I had written earlier that I planned to ask our manager why formula
reps could give out "freebies" to staff and show up on the unit with
only their company ID, not the hospital "Visitor" ID.  I hope none
of you were holding your breath.  I really hit a brick wall.  The
attitude was "we have such good breastfeeding rates, it can't be
having a negative effect".  Also "we need to consider staff
satisfaction and retention.  These little perks go a long way to
keep staff happy."  I was really feeling frustrated and it was
obvious I wasn't going to make any headway.  I stated that I did not
feel it was appropriate and I felt obligated to raise the question.
In other words, we sort of agreed to disagree.  This won't be the
last she hears about it.  I intend to be like a pesky
mosquito-raising the questions every opportunity I can find and
keeping the subject alive.

There was a posting on the "employee bulliten board " (otherwise
known as the back of the staff bathroom door)  announcing a
"wonderful opportunity" for the nurses.  Every time they give a baby
a bottle of E.... they write their name in the lid and drop it in a
special diaper bag in the staff lounge.  Same goes for every time
they give out E...'s diaper bag-they tear off a tag, write their
name on it and drop it in the bag.  The rep will then be drawing for
baseball game tickets at our new staduim!  The announcement
blatently stated "The more bottles of E... you use and the more
E...diaper bags you give out the better your chance to win
tickets."  When I pointed out to the manager that this was asking
the nurses to "push" that particular formula, she again couldn't see
why it was a problem.  ARRRGGGHHH!!!  I'm going to check our
Policy/Procedure book again tomorrow.  I'm sure there's something
about nurses not promoting specific products.  I think I'll take
this one directly to the Vice-President of Patient Services
(Director of Nursing).  Wish me luck!

Days like this it's hard to keep any past progress in mind.  Running
into these brick walls leaves too many bruises!

Winnie Mading RNC, IBCLC

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