Serious Question-newborn

Specialties Ob/Gyn

Published

I work in a small unit. We do labor and delivery and post partum care in the same rooms. 10 beds.

My question is about newborn care. One of the newborns born about 12 hours ago was spitting up in the nursery while she was getting ready to do the hearing screen and hep B vaccine. A veteran nurse told the nurse caring for the newborn (she is 21 and a new grad no kids of her own) to use a sweetie and give the entire thing to her so it will induce more vomiting to get the gunk out of her so she can quit throwing up. ???????????? I am coming from a mothers point of view on this and saying NO. absolutely not. Did they ask the parents if that was okay to do or not? (no they didn't)

I get the concept behind it but I do not agree that is acceptable practice! What do you guys think? How would you respond to this? Thanks in advance.

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Specializes in OB-Gyn/Primary Care/Ambulatory Leadership.

No, absolutely not. Holy cow. Unacceptable.

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Specializes in OB.

Uh, no. But I'm not overly surprised. Being brutally honest, "veteran" nursery/postpartum nurses are some of the most stuck-in-their-ways nurses that I have ever met in my career. Newborn care and protocols have changed drastically in the last few decades, yet I've found nurses from this particular area to be particularly resistant to evidence-based changes. Not trying to paint everyone with a broad brush, just what I've experienced.

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Specializes in OB, Women’s health, Educator, Leadership.

How about informing the pediatrician of your assessment findings. Vomiting can be an impending sign of more serious complications.

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