Obstetric Nightmares

http://stem.org.au/shoots/obstetric-nightmares

Why are ED doctors and nurses uncomfortable with obstetrics? A few reasons:

1. We don’t do it very often. Perhaps once a month in our busier EDs, and if you work or train somewhere like PA – not never.
2. The actions we do as defaults for sick patients (cannula, O2, ECG) are generally useless.
3. Things can go wrong terrifyingly fast.
4. If they do go wrong, we are unlikely to know how to respond, because most of us haven’t done O&G/midwifery for years (if at all).
5. The cargo is unbearably precious, and the situation is emotionally charged.

One thing that ED staff are good at, however, is confronting and overcoming our fears. And we felt much better able to cope after 2 hours of fantastic training from Carmel Smitheram, Acting Clinical Educator in Nambour’s Maternity Unit, and (for the regs) a comprehensive tute from Paul Blackery.
- See more at: http://stem.org.au/shoots/obstetric-nightmares#sthash.Gvo40mfM.dpuf

Last week in the STEM sessions, we confronted our worst obstetric nightmares.
(WARNING: as they say on the ABC, some viewers may find this video disturbing).
Why are ED doctors and nurses uncomfortable with obstetrics? A few reasons:

1. We don’t do it very often. Perhaps once a month in our busier EDs, and if you work or train somewhere like PA – not never.
2. The actions we do as defaults for sick patients (cannula, O2, ECG) are generally useless.
3. Things can go wrong terrifyingly fast.
4. If they do go wrong, we are unlikely to know how to respond, because most of us haven’t done O&G/midwifery for years (if at all).
5. The cargo is unbearably precious, and the situation is emotionally charged.

One thing that ED staff are good at, however, is confronting and overcoming our fears. And we felt much better able to cope after 2 hours of fantastic training from Carmel Smitheram, Acting Clinical Educator in Nambour’s Maternity Unit, and (for the regs) a comprehensive tute from Paul Blackery.

- See more at: http://stem.org.au/shoots/obstetric-nightmares#sthash.Gvo40mfM.dpuf

Last week in the STEM sessions, we confronted our worst obstetric nightmares.
(WARNING: as they say on the ABC, some viewers may find this video disturbing).
Why are ED doctors and nurses uncomfortable with obstetrics? A few reasons:

1. We don’t do it very often. Perhaps once a month in our busier EDs, and if you work or train somewhere like PA – not never.
2. The actions we do as defaults for sick patients (cannula, O2, ECG) are generally useless.
3. Things can go wrong terrifyingly fast.
4. If they do go wrong, we are unlikely to know how to respond, because most of us haven’t done O&G/midwifery for years (if at all).
5. The cargo is unbearably precious, and the situation is emotionally charged.

One thing that ED staff are good at, however, is confronting and overcoming our fears. And we felt much better able to cope after 2 hours of fantastic training from Carmel Smitheram, Acting Clinical Educator in Nambour’s Maternity Unit, and (for the regs) a comprehensive tute from Paul Blackery.

- See more at: http://stem.org.au/shoots/obstetric-nightmares#sthash.Gvo40mfM.dpuf