StatRNNJ97

:uhoh21: I work in OB. Recently had bad baby born - come to find out that some of the nursery nurses who attend deliveries are NOT NRP certified. I watched in horror a few weeks ago as one nursery nurse did not know how to do chest compressions etc., I jumped in to help, but she was lost. I addressed this to management and they replied that "well, usually the neonatologist is present with a delivery." This is not true, and does it matter? The nurse should still be NRP certified. How can you come to a delivery for a baby and not be NRP certified? It blows my mind! Any input, suggestions appreciated! Thanks for letting me blow off steam :angryfire :angryfire

No anesthesiologist in house? No way! One bad outcome and it changes a nurses perspective! Have had true stat c/s in Labor and Delivery and without the Anesthesiologist in-house no doubt baby and possibly Mom would not have survived! Even if its a level 1 hospital - no excuse for not having in house anesthesia 24/7. I know its my opinion but...it my license also that I worked hard for and I am not willing to compromise in any way, especially with liability and lawsuits these days! I love working in Labor and Delivery and hope to keep it that way

I am by the Shore. Green heads are like flies but green and BITE! You don't find them further inland. As far as Arizona, guess we have to teach are kids not to try and hide in any bushes.

Thanks for the information from everyone. Our family is excited about the opportunity to move. We LOVE the warm weather! Hoping the mosquit. are less in Arizona though because in the summer you get "eatin' alive" by skeeters' in Jersey, and green heads. :trout:

Looking to relocate to Tucson from Jersey. Are the bugs that bad? Flying roaches inside? Any info appreciated!

I have done UOP online courses for over a year and LOVE the program. I really enjoy going to school in my pajamas (ha ha ha). Everything can be done via the internet at my convenience. So, if you have a family, children, it is especially helpful. I have had friends who tried Thomas Edison and found it very difficulty to get in touch with instructors. They also had to have a "proctor" who was willing to review papers and adm. tests at a library or such facility. After learning how to navigate through the online experience with UOP it has been a breeze! I have met people in class from all over the world. They also have 24 hr. tech support included in fees which I have used many times. Good luck! :-) Never stop learning :-)

:eek: :redlight: :redlight: 2 points. First, BEWARE of sign-on bonus! Second...money is NOT everything! I learned first hand myself. The bonus may seem $$$, but received 1st bonus in 2 checks with LOTS of taxes taken out. Worst hospital to work at...EVER! The travelers would come to work and refuse to return to the unit. Lots of issues such as: unsafe staffing, management horrible, longer term employees not helping newer employees...just awful experience. Thank God I got out of that hospital. Just my opinion. :trout:

I have worked in union and non-union hospitals. I have to say that working in a unionized hospital is MUCH better than non-unionized. Without a union management thinks they can walk all over the nurses! Look...we all have to decide what is best for each of us and most have families they need to support, and bills to pay. I don't know if a strike will happen or not but I cannot cross the picket line. I will work somewhere else if need be. I don't advocate harm to anyone, but freedom of speech. Just my 2 cents. :rotfl:

:angryfire They are looking for SCABS!

The only reply I will give on this is that every patient I have cared for gets the best I can give as an L&D nurse. When a women is in labor it does not matter who you are because it is about the best outcome for mom and baby...period. Labor is labor...hurts! :penguin:

Thanks everyone for the support and suggestions! I am not returning, and I feel very happy about the decision. Not only was my license at risk but the environment is unhealthy emotionally. I am happy to say that at another PD job I work everyone talks to each other, team work is never a question, and all staff practice safely and kindly. This has been a huge learning experience for me. I cannot believe I stayed at that certain hospital for so long! Life is too short to be unhappy!

I am working in a VERY unsafe job. I think the "icing on the cake" was yesterday. I have brought many concerns to management and basically have been told to shut up. I have never left a job without giving 2 weeks notice, but I just feel that I cannot work another day at his horrendous hospital! I have been a nurse many years and I have never encountered this type of environment until now. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated!

