Insensitive nurses
Cynthia Faullin (cfaullin@uiuc.edu)
Mon, 1 Apr 1996 15:23:04 -0600
On the whole, my experience with nurses in L&D, post-partum and Neo have
been excellent. However, there is an exception and she was the first
post-partum nurse I encountered after Trevor was born. I had been
transfered to PP after 2 more days post delivery in L&D. I was still pretty
sick. Well this older nurse came in to read me the rules about visitors
etc. The rule is no one except spouse/partner of mom and sibliings of baby
allowed on the floor. Any other visitors must be met with in the visitor's
lounge by the elevators. This is all to keep noise down and also to keep
baby from being exposed to too many new people right away. Keep in mind
that women are only in PP for 12-24 hours max. Blah, blah, blah. She
finished up by saying "but of course, your baby won't be with you" Thanks
for rubbing it in. So, I made the point that if I had no baby, why should I
have a restriction on visitors. She agreed and then five minutes later
turned my sister-in-law away. I was livid. I was shocked by the difference
in nursing philosophy between PP and L&D. I had just been moved to PP and
had my catheter taken out and the nurse expected me to go to the bathroom
myself. My God!!!!! She did help me get to the bathroom door, but once in
I had to call for her as my hearing started to go and the room got black. I
couldn't believe it! I don't think she had a clue as to how sick I was.
Probably hadn't even read my chart. Cynthia