Why is EFM cert. a requirement for L an D

BSNbeauty, BSN, RN · Nov 11, 2015

Thank you all for the replies. I now have a better understanding and agree that it should be a requirement. So why aren't most hospitals requiring this EFM if it's so important?

**LibraSunCNM, BSN, MSN, CNM** · Nov 11, 2015

Thank you all for the replies. I now have a better understanding and agree that it should be a requirement. So why aren't most hospitals requiring this EFM if it's so important?

Who says they aren't??? Mine does.

bagladyrn, RN · Nov 11, 2015

The problem of many of the older nurses may not be lack of knowledge of fetal monitoring and the implications for the fetus and mother but instead the new terminology which was put into use a few years back. The new terminology does not directly correlate to previous terms and may be where some have difficulty in expressing what they know in the desired terms.

BSNbeauty, BSN, RN · Nov 11, 2015

Baglady those are my thoughts exactly. I believe if you have 20 plus years of exp. You should be grandfathered in and not pushed to the side like a rag doll. All Other nurse's should have this cert.

I have no doubt these seasoned nurse's know their stuff. I just think they have a problem with the new terminology and patho on the exam..

BSNbeauty, BSN, RN · Nov 11, 2015

Librasun, many hospitals in my area does not required it. Perhaps it should be a standard in all hospitals.

DeeAngel · Nov 11, 2015

If you can't read the EFM strips how on earth can you justify being able to work in L&D?

BittyBabyGrower, MSN, RN · Nov 11, 2015

Believe me, if you have to go to court you need that cert! A lawyer would eat you alive if someone was having a bad strip and something happened. The first question he is going to bounce off you is "Are you certified to read strips? If not, who is there to do it". Then you and the hospital are in deep.

Believe me, it for the better!

Coffee Nurse, BSN, RN · Nov 12, 2015

Baglady those are my thoughts exactly. I believe if you have 20 plus years of exp. You should be grandfathered in and not pushed to the side like a rag doll. All Other nurse's should have this cert.
I have no doubt these seasoned nurse's know their stuff. I just think they have a problem with the new terminology and patho on the exam..

Just because they have 20 years of experience doesn't mean they know what they're doing. I have a few coworkers who have been on my unit for decades that I have to keep an eye on when working with them because they do things that are just not safe.

Change is the nature of the healthcare field. Either these nurses can keep up and learn new technologies, or they need to be removed from a field like L&D where things can go wrong very quickly and the tech is there to help mitigate that.

HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD · Nov 12, 2015

There is a prevalent myth.... that experience automatically = competence. This is NOT TRUE. Although we can hope that everyone learns from experience, it is not an automatic process. Learning takes effort. So, in effect, learning is always 'optional'. If you simply go through an experience and never think about it again, that does not equate to learning.

OB is arguably the most litigious area in healthcare today. And FYI, there is up to a 20 year window to file that lawsuit for birth injury, depending on the circumstances. OB nurses have very high liability exposure on a regular basis. They frequently serve as the 'eyes and ears' until the physician comes dashing in to catch the baby at the very last minute. NOTE: this situation is gradually being fixed by the addition of physician laborists who are available on-site for direct patient management but until then, the OB nurse is holding down the (labor) fort.

Accurate interpretation of FHM is absolutely essential to patient management in OB... along with competence in other OB crisis situations such as management of Pre-Eclampsia, postpartum hemorrhage, neonatal asphyxia, neonatal resuscitation, etc. This is MINIMAL competency for RNs who are responsible for management of laboring moms. There must be some sort of objective measure of the competence (rather than just someone saying "she has 20 years of experience and we've never had any complaints").

bagladyrn, RN · Nov 12, 2015

While keeping up with new technology and the latest terminology and techniques is of great importance, don't disdain the skills and knowledge base of the old OB nurses. Their skills and experience can be invaluable. Remember that they have been safely caring for moms and babies long before all the new tech was invented.

Get all the latest training but remember you are treating the patient not the machines.

Coffee Nurse, BSN, RN · Nov 13, 2015

While keeping up with new technology and the latest terminology and techniques is of great importance, don't disdain the skills and knowledge base of the old OB nurses. Their skills and experience can be invaluable. Remember that they have been safely caring for moms and babies long before all the new tech was invented.
Get all the latest training but remember you are treating the patient not the machines.

I'm not disdaining anything, but I am refuting the assumption that experience equates to skills and knowledge base, as HouTx explained more eloquently than I. EFM is best practice currently, so no matter how L&D nurses managed before it, they need to be able to utilize this technology.

Also, the old clichÃ© about "treating the patient and not the machine" isn't really relevant here - if anything, it's the opposite. If EFM shows prolonged fetal bradycardia, you had better believe you're acting on that.

brownbook · Nov 13, 2015

In most hospitals any certification nurses are mandated or required to have must be paid for my the hospital, the classes, training, etc. Therefore I would assume hospitals don't want to make EFM required so they won't have to pay the staff to take the classes, certification, etc.

It is penny wise and pound foolish....one law suit would wipe out any savings not paying the staff to be certified might save.