Do NOT turn your NICU into a beauty salon: a lesson by Olive View-UCLA

[ForbiddenComma]

---

Members don't see this ad.

As I enter my pediatrics residency, I will take to heart this lesson learned the hard way by the staff of Olive View-UCLA.

http://www.latimes.com/news/custom/topofthetimes/topstories/la-me-babies-20100506,0,5695943.story

"Los Angeles County officials have placed two staff members at Olive View- UCLA Medical Center in Sylmar on paid leave after allegations that they had participated in a makeshift beauty salon atop medical equipment in the ward for high-risk newborns, according to county officials...

"Nurses and doctors through the shift get their manicures, eye brows waxed and nails filed," according to a copy of one of the complaints obtained by The Times. "The smell of acetone permeates the back area of the NICU...

"Some of the hospitals' infectious disease staff, who are supposed to prevent such activity, instead participated, according to the complaint, including one doctor who "had a French manicure right on the high frequency ventilator."

Now, who among us has not considered this an ideal location for a French manicure? After all, acetone probably does wonderful things to premature lungs. Still, some may get the wrong idea for some reason...

 

[blanche]

As I enter my pediatrics residency, I will take to heart this lesson learned the hard way by the staff of Olive View-UCLA.

http://www.latimes.com/news/custom/topofthetimes/topstories/la-me-babies-20100506,0,5695943.story



Now, who among us has not considered this an ideal location for a French manicure? After all, acetone probably does wonderful things to premature lungs. Still, some may get the wrong idea for some reason...

OMG.

there are so many things that are ridiculous about the NICU, but this takes the cake.

 

[MayaP]

My best friend is a NICU nurse at a county hospital (not Olive View) and takes personal offense to what's been going on. She takes great pride in her work, she's an incredible nurse with several commendations, and she is very embarrassed by what happened in Olive View because she was afraid that now everyone is going to think County NICUs give poor care. She was also VERY angry that this happened. Doesn't matter if it was in the NICU or on a general Med-Surg floor. These people shouldn't be working in any kind of health care setting. It only takes a few people who make very poor choices to make a lot of people look very bad. So before you start generalizing and saying that what goes on in NICUs is "rediculous", take a moment to think about.

 

[blanche]

My best friend is a NICU nurse at a county hospital (not Olive View) and takes personal offense to what's been going on. She takes great pride in her work, she's an incredible nurse with several commendations, and she is very embarrassed by what happened in Olive View because she was afraid that now everyone is going to think County NICUs give poor care. She was also VERY angry that this happened. Doesn't matter if it was in the NICU or on a general Med-Surg floor. These people shouldn't be working in any kind of health care setting. It only takes a few people who make very poor choices to make a lot of people look very bad. So before you start generalizing and saying that what goes on in NICUs is "rediculous", take a moment to think about.

cool, thanks MayaP!! i work in a nicu, but your worldly advice about making "rediculous" generalizations sure is appreciated! (i see you are a premed..)