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Date: | Wed, 5 Oct 2005 08:50:51 EDT |
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Yes, it's true that administrators and nursing managers view LCs in a
totally different context.
Here in SFl we have the luxury of 5 IBCLCs and only one is deemed the real
LC....she is currently on FMLA and may not return. We all offered to fill in,
but "NO" was the reply.
But when a VIP patient requested specifically for a consult....they asked me
to see her...then when someone else asked they sent the lady who teaches MB
and CPR and Infant Masage classes because I had a full patient load. If
someone needs to be seen on the floor I am assigned to as a staff nurse and I go
its "OK", but we have a PT and one per diem nurse who would do rounds as LCs
but "NO"...staffing can be too tight...either we have not enough staff or we
haven't enough patients. The rule until Renee went out on FMLA was to pull her
to do patient care because the budget was tight. Now the instructor LC is
going out on vacation for about 3 weeks or taking an FMLA as well and that even
spreads resources more thinly.
Management doesn't put a premium on breastfeeding because she doesn't have
children and doesn't think its important. The only thing that gets their
attention is the patient satisfaction surveys and when they come back and give
poor numbers and bonuses are not coming....then they may get intuned.
As a nurse I really don't like taking 5 couplets and running to see patients
becs as we know its time consuming (like it's supposed to be ) to see Moms
with problems and I certainly wouldn't want to be seeing LC patients and then
get pulled to do patient care. No one wins.
All I can do suggest give me fewer patients and let me see patients on the
side I am assigned but then my coworkers get stuck with bigger assignments and
that is a definite no win situation.
So at the next staff meeting on Tuesday we plan to address it. Might get
shot down (won't be first time) and see what the new plan is...will also take it
to the Patient Satisfaction Committee meeting where we review the surveys
and try to come up with ways of improving the scores....My feeling is the more
people know about why the patients aren't getting what they deserve and
request the more the blame will be centered on the problem and if its becs someone
won't address the need one way we will another. Until then any patient who
leaves our unit is given the number of an outside IBCLC or WIC helpline for
followup after discharge and its written down.
Frustrated as much as everyone else.
Leanne Jewell RNC, IBCLC, LCCE, FACCE
SFl
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