L&D Nurses, I need your input.

1. 

   realityrounds

   January 8, 2010 at 4:41 am

   This list looks very thorough. I just want to add that these questions should be asked while the mom is alone in the room. The partner should not be present so the mom can answer honestly about sensitive issues such as past abortions, STD’s, abuse, etc. Many women who are suffering from domestic violence have been missed because the nurse was too timid to ask the partner to leave the room during the patient history.

   To a patient these questions may seem like an annoying pain in the a**, but they are very important. You can not look at a patient or “racial profile” them to guess who may be in trouble or not. Childbirth may be the only time in a woman’s life where they have an opportunity to access help and care. As health care workers we can not let these women slip through the cracks and continue to be abused. Our assessments and interventions may be the only hope they have.

   So please think of these women if you become impatient with us medical professionals and our constant , repetitive questions. There is a reason behind this madness.
2. 

   Rachel

   January 8, 2010 at 3:10 pm

   Off topic, but did you see this article?

   http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/lifestyle/stories.nsf/healthfitness/story/5628B1CDF59DDFB1862576A300738B65?OpenDocument
3. 

   atyourcervix

   January 8, 2010 at 5:30 pm

   That’s a very thorough admission H&P assessment. VERY. Where I work, we’re not that thorough.

   We do:

   Demographics
   Ht/Wt/Allergies/Total weight gain
   Current pregnancy info
   Past pregnancy info
   Current and past medical history (complete) – we do not do a family history (that’s listed in the woman’s prenatal record)
   Domestic violence assessment
   Cultural assessment
   Baby – breast/bottle/pediatrician/ultrasounds/adoption/rooming-in versus non-separation/special requests
   Education assessment
   Complete physical assessment

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