gripe

[JoFromOz]

Can I just vent a little?   My new workplace is frustrating me.. I'm working in the Antenatal Clinic atm as part of my Midwifery graduate program, and not enjoying being a handmaiden to the doctors at all.  It's privatised, so I open the history to the right page, call the woman in and do her BP and the doc does the rest. Not very satisfying.  Today, walking past one of the rooms,  I overheard a doctor say "we won't let you go over 38 weeks"...  I know there is possibly a reason for this, but I really hate the language they use... 'won't let".. as if the woman has no say at all.  I mentioned this to the midwife incharge, and she said, 'of course it's not up to her!" I was so shocked!!! "But it's her body! He can't do anything to her unless she says so..." etc, etc.  I just said that there could have been a better way of putting it, like, 'My advice is..." The midwife just shook her head at me and turned away.  I couldn't believe it :(   And the other thing... one of the pamphlets they routinely hand out down there is one about 'Never shake a baby".  The first thing it says to try if your baby is crying and not hungry or dirty is to give it a bottle of water!!!  They still do that on the post natal wards over night at this hospital if a baby is crying and is breast fed!  I said to another co-worker how appalled I was that they suggest this, not even mentioning age appropriateness... just simply, 'give your baby a bottle of water'.  And she said, "yeah? what else would you do then? Have you ever had a baby that cries constantly?"  she proceeded to tell me how she thinks all maternal and child health nurses should have their own babies before giving out advice, etc etc...    Not happy, Jan :(   And I haven't even told you anything about the birth suite yet :(   Jo   Be happy; for every minute you're angry you lose 60 seconds of happiness.