Pat:  How interesting!  The number of interruptions a mother experiences
during the average hospital day!  One of my partners and I have been doing
an informal count of the number of interruptions that occur just while we
are in the room helping a mom with breastfeeding.  My high so far is 6
interruptions in 15 minutes, not including phone calls the mom received
while I was there.  Mothers average 2-3 phone interruptions during a 15-20
minute lactation visit and many elect to continue the call rather than
continue with the visit.  At our hospital, interruptions include the
manicurist/pedicurist, the picture lady, the Eucharistic minister (that one
is my fault!  I complained at a meeting with our CEO that if our hospital
is faith-based, why weren't patients offered daily Holy Communion - most of
our patients are Catholic, the hospital is not.  She jumped right on that -
there is now a Eucharistic minister making daily rounds offering Communion
to the patients), the volunteers offering the daily newspapers or flowers,
the kitchen staff with meal trays, etc. I'm also not counting visitor
interruptions which can really get out of hand. The list goes on.  I have
suggested to our director that we start looking at how we can reduce the
interruptions but was told that the families want all this.  I don't think
so!  Babies are being left in the nursery all night when mom realizes she
has had exactly 2 hours of sleep in 48 hours and then going home sleep-
deprived.  Then I get the frantic phones calls a day or two after discharge
or the office walk-ins.
When I was in nursing school, about 90 years ago!, a lot of emphasis was
placed on co-ordinating and consolidating nursing care to reduce the number
of interruptions and to allow for more healing rest for the patient.  When
I mention this to the staff, I get blank looks, so I guess this isn't
taught any more in school.  Too bad!

Pam Hirsch, RN,BSN,CLC
Clinical Lead, Lactation Services
Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital
Barrington, IL  USA

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