Winnie has informed us of yet another ploy to market formula through the
health care system. Your manager obviously thinks little of her staff and
appears not to be doing her own job if she has to depend on trinkets and toys
from formula companies to retain nurses. If the rep is violating the vendor
policy of the hospital it should be reported to the Head of the Purchasing
Department or whomever is in charge of vendors in the hospital.

Next, place to go is to the Ethics Committee for guidance on why commercial
entities are permitted to influence patient care to the detriment of their
health. Then visit the Risk Management people and ask what they think about
the fact that supplementing a breastfed baby with formula during the first
three days will increase the risk in a susceptible infant of provoking
allergies, diabetes, or gastrointestinal disease. Are the mothers informed
about this risk while the nurse purloins bottle caps for her baseball
tickets? Perhaps the Director of Nursing might like to know that employees
are playing games rather than delivering state of the art care. If bottle
caps are more important than health outcomes, perhaps these nurses and their
manager would benefit from an ethics lecture.

Then visit the hospital attorney for an opinion on this contest and the
legality of bribing nurses to market products. Too bad these people sell
themselves so cheap. I guess facts just fly in the face of inticements. I
certainly would not want any of them caring for my daughter when she delivers
my grandchild in May. Winnie, you have an uphill battle but consider using
the system and keep going until people understand the concept of patient
CARE. With you as the patient's advocate maybe change will happen. You can
always call me if you need more ideas!

Marsha Walker, RN, IBCLC
Weston, MA

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