Our hospital seems to be operating under the same theory--that the nurses should be doing it.  That's why our department was downsized by one-third.  Because of that, I have even LESS time for teaching, research and developing educational information for parents and staff.  I wish I had 1.5 FTEs in our NICU (two would be ideal!)--I need the help!
What I have experienced is that the nurses in the NICU will take on a lot of the breastfeeding, but when the census reaches max capacity, they have to have someone else do it, because they really simply do not have time or the energy.  Taking care of critically ill infants takes that too.  And breastfeeding teaching takes a lot of time and energy as well.  They just have to prioritize, and the breastfeeding gets the short end when the census is high, acuity is high, and staffing ratios are higher.  Last weekend when our census was 62, I saw 18 mothers.  Today it about 45 and I have seen 6 mothers and taught an inservice on nipple shields (so far).
Maureen Allen

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