Why do some nurses hate it in others pump at work?

Daisy Joyce · Dec 20, 2017

Erm...I've worked in the corporate world, and the academic world and for the life of me can't undertstand why it's considered acceptable that healthcare is allowed to be so short staffed and such crappy working conditions that a nurse would have to make the decision between pumping and pleasing her bosses and co-workers.

As an industry, we nurses turn on each other, rather than stand up for ourselves.

Tenebrae, BSN, RN · Dec 20, 2017

LOL.
Do I need to tell you to say thank you and please as well?

No, however if you need to be off the floor for any need, please ensure your work place and patients are sorted

Most people understand the concept of common decency, professionalism, and teamwork without having to be told.

Given that we have reports of nurses being off the floor for 30 minutes at a time to pump at least 2-3 times a shift, as well as their 30 minute lunch break and paid 10 minute breaks, apparently not

In life as a general rule it is considered polite and professional to compensate someone when you burden them. Stay at a friend's house? Offer compensation. Someone buy you dinner? Offer compensation. Someone fix your flat tire? Offer compensation.

Comparing applies and oranges. I'd go to the mat for my friends.

When at work, I am happy to help out co workers, not if it leaves me carrying their work load as well as mine for extended periods of time.

BedsideNurse · Dec 20, 2017

I had trouble with my milk supply & I had to pump at work if I wanted to continue to breastfeed, and since my first son tolerated no formula, it was really a dire situation. It'd take 10 minutes to run to the bathroom, wash up, grab a drink, maybe get a small snack, then get my supplies together. I'd pump for 15-18 minutes, quickly put everything away and get back to work. I never took more than my 30 minute lunch. Honestly it was hard enough to leave the floor for a full 30 minutes and I never really took full lunches before that, but out of necessity when I was nursing I needed to. I did my best to nurse right before I left the house, and I'd nurse as soon as I'd get home, but I'd still have to pump once at work or I'd have issues. So it was rush-rush-rush to pump then back to the races trying to catch up after being gone for 30 minutes. It certainly wasn't a restful break. Anyway, the government puts these laws into place and then hospitals respond by punishing the other nursing staff in implementing them. I'm not sure what the answer is, but especially if you had several nursing moms on a unit, I can see how this would get pretty old. Nurses are stretched to capacity now and it's no small favor to have them holding the fort down every time they come in while people are off pumping. Women are encouraged to breastfeed for one year, and some people do it for longer. That's a lot of fort holding. Also, supposedly we should be supporting and encouraging breastfeeding mothers. If everyone around them is pissed and they feel resented, or they feel like they really just can't leave the floor because of further burdening the staff, then that isn't really supporting breastfeeding now is it? And then there are always the system abusers...It sucks. :/

SaltySarcasticSally, LPN, RN · Dec 20, 2017

Where do you all live that nurses in the hospital can still go on smoke breaks?! We have regulations where you can't even smoke within a certain distance of the hospital ..you have to go across the street even if your a visitor.

Anywho, it's really the system abusers and short staffing that causes the negative feelings towards pumping. I've had 3 kids -- it does not take 45 minutes to pump. I don't think it should be unpaid but it should be apart of your breaks. If your pumping 2 20 minute sessions during a 12 hr shift, that's lunch. It stinks but one nurse can't be gone more than that, non pumping nurses can't manage a 20 minute lunch on some floors. So don't go overkill with the breaks if your pumping, eat at the same time.

Ruby Vee, BSN · Dec 20, 2017

I never minded covering for my co-workers while they pumped, although I don't recall them taking an hour at a time...
that being said, keep in mind that for some babies, the breastmilk is considered a medicine. For moms with premature infants, the risk of necrotizing enterocolitis (which can make a baby go from healthy to dead in 12 hours-blunt but true ask any NICU nurse) is dramatically reduced by using exclusive breastmilk diet. A lot of places have donor milk now, but not all. Breastmilk is literally saving those babies' lives. And many premature baby mommies go back to work before their little one comes home for several reasons including that some NICU stays are months at a time and that the mothers want to save their maternity leave for actually bonding with the baby when they come home.