I am working in a hospital (NJ) where one of the OB docs does fundal pressure with every laboring patient during second stage. I am FREAKED out! It is not even a gentle application, but serious pushing up and down forcefully. I am not comfortable caring for any of his patients during labor because I know he will be doing fundal pressure! Management knows about this and they continue to allow this OB to practice! Every other place I have ever worked Fundal pressure was NEVER used. Any suggestions? I just keep seeing shoulder dystocia and lawsuits with my name as the nurse caring for the patient.

Yup...see it where I work! Doctor (married) and nurse (married) and both openly flirt. She always makes sure she cares for his patients. She gets very nasty to nurses who get assigned to his patient in labor and will change the assignment. One time in the OR she stepped in and tried to assist during a c/s. The OB on-call Dr. wrote her up and the OB doc up, but management did not do anything about it. She goes to his call room. They have been caught laying in a patient bed togather watching a movie. Of course they insist they are friends. They even went on vacation with their spouses and children - made sure they were one block away from each other. Is it my business what they do - NO, but...and I say...BUT if it affects the unit and how care is being rendered to a patient it is then everyones business!

:angryfire I am very angry! Certain hospital I work in L&D and an OB insists that ALL patients receive SSE. I have NEVER done this to any OB patient since I have been a nurse (many years) in OB! Any other nurses out their still use SSE prior to labor/induction? I voiced my concern and nurses are "afraid" to say anything to the OB. Whoever heard of an L&D nurse being timid? LOL. What ever happened to advocating for the patient? None of the other OB's in the unit order SSE. What do you think?

At this one L&D job I work in NJ this certain hosptial does not use any type of bags for sponges. I am used to the Kendall bags that hang, and placing a used sponge into each bag (via sponge stick). They have a barbaric method which I feel is very scary and outdated! What is your current practice for the circulating nurse in regards to sponges and counts? Any info is appreciated!

I work in a busy L&D unit in NJ. I have repeatedly asked for a doppler in the OR to monitor heart rate prior to incision for c/s. They (management) keep saying not to worry about it and just put any number on the OR form for heart rate! I won't lie! I need information to back up the need for the doppler. All the other hospitals I have worked at ALWAYS had a working doppler and fetal heart rate monitor in each OR, and we were expected by the physician to check heart rate imm. prior to patient prepped for c/s. Any info is appreciated!

:) You did the right thing! I am sure you have heard about "chain of command." It is the docs choice to say yes or no as to coming in, but being a patient advocate is what its all about when we are caring for someone! Your skills helped you to make the correct decisions for this patient. You cover your butt by not only charting EVERYTHING the doc does and does not do, but by making calls and encouraging the patient to use the oxygen. I would not let this doctor run me out of labor and delivery. If you have to deal with her again just tell her "I am activating the chain of command" and leave it at that because then the ball is in her court so to speak. Lean on your co-workers who you respect and trust for insight. We have a certain OB who gets "grumpy" when he is on rotation and gets awakened at night. The last time this happened as soon as he came on the unit he made a scrunched up face before even speaking. I said something out loud about his face matching his grumpiness (not in an area patients could hear) and he just looked at me. He has been a bit better since.

A bunch of nurses I work with took the exam this past summer. They all feel that they failed and are still awaiting confirmation since it was taken on paper. They have told me it was AWFUL! That does not make me feel any better about taking the test. Many studies and said it did not matter because it did not help them. A lot of negativity from the group who took the test. Guess that is why I am taking mine on the computer and decided NOT to take it in a room full of co-workers.

:uhoh21: I am taking my RNC (Inpatient OB) on the computer. I am very nervous. Anyone recently taking the RNC exam? Any pointers or suggestions would be very appreciated! Thanks.

:uhoh21: Hi! I am taking my RNC exam on Monday. I have been studying the review questions, and Maternal Newborn book. I still feel unprepared even though I have worked in L & D for years. Any feedback would be appreciated! Anyone recently take the exam? Thanks. :-)