We are NOT family-centered anymore

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Specializes in Behavioral Health.

Hi all. As some of you may know, I have been working in L&D for 2 yrs. now. I feel that I have grown tremendously, both professionally and personally in that time. I love L&D...but I despise what my hospital has become.

We had a new director take over Women's Health last year. She can definitely talk the talk...even sell you some ocean front property in Arizona!!! Unfortunately, with all the talking, she fails to LISTEN. The rest of the hospital chain-of-command has always been like that so there is no one else above her to talk to.

Before her arrival, we were really striving for FAMILY-CENTERED Maternity care. We recovered our c-section babies in PACU with mom, etc. Now all of the sudden, they have to be wisked down to the nursery for 2+ hours...minimum availability for lacation consultant (they say the RN's should be able to do it all)...and this is the real kicker for me...we are no longer doing couplet care!!!! When I worked postpartum last night I took report on 9 mom's and didn't get one iota of information on the babies. I was told that if mom has questions re: baby care, I needed to call the nursery for one of the nursery nurses to come out to the floor!!!! Oh, and all babies had to come to the nursery to be assessed and weighed.

This is not what I want at all. For the last six months they have been talking about all the "wonderful" changes coming down the pipeline. If this is it...I surely don't want it.

Due to my location, taking another job in L&D at another hospital would be almost impossible as I don't want a hour + commute. Through one of my contacts I discovered that a position is opening up in the Prenatal Clinic at the Health Department...Mon-Fri 8:30-5:00p.m. with an occasional Saturday morning and NO HOLIDAYS!!! It just sounds so much more family-friendly than my current situation.

Only problem is approximately a $7000/yr. paycut...which I think I can adjust our budget to accomodate. I am also afraid that I am going to miss L&D too much. I just wish there were an easy answer!!!!

Sorry to ramble...just looking for some feedback to clear my head! :uhoh3:

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

Gee I would strongly consider the move. YOU SOUND MISERABLE. Try to budget in the paycut creatively. Hon i KNOW about taking paycuts. Way back when, when my son was born, I left the military, cutting our incoming pay by more than 1/2. Having a baby PLUS cutting pay equals stress. But it was temporary----we adjusted down, stopped anything non essential and made it work.----- SOOOO WORTH IT. NO regrets today.

You simply cannot put a price in happiness, not even 7k a year. I would interview, and see if it's really what you want and meantime, look at your budget. Is there any way you can make cuts to accomodate that cut? If so, and it's really the job you WANT go for it!!!! I will be the first to congratulate you if you do. I promise that.

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Specializes in CV Surgery Step-down.

We did a rotation (only one day) at the county pre-natal clinic this summer. I absolutely loved it! It was very fast-paced, and the day seemed to fly by. The women there received excellent care, and they received more education I felt like I got with a private insurance company. I have thought that this is a place I would eventually like to be (after hospital experience).I wish you the best of luck, and hope you find the experience rewarding!

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I hope you choose the job that makes you happy. 7K a year isn't enough to make up for being miserable at work. The director sounds like an idiot to me...

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Hi all. As some of you may know, I have been working in L&D for 2 yrs. now. I feel that I have grown tremendously, both professionally and personally in that time. I love L&D...but I despise what my hospital has become.

We had a new director take over Women's Health last year. She can definitely talk the talk...even sell you some ocean front property in Arizona!!! Unfortunately, with all the talking, she fails to LISTEN. The rest of the hospital chain-of-command has always been like that so there is no one else above her to talk to.

Before her arrival, we were really striving for FAMILY-CENTERED Maternity care. We recovered our c-section babies in PACU with mom, etc. Now all of the sudden, they have to be wisked down to the nursery for 2+ hours...minimum availability for lacation consultant (they say the RN's should be able to do it all)...and this is the real kicker for me...we are no longer doing couplet care!!!! When I worked postpartum last night I took report on 9 mom's and didn't get one iota of information on the babies. I was told that if mom has questions re: baby care, I needed to call the nursery for one of the nursery nurses to come out to the floor!!!! Oh, and all babies had to come to the nursery to be assessed and weighed.

This is not what I want at all. For the last six months they have been talking about all the "wonderful" changes coming down the pipeline. If this is it...I surely don't want it.

Due to my location, taking another job in L&D at another hospital would be almost impossible as I don't want a hour + commute. Through one of my contacts I discovered that a position is opening up in the Prenatal Clinic at the Health Department...Mon-Fri 8:30-5:00p.m. with an occasional Saturday morning and NO HOLIDAYS!!! It just sounds so much more family-friendly than my current situation.

Only problem is approximately a $7000/yr. paycut...which I think I can adjust our budget to accomodate. I am also afraid that I am going to miss L&D too much. I just wish there were an easy answer!!!!

Sorry to ramble...just looking for some feedback to clear my head! :uhoh3:

How sad to think that your hospital is going backwards at this time. How do your colleagues feel about this, and the docs and pediatricians? I'm sorry. Hopefully, maybe you all could collectively do something about this? If not, I guess you'd have to decide to get out.

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Specializes in Behavioral Health.

Thanks for the encouraging words.

Yes Bets...we are going backwards in time. The younger OBs/Peds are not happy with the current state of things...while the older ones could care less. It's a crying shame really. No one is really happy. We have had 7 nurses on nights leave...99% of day shift is miserable, but many have been there forever and just can't make the change... The administration has had several meetings with the staff but all we have gotten from them is the same cookie-cutter answers. The sad part is that our maternity department has been know county-wide for providing excellent care...that's now a thing of the past.

After talking with my DH and kids, I am going to apply for the Health Dept. position. If I don't get it, I will continue looking for something else...but I will be selective and not jump into something without thinking it through.

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$7k will just about cover the antacids you'll need cause your miserable.

So sad that things went sour at your old job, but I'm glad you've lined up a new position!

:rotfl:

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Specializes in Behavioral Health.

Just an update...

Things are not really any better at work.

On a good note, my interview with the Health Department in next week. She said after I interview with her, she'd like to me talk more with the staff nurses and shadow one of them for awhile...it sounds promising.

The hospital found out I was shopping around and the boss called me into her office. I was very open and honest with her, but unfortunately, I don't think she "gets it".

Anyway, I'll keep you posted.

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

GOOD LUCK and very cool of you to update us!!!!!! I would love to hear if this other prospect works out for you. Let us know.

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