expectant

CNAs and PCTs (the title and particular tasks they can do are determined by the hospital) do things that the RN is able to delegate to them. Being able to delegate it does not mean that you will never have to do it, too. The RN has to do things that CNAs and PCTs legally cannot do. The RN will have to do some of the "menial" things because the CNA can't be everywhere at once. Changing a patient can be a great chance to assess skin and being in the room for something small like emptying a foley can give you a couple minutes to talk to and educate your patient. As long as my CNAs are working as hard as I am, I never mind doing menial stuff right alongside them.

congrats!! I would wait until you are past your probation period, if possible. You should have insurance set up by then and it would be a little harder to get rid of you if they wanted to. Not all bosses want to deal with a pregnant employee! If you're worried about how your boss will react, don't drop any hints at work at all- it could be very hard not to let on but you really want your boss to hear it from you, not the rumor mill. Crackers and hard candy (especially ginger-based) can help a lot with morning sickness, as can keeping hydrated. Also, sign up for short term disability if you have the option so you will have income while on leave. Someone else mentioned FMLA leave- if you're 2 months pregnant now and just starting with this employer, you won't qualiy for FMLA when you go on maternity leave. You have to be there for 12 months and have worked at least 1250 hours. Your employer has to have 50 employees within 75 miles, as well, but most hospitals have this. FMLA is also unpaid leave. Congrats and good luck!

What an awesome response- thanks so much!! I'm not delivering at the hospital I work at- I chose one closer to home and one where I won't run in to docs and nurses I work with. Unfortunately, this does leave me without any contacts to get "the inside scoop." But then again, I've heard RNs complain about docs I really respected so I'd hate to make such an important decision without knowing the source. The hospital I'm delivering at does offer tours and that's one of the things we need to schedule. What is "specialing?" In my world, that means a 1:1 sitter for DT's or the like. It sounds like that means she would deliver my baby whether she is on call or not? I don't know if that's necessary-I actually wanted to work with her partner, whose practice was already closed when I was 5 weeks pregnant. There are only 2 docs in the practice so I'll meet them both. I'd love to have a midwife for prenatal care- I've heard great things about them! My OB seems good, but I wish she had more time to answer my questions. I couldn't find a practice near me that has midwives and is covered by my insurance, taking new patients, etc. Pain control is something I knew I didn't know enough about, and now realize I knew even less than I thought I did. I was never dead set on going without drugs. I won't ask for an epidural at 7 months, but I'm not stupid enough to think that suffering is a virtue or that I'll get a medal for having the longest or worst labor. Surgery is something I'd prefer not to deal with but with my age and risk factors, it might happen. If it does, I will not see myself as having failed. Thanks again- you've been very helpful!

I tried calling the L+D unit at the hospital I'd be delivering at. I asked for suggestions, saying I wasn't comfortable with the doc I had seen. They told me they don't give recommendations, but that "all our docs are great!" Umm, yeah, you all love every one... I can't blame them, though- they had no idea who was calling. Thankfully, my last meeting with the OB went much better and I won't have to deal with residents. Thank you!

Thanks for the book and other suggestions! I don't have strong feelings about the birth. Which may sound awful, or may just be because my mom had a general for all of hers and I don't see one type of birth as intrinsically better than others. I can see that people have strong opinions about it and I am certainly not educated enough about this yet. My preliminary feelings are that I would prefer to not NEED medical interventions or surgery. But I can accept that sometimes they are necessary, and that sometimes stepping in with a smaller intervention in a timely fashion can seriously help avoid more dramatic interventions later. I'll take the stadol or the epidural if it avoids a serious tear or a csection. It would be nice if we all had crystal balls to know what definitely would happen, though! I did some reading on the Bradley method and, well, they certainly feel strongly about things. At first blush, I'm concerned that any method so absolutely convinced that they have a moral high ground over other medicine makes me nervous. I'd love to hear from people who have used or taught this method in a way that isn't as absolute as what their website suggests is best.

Thanks for the ideas! I forgot to mention in my first post that I had been snacking on little things often during the day and drinking gingerale to help. I tried ginger altoids but, well, yuck. I have ordered the PreggyPops- they should arrive tomorrow. I also cooked dinners with ginger in them the last few nights. Something is working- I've been better the last few days! I know a little bit about doulas and I am interested, especially since we don't live near any family that would be helpful. I think having one for immediately after birth is a great idea, but I'm not comfortable with hiring a stranger to be present at the birth as an advocate. Just a new concept for me, I'm thinking about it. Thanks so much for the help, though! I could never do what you all do!

Glad to hear your'e doing well! You're a few weeks ahead of me but I'll catch up in the end. My doc OK'd Vitamin B6, and gave me Zofran but I've actually felt much better the last couple days and haven't taken any of it. And it turns out that I have a private practice doc, too- and she doesn't want to deal with residents any more than I do. :) Thanks!

I'm a pregnant ICU nurse, too, and I can tell you what I found out. At 6 feet away from the radiation source, there is no measurable exposure. That's true in cath lab and angio, where we sometimes have to go with our patients. I'd think that those areas use a lot more radiation than a chest or limb portable so that's good news. The techs MUST announce "XRay" *and* give you time to get away. At my hospital they say "XRay, bay 4" so you know where they are. It's just not negotiable. But they promise me that going to the other side of the nurse's desk or anything not lead lined won't help. People who work in cath/angio (or anywhere with XRays, I suppose) are supposed to meet with the Radiation Safety Officer for their jobs to be "counseled" on precautions to take and what is/isn't safe. I didn't have to meet with mine since I'm ICU but he was happy to talk to me and told me that as long as I stay 6 feet away I'm fine. Maybe meeting with your RSO would help you, too.

Hi all- long time lurker, first time posting. I'm an RN with absolutely no experience with L+D. None, nada, zip. All I know is that boiling the water is to keep the menfolk out of the way. :) I'm pregnant for the first time and would love some input from the pros! My goal is to have a healthy baby, keep myself as healthy and sane as possible, and (last on the list- LOL!) be a good patient. My background is critical care nursing and I know how hard having a professional for a patient can be. I at least know what I don't know. Complicated birth plans aren't my style- I think I'll try natural but will be open to some pain control if need be. I'd like to avoid a csection unless it's the safest thing but won't whine if it has to be done to protect me or the baby. The baby books say I should ask my OB about C Section rates, episiotomy rates, thoughts on use of drugs during pregnancy and labor, etc. That seems confrontational to me, considering that I don't even know what a "good" answer should be. Should I ask these things? If so, what kind of answers should I want? How do I know if I have a good OB? So far I have mixed feelings about her office staff (maybe that one witch was having a bad day... trying to keep an open mind....) The OB herself seems OK. We're not going to be friends but I want a good doc, not more friends. I don't know anyone in my area who could give me suggestions so referrals are out. What should I look for? Any suggestions on morning sickness? So far I've tried bland snacks and the seasickness wrist bands, but no results and I'm tired of being sick all day. I CAN put up with it if I need to and would prefer not to take meds routinely (I'm open to occasional use if they're safe) but do you experts have any suggestions? I'm going to deliver at a teaching hospital. My experience with residents are that some are idiots and some are awesome. In ICU I can tell the difference and stop them from doing anything stupid. In OB, I don't know enough to know what is stupid and what isn't. I don't see me being comfortable with residents no matter how good I'm told they are- I either want to tell my OB that residents can watch but not touch or that I don't want to be a teaching patient. Would that work at most hospitals? Thanks for your time and suggestions