Real tips for patients

[JRapha'sRN]

I've read the "Rules for the OB Unit" and love that thread! It has so much I can relate to as an ER nurse (and I love the ER thread of the same nature!) However, being about ready to deliver my first baby I don't want to be the PITA healthcare worker we have a reputation for. I know as an RN I enter L&D with a strike against me and want to be the best patient I can. Do you have any REAL tips for being a good patient? Obviously I already know that my nurses are not waitresses, so I don't need tips of that nature. I know the "Rules for the OB Unit" contains a lot of real thoughts, frustrations and rules you would like to post. I'm not asking for a repeat of that thread. I just know that healthcare workers make some of the worst patients and don't want to be "that nurse in room xx"... (I hope that makes sense.)

(I would like to clarify that I am not asking for any medical advice, just advice on how you would like your patients to act)

[JRapha'sRN]

Thank you for all your kind and helpful replies. I am more at ease now. I will take your advice and be myself and care for the baby. Sounds like the hardest tip to implement will be the one that said don't try to be a "good" patient, for those are sometimes the worst patients. You all had some good tips! Thank you.

As far as not letting them know I'm a nurse... too late. :) I've gone into PTL x2 now and it's been while I was at work downstairs in the ER... nothing like going up to L&D with your scrubs on and pockets full of "nurse stuff" (along with your name tag) to declare your profession I also have to call up to L&D frequently when I'm the triage nurse to let them know I'm sending a laboring mom up to them.

Based on my two short PTL experiences, I don't think I'll have any problems being a patient or with the nurses, but trapped at home on bedrest for the last 3 weeks, I think I've begun to go a little crazy and start to worry about silly things. :uhoh21: Tomorrow I hit 37 weeks and my Doc said I can quit bedresting and even go back to work for a little bit!! :) Then I'll be rational again :)

Thanks again!

[Elvish, BSN, DNP, RN, NP]

I enjoy having nurses as patients too, and since they know the BS that we sometimes have to put up with (esp if they work at the same hospital) they tend to be understanding when you can't be right there the second they call. Also, the nurses I've had only call when it's something worth calling about. I have had only good experiences with nurses as patients.

Now the doctors & their wives (all but 1) that we've had as patients....don't even get me started!!!

[pirap]

I work at a very large hospital..typical yearly births reaching almost 5000 a year and I'm an RN. When I delivered last year I told NO ONE that I was an RN and I told my husband to keep a lid on it. I was afraid that my nurse would "ignore" me somewhat. I went in for an induction at 0600 and after my epidural around noon I told my nurse that I was an RN. I didn't want her to feel that I was keeping my eyes on her the whole time.

[bagladyrn, RN]

On a lighter note - DO NOT do what a coworker of mine did and respond to the code down the hall in your hospital gown dragging an IV pole! True story!

She was on our (her home)unit for postop, not OB related but we took our own coworkers for clean surgery, and when the code was called she just kind of automatically responded.

[JRapha'sRN]

UPDATE: Thanks for all your kind words of wisdom. I was able to focus on laboring then on my baby rather than worrying about trying to be a "good" pt.

My labor was long... water broke at home, then I had 12 hours of walking to get the contractions working harder, then was on pit, then accepted an epidural, then had a c-section... baby boy was born 25.75 hours after my water broke. Now we know that my pelvic bones are too small (his head wasn't the problem, it was me) and all future babies will be c-sections.

(baby boy; 6 lbs, 13.9 oz; 20 in long; 14 in hc; head full of hair; long eye-lashes (according to all the L&D nurses); and so adorably cute!)

The nurses were amazing throughout my whole labor, recovery and post-partum stay!

Thank you for all the care and expertise you offer to your patients!

[danissa, LPN, LVN]

UPDATE: Thanks for all your kind words of wisdom. I was able to focus on laboring then on my baby rather than worrying about trying to be a "good" pt.

My labor was long... water broke at home, then I had 12 hours of walking to get the contractions working harder, then was on pit, then accepted an epidural, then had a c-section... baby boy was born 25.75 hours after my water broke. Now we know that my pelvic bones are too small (his head wasn't the problem, it was me) and all future babies will be c-sections.

(baby boy; 6 lbs, 13.9 oz; 20 in long; 14 in hc; head full of hair; long eye-lashes (according to all the L&D nurses); and so adorably cute!)

The nurses were amazing throughout my whole labor, recovery and post-partum stay!

Thank you for all the care and expertise you offer to your patients!

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!:balloons::flowersfo:bow::yelclap:

And WELCOME to your darling baby boy!!! Well done! Just have time now to kick back and enjoy the experience of getting to know this most important wee person in your life! Love and Hugs to you all!!!!!

[JRapha'sRN]

I love taking care of nurses! It's your time to relax (well--you don't have to do any charting or the like, though you will be doing very hard work :) ) and be cared for...enjoy it! Be yourself, don't be afraid to ask questions...if I went to the ER I'd ask a lot of questions because while I know a lot about OB, there's a lot I don't know about other nursing/medicine ya know! Don't be afraid to advocate for youself or your baby. And don't feel bad taking your phone off the hook and putting a "NO VISITORS, NEW MOM SLEEPING sign on your door...well meaning co-workers can really cut into much needed rest when they pop in for a visit on postpartum. (My youngest is 3 months and I'm so glad I did this the day after I had him..only for a few hours but so worth it)

since my water broke right after I climbed into bed and then my labor was so long, I was going on 45 hours of being awake by the time I finally could go to bed. We posted a note in the ER giving all the birth updates then requesting no visitors for 8 hours. I was able to sleep for about 5 of those hours... and it was beautiful!

[OB Night Nurse]

(baby boy; 6 lbs, 13.9 oz; 20 in long; 14 in hc; head full of hair; long eye-lashes (according to all the L&D nurses); and so adorably cute!)

Congratulations to you! Enjoy your time with your new son!