----------

> Dear Caren,
> I am sorry to say I HEAR YOU!! This must be one of the most aggravating
> aspects to an LC's job.  I have been working against this type of
thinking
> for two years and am about to quit!!  In my hospital I am critized for
> promoting Breastfeeding because it makes bottle-feeding mother's feel
> quilty...'we should support their feeding choice'..While I do not make
> statements to anyone that would make them feel quilty, I DO offer
> information on why breastfeeding is the best choice.  The last straw
about
> to break this camel's back is the lastest idea presented to me by the
> staff that we (our unit) will be sponsouring a Bottlefeeding Promotion
> Month!!  THis idiotic (sp?) idea is to appease the bottlefeeding
mother's
> who might feel left out during our August Is Breastfeeding Awareness
> Month!! Can anyone top that?!?!?  Believe it or not!?! (By the way our
> unit Director initiated the idea and is determined that she must remain
> neutral and not show 'favortism' to any patient's choice, Budget issues,
> YOU know!)
>
> Wish I could say Hang in There but venting is good for me too.
> Lucy Brey, R.N. C.L.E.
>
> ----------
> > From: Caren Goldstein <[log in to unmask]>
> > To:
> > Subject: Frustration
> > Date: Monday, July 29, 1996 5:13 PM
> >
> > I am so frustrated by a situation that happened last night at work
that
> I
> > just need to get it off my chest.  I work 12 hr night shift in a level
2
> scn.
> >  We rotate through the nursery and post-partum when needed.  I worked
in
> the
> > nursery last night with a per diem RN. for the first four hours
> (7pm-11pm).
> >  She only works about 1 or 2 shifts a month.  She went to the
postpartum
> unit
> > (which is down a hallway from the nursery) to check on the babies.
When
> she
> > came back she was angry because she felt that a visitor was
interfering
> with
> > her parent teaching.  This nurse told a mom who's baby was about 6
hours
> old,
> > that the baby was starting to get jaundice and she should give the
baby
> a
> > bottle of glucose water.  The visitor questioned that and said she
> nursed 2
> > children and after her baby got a bottle she had a real hard time with
> nipple
> > confusion.  The nurse said this is between her and the parents.  The
> mother
> > was concerned and then questioned the nurse who said she didn't have
to
> but
> > if she doesn't the baby will probably get more jaundiced and need
> treatment.
> >  The mother asked if she should nurse first and then give the water.
> The
> > nurse told her since it had only been 2 hours since she nursed she
> should
> > just give the water.  When she told me this she was annoyed at the
> visitor
> > and I tried to explain to this nurse that we no longer give newborn
> babies
> > who are breastfeeding supplements unless it is medically necessary and
> that
> > glucose water does not decrease jaundice, especially in a baby who is
> only
> > six hours old.  If the baby is jaundiced this early than there is
> something
> > else causing it, not breastfeeding.  She then told me she has been a
> nurse
> > for a long time and that glucose water will get the baby to void and
> stool
> > and decrease the jaundice.  At that point she refused to listen to me.

> I had
> > just gotten a new admission and got not get out to the mother
> immediately
> > because there are only 2 nurses in the unit.
> >
> > As soon as I could I went out to try and get to the parents to explain
> to
> > them to not give the bottle but they had already done so. By the way
the
> > night nurse and I both looked at the baby and didn't think she even
> looked
> > jaundice.  I spoke to the charge nurse about it (luckily she is also
an
> > IBCLC) and she was also upset about it and said she would speak to the
> nurse
> > and give her some information about breastfeeding, jaundice and our
> policies.
> >  After she spoke to the nurse (explaining that the mother and guest
> >  commented to her about it to try and avoid a confrontation between me
> and
> > her), The nurse then came in to the nursery and yelled at me that I
had
> no
> > respect for her knowledge, she has been a nursery nurse for 16 years
and
> she
> > knows a lot about babies and helping breastfeeding mothers.  I told
her
> she
> > in fact showed no respect for my nursing knowledge and my knowledge of
> > lactation which is based on much study and experience.  It was 15
> minutes
> > before the end of the shift and she left.
> >
> > I am so frustrated by working with people that have probably never
read
> > anything about breastfeeding and go with information that was given to
> us
> > 10-15 years ago.  I have been and RN for 13 years and in nursing
school
> and
> > in my orientation to OB and Nursery and ICN I learned nothing about
> lactation
> > so I am sure it was the same with her.  10 years ago I might have
given
> the
> > same advice.  I didn't learn anything until 6 years ago when I nursed
my
> > first child and became very interested in the subject.  I started
> reading,
> > attending seminars and helping all the mothers that were having
problems
> on
> > night shift because most of the other nurses didn't have the knowledge
> and/or
> > the patience to do it.  I still feel with many of these nurses that I
am
> > banging my head against the wall.  They refuse to believe in nipple
> confusion
> > or the hazards of ABM.  I wonder how many others have this problem.
The
> only
> > way I feel I have helped these nurses is that they won't sneek a
bottle
> inot
> > a breast fed baby at night when they know I am working.  I do know
that
> they
> > do it when I am not there.
> >
> > I guess I have gone on long enough.  Thanks for listening.
> > Caren Goldstein RNC, IBCLC
> >