" Keep your chin up.

If it were me....why not?!?! But I also agree with an above comment...I would get board. Of course sometimes antepartum can be very challenging and cause extremely high adrenaline levels in 1.2 seconds LOL! Alot of good experiences there...especially in high risk facilities.

I have definitely approached management...several times. For a while the issue stopped and now we are back to the same dilemmas. I do like the idea of approaching this with risk management involved. I talked to my director again today and she says she will make it so that we "only float if there are no patients" which is slightly more acceptable to me then when there is even one patient on the unit. The biggest problem is the director has never been an OB RN nor even worked on a unit like this so she does not understand. Risk management here I come! Great idea!!

OK....I have to vent and would LOVE some opinions... I work on a small low risk L/D, M/B, Pediatric and GYN unit. We are occasionally faced with the dilemma of no patients or one couplet and such at a time (not too often however it does happen). With the low census on our unit and the high census on Med/Surg, they are wanting one nurse to float while the other nurse stays on the floor alone. We are a locked unit on a different floor then any other unit in the hospital. Last night, we had one freshly delivered couplet with a heavier blood loss then average but not quite a hemorrhage (worth watching). They made the other nurse float. My issue is I think it is a huge safety concern and NOT in the best interest of the patient for there to only be one nurse on the unit. If we have a mom up to the bathroom and she passes out...how are we going to get help quickly? Tell the mom that is passed out on the toilet...."Hey hang on a sec....I have to go all the way to the desk to get the number to call up stairs to get the other nurse back on the unit"?!?!?!? Then ten minutes later help arrives!?!? I don't know....I am just very leery about this newer procedure with floating. AWHONN guidelines do not support this. What do you all think? Jen