L&D Nurse Jen Hamilton Calls Out Unsafe Staffing: ‘Ask This Question Before You Deliver’
- Jen Hamilton, an experienced labor and delivery nurse and mom of two, shared on TikTok how pregnant women can ensure they receive proper care during labor.
- AWHONN’s nurse staffing standards generally support a 1:1 nurse-to-patient ratio for patients in active labor, with specific ratios based on acuity.
- Hamilton suggests that expectant mothers talk directly to the nurses or local parenting groups when asking about unit staffing ratios versus speaking directly with management.
Labor and delivery nurses know that staffing levels can make or break the safety of childbirth. Jen Hamilton, a labor and delivery nurse, is taking this issue viral with her TikTok campaign, urging expectant parents to ask one critical question before choosing a hospital: “Does this hospital follow AWHONN’s safe staffing standards?”
"I did not say guidelines. I did not say suggestions. I said standards," she said. "It is a huge document that lays out exactly what safe staffing is on a perinatal unit.”
The Association of Women's Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses (AWHONN) defines safe staffing as one nurse per patient in active labor. However, many nurses find themselves stretched thin, juggling multiple laboring patients. Hamilton, author of the upcoming book Birth Vibes, is determined to bring attention to this issue.
"If you or someone you love is going to give birth in a hospital, there is a question that you need to ask before you go that can determine whether you are likely to have safe care or not. And there are going to be hospitals that are pissed that I am making this video, but I hope it goes far and wide," she began in her TikTok. "But you need to know whether the hospital that you are going to give birth in follows AWHONN's safe staffing standards."
@_jen_hamilton_ Ask this question
♬ original sound - Jen Hamilton
Why Staffing Matters
Maternal mortality rates in the U.S. are the highest among developed nations. Research published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that U.S. maternal mortality rates more than doubled between 1999 and 2019, rising from about 13 to over 32 deaths per 100,000 live births. Studies show that understaffing is directly tied to patient mortality and adverse outcomes.
Hamilton emphasizes, “Your nurse should be caring for no more than two patients ever. And that should be on a bad day.” Nurses often find themselves juggling multiple patients, hoping no one delivers while they’re busy with another.
What Patients Can Do
Hamilton advises expectant parents to dig deeper when researching hospitals. Instead of calling the main line, she suggests connecting with labor and delivery staff through personal networks or local parent groups. The key question to ask: “How often are you asked to care for more than two patients?”
If you’re already in labor and notice unsafe staffing, Hamilton recommends asking for the house supervisor and requesting documentation of the issue in your medical chart. This creates a paper trail and highlights the problem where it matters most.
"First, never ever place blame on the nurse," she shared. Staffing levels are set by hospital administration, and nurses are doing their best under challenging conditions.
Why This Matters for Nurses
Hamilton’s campaign isn’t just about educating parents—it’s also about supporting nurses. Unsafe staffing isn’t just dangerous for patients; it’s also one of the biggest contributors to nurse burnout.
By encouraging transparency and empowering patients to ask the right questions, Hamilton is helping to shine a light on systemic issues that are often swept under the rug.
So, whether you’re a nursing student just starting out, an experienced labor and delivery nurse, or a nurse in a completely different specialty, there’s something to take away from Hamilton’s advocacy. At the end of the day, safe staffing saves lives.
As Hamilton’s viral campaign shows, sometimes all it takes is one nurse willing to speak up to get the conversation started.
More about Jen Hamilton can be found here.
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