1997 - Planned induction. Difficult birth, nurse went on break, needed forceps, break-nurse pushing down on top of my baby bump under my rib cage making my empty stomach gag a few times. Original-nurse comes back from break. Break-nurse stays and continues to shove her fingers into my stomach making me continue to gag. Original-nurse decides to put a bowl under my mouth in case I vomit. UNFORTUNATELY for me Original-nurse had had a cigarette on her break. Her hands smelt like an ashtray. I'm told pregnant women's sense of smell is heightened. NOW I really wanted to vomit. I tried several times to shove her hands away, she kept shoving the bowl back in my face telling me I was going to throw up... Yes, I was going to throw up BECAUSE of her ashtray smelling hands. I never did throw up as I had not eaten in almost 24 hours. It's been 25 years and I still remember her ignorance at how bad her hand smelt and that she was making me want to vomit when I should have been concentrating on pushing.
Did you provide feedback about your experience?: No. They never ask for feed back. Busy with recovery and baby afterwards.
Additional comments:
Don't give non smokers nurses that smoke
Don't hire nurses that smoke.
Have nurses wear glove while they're smoking and take them off afterwards.
Have nurses who smoke wear gloves after their smoke break with their patients.
Have nurses brush their teeth or gargle with mouth wash and change their clothes after smoking.
I never did understand the nurses outfit, I see them wearing them to work on public transit.
Really, they're supposed to be clean, and they’re riding public transit to work in them. Smoking several times a day in the outfit.
