Need advice- 6 months pregnant and starting in the ER

Specialties Emergency

Published

Hello.

Ive never posted here- just read all the other postings- but i need some advice before Monday.

I live in NYC and have been offered two jobs both in the ER where I have no experience. Im a fairly new grad- although I was an LPN before but still a lot is new to me.

One is at a smaller hospital with great staffing levels, good reputation but also about an hour away from my house at least.

The second is four blocks from my house, a level 1 trauma center, a public hospital, but really liked the interview and seems to have a pretty good reputation- its one of the busiest ERs in the city.

I would definetly take the second if I wasnt six months PREGNANT. I am worried to work in such an intense hospital will be too much over the next few months. My pregnancy has been uncomplicated and

I feel great now but who knows what can happen? Both hospitals I told I was pregnant before they hired me and have already determined maternity leave.

Where do you think I should go??

Also is it standard for me to pay for ACLS and PALS before orientation or is it usually part of orientation?

Let me know what you think!!!!!!!!!!!

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Specializes in Maternal - Child Health.

First of all, congratulations on your pregnancy. I wish you the very best!

Secondly, I have no idea how to advise you on choosing a job, other than to say that an hour's drive is a LOONNGG time at the end of an exhausting 12 hour shift. I know 2 nurses who fell asleep at the wheel on the way home. One was seriously injured. The other died. Ain't worth it.

Thirdly, there is NO way I would pay upfront for a course that is required by my employer. Not only should the hospital pay for it, they should help you find one, register you for it, and pay your regular salary for the day(s) you attend.

Good luck!

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Specializes in Rural Health.

Touch choice. My 1st job was 1 hour and 15 mins. away from work. When I worked 3 nights in a row - it was horrible because 12 hour shifts often turn into 13,14, or 15 hour shifts. I scared myself on more than one occassion trying to drive home. I never saw my family because all I did was drive to and from work. I began to hate everything about my job because I was so tired from driving, working and trying to sleep in there.

I now work 20 mins. from home and I wouldn't trade that for the world. If my son misses me, he is a short drive away to pop in and say goodnight (he's 8) before he goes to bed. Even after a horrible 12-16 hour shift, I'm still just a short trip away to my home and my bed.

And the required classes should be part of your orientation and you shouldn't have to upfront the cost of the class.

Congrats on your new baby and good luck in your decision.....

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Specializes in Psych, Informatics, Biostatistics.

Yeh, don't do it.

You have no idea (nor any control) what kind of patient you will be receiving in the ER. Your baby is precious and to put yourself and her/him in that position seems to me foolish. Just my own personal opinion.

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Specializes in cardiology.
Yeh, don't do it.

You have no idea (nor any control) what kind of patient you will be receiving in the ER. Your baby is precious and to put yourself and her/him in that position seems to me foolish. Just my own personal opinion.

I don't think that being a nurse in the ER and being pregnant are incompatible. I've not been in that position yet ... but I just took a job in the ER. I won't be quitting when I get pregnant again. I've known plenty of nurses who worked in the ER while pregnant.

The more important thing for you, in my opinion, is the job closer to home. I've been involved in 2 MVAs ... both of which were on the way home, after a 7p-7a shift. Luckily, I was not hurt, and neither was anyone else.

My 2 cents ... stick with the position closer to home.

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I would be more concerned with the hour drive, otherwise working in the ER while pregnant is do-able. I am 7 1/2 months pregnant and work ER 2 days a week, then the floor (med/surg) 2 days a week.

"You have no idea (nor any control) what kind of patient you will be receiving in the ER."

This comment bothers me. No, you will not have any control over what kind of pt you will be receiving in ER, but that goes for the floor as well. I have had pt's on the floor with HIV, Hep, MRSA, TB,umm prisoners.. etc..etc.

"Your baby is precious and to put yourself and her/him in that position seems to me foolish."

I , myself, am not a foolish nurse/person. Universal precautions should be standard, regardless of pregnancy.

You will find most nurses to be understanding of your position. I am not assigned a pt with TB, but will take on an extra instead. As with ER, I have to leave the room when X-Ray rolls in, but most others do to.

Of course you are going to have your limits...but I would base my decision on the drive/distance vs. being pregnant.

Congrats! and Good Luck!

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In the majority of ER's there is little time to sit down, your usually running for twelve hours straight, its very unusual to get a "real lunch break" where you can sit and peacefully eat. In general its Gulping something down between tasks.

"No contol over who walks in" is a nice way of saying that most ER nurses are involved in a physical struggle with a pt at least once a week. My latest was with a 22 year old man, strung out on PCP who had his throat slit in an altercation. As he was punching and biting our staff nurses blood was spurting all over from his neck. The police had to stand by because this was a medical problem, our security guards are older than most grandparents and basicly useless.

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Specializes in Psych, Informatics, Biostatistics.

"This comment bothers me. No, you will not have any control over what kind of pt you will be receiving in ER, but that goes for the floor as well. I have had pt's on the floor with HIV, Hep, MRSA, TB,umm prisoners.. etc..etc." (Lfransis)

Difference is that the patient who is transferred to the floor, is transferred to the floor, he/she does not walk in the door.

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Specializes in cardiology.
"This comment bothers me. No, you will not have any control over what kind of pt you will be receiving in ER, but that goes for the floor as well. I have had pt's on the floor with HIV, Hep, MRSA, TB,umm prisoners.. etc..etc." (Lfransis)

Difference is that the patient who is transferred to the floor, is transferred to the floor, he/she does not walk in the door.

regardless if a pt walks in the door in the ER, or is transported via stretcher from the PACU to the floor.... I'm not convinced you EVER have a great deal of "control" over the types of pts you may take care of.

Pregnancy is a condition, not a disability. I don't think someone should be discouraged from any area of nursing due to a pregnancy.

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Specializes in ICU, ER.

The courses should be paid for in full by your employer. I never heard of staff having to pay for them.

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Specializes in ER, Peds, Charge RN.

I'm about 7000 weeks pregnant (or it feels like it at least) and I'm still working full time in the ER, inner-city-level-one and all that... I'm doing fine.

Sure, my back hurts after three shifts in a row, but I deal with it.

I say take the closer one. If they're willing to work with you on maternity leave, they sound like a supportive place to be. Just be sure to know your limits. Speak up when you need a lunch or a pee break, and be smart about asking for help when you need it. Don't be trying to lift people by yourself, and don't be the one to try and restrain a big-ole PCP user.

After all, what did women do back in the early 1900's when they were pregnant? Working in fields farming crops has to be a lot harder than what we do, and they were just fine.

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Specializes in cardiology-now CTICU.

from my (admittedly non ER) experience, colleagues are usually very understanding about helping a pregnant woman lift/changing assignments/handling an out of control pt for you. all you have to do is ask. and be willing to return the favor when you are able.

i read something about if you are not being told "no" at least 3 times a day, you are not asking for enough. in general many women don't ask for the help we need as we are afraid of putting someone else out or feeling that we are supposed to be taking care of others. so ask away. i too would be more concerned with the commute. thx for letting me but in on your board guys!

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