Breastfeeding
When to get nasty about not being able to pump at work?? (I am a nurse) LONG
Ok, so I started back to work last week and I am a Lead RN on a VERY busy Post ICU unit. All I am asking is to be able to pump 2x during my day from 7a-745pm. I dont get any other breaks besides MAYBE a 15-20min lunch break. Fellow nurses can probably agree with the fact that we are almost always understaffed and expected to do too much with not enough resources. HOWEVER, I dont feel like my childs only source of nutrition should be totally disregarded. So yesterday was unearthly busy. We took at least 10 admits and I dont know how many discharges. I had to go to 3 meetings and 2 interviews. Plus I am working the floor and in charge of everything going on. I dont even leave to floor when I pump because I cant even hand off my things to anyone. The is no one to cover for ME. So I fed/pumped at 5am and then couldnt pump till 1230pm. Of course it was absolute chaos and the house supervisor (supervises staffing/needs of whole hospital) came around at 6pm with MORE patients for me to take. I told her I had to pump SOMETHING because I was starting to be in pain. She was like "well, I dont know what to tell you"...really?? So I got pi$$ed and went in and pumped for 5mins. Thats all I could do before I was being called out on the floor. I ended up having to stay late 9pm to finish charting and such because I of course also had to take patients on top of everything else. I got home about 945 and fed LO and pumped. So at worked I pumped at 1230(full pump) and 6pm (5min) between the hrs of 5am and 945pm that is NOT enough to sustain my supply and feed my LO. I am very upset about this and I understand that it is busy and I cant be away alot. All I am asking for is 2 full pumps (I would like 3). Has anyone been in this situation? What did you do?
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Re: When to get nasty about not being able to pump at work?? (I am a nurse) LONG
I'd get nasty now...
I understand busy hospitals. I really do...just because I work in the veterinary field, doesn't mean I can't relate. I have fears about finding time, too. Seems like the best thing to do is probably set up a meeting with your supervisor and explain the situation/ need to be able to do this. Heck, you aren't asking for more than, what 30 minutes a day minimum... If you were in California, this would NOT even be an issue. You would have two breaks and a lunch...if not, the labor board LOVES to know this stuff.
First let me say I am so sorry to hear that you are dealing with this. I work in healthcare and I got more crap about breastfeeding/pumping from my co-workers than any stranger or family member in my 14months of breastfeeding/pumping for DS. As PPs mentioned I would go to your supervisor( my supervisor was one of my biggest critics) but I would also consider meeting with human resources as they will know exactly what your company policy is regarding pumping and review state law. I eventually left my job and when I met with HR they were horrified to hear about my difficulties with pumping, especially since they were in violation of state law regarding breastfeeding.
https://www.dol.gov/whd/regs/compliance/whdfs73.pdf
They have to provide you time and a place to pump. If you are in pain they are not providing you the reasonable time. I'd put my foot down. I honestly can't imagine having a day like that! I would have been in so much pain I would have been sweating. Not to mention they could cause you to get sick with mastitis or a clogged duct!
This. Exactly. Patients dont realize what goes on "behind the scenes". Neither does management. I can spend hours arguing about getting a patient a MRI/ some procedure/finding X form/ dealing with X issues/etc that could have better been spent doing patient care.
I work a step down floor and quite frankly, I don't care whats going on. I go pump. I do my AM assessments, give my AM meds, deal with any immediate issues, and go. I prefer to get things charted first and sometimes it happens, sometimes it doesnt.
I do pump TID now- 830/9 ish, lunch, and 330ish.
I'd start creating an uproar now if I were you. Otherwise if you wait a month they'll pull the "well you were fine this way for a month, so why complain now??"
Good luck
Meg, my original plan was to pump 3x at the time you do. That just probably wont work most days. The problem is I am the Lead and everyone expects me to be on the floor helping them constantly and I think honestly, they are annoyed when I have to pump. How does your lead/charge function? What would you think if she was gone pumping 3x/day?
I read the labor laws the PP linked. According to that I would have to be compensated during any break I took to pump because I am still answering phone calls. This is such a PIA. I think I will see how it goes this weekend and document things and go to my direct supervisor with the issues.
This exactly. You need to make sure they know that the way it was, is not the way it can be for any longer. Is there any way you can do your charting while pumping so you don't have to stay late?
I know it must be really difficult, but you need to put yoru foot down and make sure they know that this is not acceptable but you are willing to work with them regarding making sure everything is done. But you can't continue like this.
I'm an RN in a cardiac ICU and work two 12 hour shifts. When DS was 4-6 months old. I told my manager that I will be pumping every 4 hours (starting from the 6am ish time I nurse my sone). So around 10, 2 and 6pm. So I asked her what are we going to do so that happens? My manager is great (and BF 2 kids herself). The resource nurse covers me when I go (or someone else who just has 1 pt). WHen I am resource I leave my cell phone number at the desk and tell the secretary to have the clinical advisor call me if there is an issue I can handle over the phone, but I will not be stopping my pumping during that time.
I don't always get to pump at 6, and now that he is almost 9 months old that is ok with me. If I were you I would go to HR NOW. Document everything. Check your legal rights by the state. I assume you are not a union hospital (I'm not either), because then you wouldn't be having any of these problems. It would not kill your lazy supervisor to cover you at least twice a day.
I have 3 sets of pump stuff I put in freezer bags, use the simple wishes hands free pumping bra and I eat when I pump to save time.
Then you should also include your HR in the discussion and start it NOW. GL.
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I would ask if they'd rather lose you 30-45 min a day to pump or for a few days or longer for mastitis, their choice?
I would get nasty, IMMEDIATELY.
Francesca Pearl is here! Josephine Hope is almost 3!
Our charge was also pumping. She had the phone on her and would answer calls, but took care of immediate items before she left the floor.
Good luck. Its a battle but its so worth it! ( although it shouldn't be a battle...)
We'll miss you sweet Debbie Girl (4.21.12) and sweet Cindy Girl (8.9.12)
I think you do need to advocate for yourself now, but you also need to do whatever you need to do to let go of things during the tiems you are pumping. Set a timer to remind yourself to go pump, and understand that there are some things that can (and will) get done without you there. I assume you were on maternity leave and they managed without you.
You sound like an awesome nurse, but it's very easy for us (generally, I know I do this) to want to make ourselves irreplaceable. Find someone you can delegate things to, and make it clear that you WILL be pumping and that if they want x, y or z, while you're pumping, they should ask the house supervisor. And make it clear to HR/your supervisor, whoever, that this is what you're doing. Set the precedent now.
Be firm, but not necessarily nasty. Think about how YOU can make changes for yourself to make this happen (and make it clear that your priority is making this work for everyone, without compromising what your BABY needs). And think about what exactly you need from others to make it work.
Hang in there! As I've said in posts before, I'd pump for 2 or 3 or 5 minutes if that's the only time I got. Pump in the car on the way to work. Pumping driving home. I'd hand express for 30 seconds in the bathroom just hoping it would help my supply. I understand how hard it is to pump and stay hydrated on the floor.
Agree with PP. You have rights. You have to ruffle some feathers if it means helping you get covered.
Keep us posted.