Thanks for the education about breast milk. However, I didn't give birth or choose to breast feed, so it shouldn't be MY problem to deal with except in very extreme circumstances. Routinely expecting me to care for your patients for half of the shift just because breast milk is good for your little darlings is unkind, unfair and inconsiderate. After that happens a few times, I'll be disinclined to do you ANY favors. If you're pumping at work, be considerate of your coworkers. Don't ask the busiest colleague, don't take off during a code when I might need you to watch my OTHER patient rather than my being responsible for both of my patients and both of yours when one of mine is coding. Round on your patients before you go and make sure everyone is stable. When you come back, help me out with something, offer to send ME on a break (yes, I need one even though I'm not pumping or smoking).

The colleague that left her patient in VT to go and pump was not making a good decision. She endangered her patient and sucked in all of her co-workers to keep that patient alive. And when she came back, she didn't even come into the code room to help finish up or clean up the mess. She was found chatting with her stable patient.

Munch · Dec 20, 2017

This doesn't seem fair to me at all. Mothers have the right to do what is best for their children

I understand that but your choice to have children and your choice to breastfeed is not my problem. That being said ill cover for anyone for whatever reason. Its just obnoxious when someone ducks out to pump for 30 plus minutes every hour. That's adds up to 3 plus hours off the clock every shift(I work 12 hour shifts)...I'm not even mentioning meal breaks here. I don't smoke either so that doesn't pertain to me. I want to get paid for 3 hours of not working out of my shift everyday too.

Its like the thread someone made regarding covering for co-workers that need to leave early to pick up their kids from school. Its not my problem that you need to tend to your children. I don't have a problem with colleagues that need to step away for a few minutes to pump(or smoke..or pray if that's what you do due to your religious persuasion) just don't abuse it and don't leave me with all of your patients needing something. 3 hours plus a day for pumping is definitely excessive and disruptive. I don't have children..don't want them and its not my job to help you with yours. You pumped for 10 minutes yesterday..why 45 minutes today?

KRVRN, BSN, RN · Dec 21, 2017

Well it should be pointed out that pumping isn't as quick and easy as going to the bathroom. You have to walk to your pumping place, plug things in, hook everything up, undo your clothes and pump. Then you have to clean everything back up, disinfect the area you used and put your milk in the fridge (yes, it's probably in her lunch bag in the employees break room fridge). And that's assuming you don't have to wait because there's already someone pumping. So the actual pump on breast time might be only 10-15 min, but the whole process takes longer.

Apple-Core, ASN, BSN, RN · Dec 21, 2017

Well it should be pointed out that pumping isn't as quick and easy as going to the bathroom.

Actually, in England, it is!!!! Hence "pumping at work" is frowned upon, although for the pumpee it much quicker than locating the nearest bathroom....

(I'm sorry - I keep getting email updates in this thread and it just makes me giggle every time. I know, I know.....juvenile, school-boy humor....)

allnurses Guide · Dec 23, 2017

I hand expressed (learned to milk goats as a kid). Never needed a pump for any of my 3. Ducked out, washed, squeezed into the bottle and back on the floor in far less than 30 minutes. Usually got 14 ozs.

So the whole slow machine pump to me is not necessary. Express it and get on with it. (Obviously doesn't apply to the above poster who had problems and needed the extreme pump)

JadedCPN, BSN, RN · Dec 24, 2017

Even though I am not a mother, I am pro-breastfeeding. The data regarding the benefits are significant and most people are aware that "breast is best" in most cases. I am a huge team player and will cover for anyone for any reasonable reason, even just needing a mental break, including to pump.

HOWEVER, I have major issues with people who abuse the pumping privileges. I can think back to several nurses over the years who would either take 45min-1 hour EACH time, would leave before their admission got there, or when their patient was sitting in a dirty diaper, etc. YES federal law protects your right to pump, but that doesn't mean you can be a ****** person - round on your patients prior, make sure nothing major is due/coming up, be as quick as you can, and all the other basic common courtesy/common sense stuff. It's people who abuse this that I have the issue with.

AsatruRN · Dec 27, 2017

People in general can be so hateful. What if your colostomy bag was leaking? What if you had thyroid storm? I'd curtly ask her (him?) If she knows that lactating mothers are a federally protected class and wonder aloud if you'll need to go to HR for discrimination. If this becomes a problem go to your boss. They're required to let you go separate from a lunch break.

Scorchednurse · Dec 27, 2017

Traveler nurse should have realized that their are laws under Obama care that requires employers to allow women to pump breast milk while they are at work. The application of the law depends on the facility. I work in an office building, they changed our break room to a lactation room.
I was a traveler, this one should be canned.

Wow...there must have been a very large amount of lactating women in one place to change a break room to a lactation room...that's pretty intense!! :lol2: