A birthing couple requests to have the placenta after the baby is born. What is the nurse's best response?

A birthing couple requests to have the placenta after the baby is born. What is the nurse's best response?

• A. We cannot accommodate this request.
• B. The placenta will be disposed of as per policy.
• C. Let me check about how to go about doing this.
• D. Placenta retrieval is not permitted.

Answer: (C)

The main idea here is handling a patient request that isn’t guaranteed by routine practice by first checking the hospital’s policy and outlining the steps. Asking to take the placenta home can depend on the facility’s rules, safety considerations, and procedures for handling perinatal tissues, so the nurse should verify what’s allowed before committing. Saying, “Let me check about how to go about doing this,” shows respect for the couple’s wishes while ensuring actions align with current policy. It communicates you’re taking the request seriously, you’ll consult the right guidelines or supervisors, and you’ll follow proper steps for consent, safety, and documentation. This keeps trust intact and prevents assumptions or miscommunication. Placenta handling varies by institution—some places may permit returning the placenta to the family, others may have specific disposal or processing rules, and there are safety and legal considerations to address. By offering to check, you’re guiding the process in a patient-centered way and ensuring the correct pathway is followed. Avoiding an immediate yes or no without checking also helps avoid misunderstandings and potential policy violations, while still keeping the door open for a positive outcome if the policy allows.

The main idea here is handling a patient request that isn’t guaranteed by routine practice by first checking the hospital’s policy and outlining the steps. Asking to take the placenta home can depend on the facility’s rules, safety considerations, and procedures for handling perinatal tissues, so the nurse should verify what’s allowed before committing.

Saying, “Let me check about how to go about doing this,” shows respect for the couple’s wishes while ensuring actions align with current policy. It communicates you’re taking the request seriously, you’ll consult the right guidelines or supervisors, and you’ll follow proper steps for consent, safety, and documentation. This keeps trust intact and prevents assumptions or miscommunication.

Placenta handling varies by institution—some places may permit returning the placenta to the family, others may have specific disposal or processing rules, and there are safety and legal considerations to address. By offering to check, you’re guiding the process in a patient-centered way and ensuring the correct pathway is followed.

Avoiding an immediate yes or no without checking also helps avoid misunderstandings and potential policy violations, while still keeping the door open for a positive outcome if the policy allows.