[RNin2007]

For all you nurse managers or just the opinion of any NICU nurses...

I just found out that I am pregnant =). I will graduate 6/15, and the new grad program starts Aug. 1st. I am applying to the NICU (had a great relationship with staff during my 12 week clinicals there)...and I am wondering what they will think about hiring a pregnant new grad. I will be about 30 weeks pregnant Aug. 1st and their orientation is 5 months. I am wondering if I even have a chance now. My interview will be in a few weeks, I am not even showing yet but I fully intend to tell them I am pregnant. I really got along very well with the nurses during my clinicals, and they were excited that I was interested in working there...and very encouraging to me. If I was hired, I would not want to start there with bad feelings because I will need to leave in the middle of my orientation.

If you were the clinical manager (or if you are) and you really thought I qualified well, and was a good fit for the unit, would you even consider hiring me? I know you aren't supposed to discriminate because of pregnancy, but the reality is it may be an inconvenience for them. I plan on delivering at the end of Sept. and want to take 6-8 weeks off with baby. What I would really hope for is they would be willing to hire me, and just have me start at a later date than the other 2 new grads they will be hiring.

Any advice or words of encouragement??

Thank you,

Joni

[Gompers]

Congratulations on your pregnancy!!!

Okay, now for the hard part. Honestly, I think it will hinder your chances at the position. Most NICU new grad programs include classroom time as well as one on one precepting on the unit. They usually only do this once or twice a year, depending on the unit. So really, letting you start at a different time than the others might not be an option. Also, the first few months in the NICU are very important - there is a huge learning curve since you really don't learn much about neonatal care in nursing school. Even if you get most of the orientation under your belt before the baby, having an interruption at that point when you go on leave can make you forget much of what you've just learned. It's just a rough situation.

Being in your third trimester AND starting a new stressful job might not be a good match either. Is there any way you could wait to start working after the baby is born? Remember that most hospitals in the US do NOT provide paid maternity leaves, and even those that do usually don't offer that until you've worked there for a year or so. You usually have to use your paid time off (sick and vacation time) which as a new employee you won't have time to build up. So money-wise, it might not make much of a difference to start before the baby. Do they have a new grad program that starts in the winter for December graduates? That would be PERFECT for you! Or maybe they can work something out like you can work in the regular newborn nursery (shorter orientation) at first and then after you've had the baby you can be transferred to the NICU the next time they have a new grad orientation...

I wish you luck.

[Jolie]

You are correct that it is illegal to discriminate in hiring on the basis of pregnancy, and no smart manager or HR specialist would attempt to do so. That said, Gompers is right that a maternity leave would have a negative effect on the process of NICU orientation, something every NICU manager knows.

I applaud your honesty about your condition. You are not obligated in any way to share your pregnancy with the people who interview you, and many candidates would choose not to do so, prefering to take the job and deal with the ramifications later, placing a burden on the unit and manager to work out orientation, maternity leave and scheduling. In my capacity as a NICU manager, I would have been pleased with your honesty, and would have made every attempt to work out a later start date that fit better with your due date. Gompers has also made a good suggestion that you consider mother-baby or Newborn Nursery first, units with shorter orientation times that would allow you to complete orientation and begin to function independently prior to delivering.

Be prepared to discuss a few different options that demonstrate your willingness to be flexible and work to the benefit of the hospital and unit. That will make a very good impression on the hiring manager.

Best of luck to you. What an exciting time!

[RNin2007]

Thanks so much! This was very helpful at sorting out my thoughts...and I think I will approach the nurse manager (whom I've already met with during the time I was there for 11 weeks to express my interest in NICU). She knows me and knows I love the unit, and has told me the nurses have said good things about me. I really feel honestly is the only way I can do this, and I am very willing to be flexible according to what they need. Even if that means starting at a later date, or working somewhere else until they will be orienting new grads again. Whatever it takes!

Thanks so much for your advice. It means a lot to me coming from someone who knows all the particulars of what this means to a unit, and how to make it work for everyone.

And thanks for the congrats! We are very excited. My first two children were very tiny preemies, and I had genetic counseling last year and found out I have a clotting disorder (Factor V Leiden) that likely caused my preeclampsia...i'm on lovenox daily and baby asprin for this pregnancy and seeing an MFM so I'm hoping for a long healthy 9 months!

Joni

[Gompers]

Originally Posted by RNin2007

And thanks for the congrats! We are very excited. My first two children were very tiny preemies, and I had genetic counseling last year and found out I have a clotting disorder (Factor V Leiden) that likely caused my preeclampsia...i'm on lovenox daily and baby asprin for this pregnancy and seeing an MFM so I'm hoping for a long healthy 9 months!

I've heard really good things about the lovenox and aspirin treatment during pregnancy - it's helped MANY women with that disorder who had numerous preemies and miscarriages finally carry babies full-term! I'm so glad they've figured it out and wish you a very healthy (and very LONG) pregnancy!

How are your preemies now?

[RNin2007]

Gompers I just got goosebumps reading your post! Awesome! I have heard it from my MFM/Peri but to hear it from someone else who has also seen it firsthand is sooo encouraging. Of course, I am prepared for what could happen - been there done that twice already and so thankful my children turned out totally fine...but it would be my dream to have a regular full term baby. My daughter who was 680 grams is almost 13 and in perfect health...my son who was 970 grams just turned 10 and is also doing wonderful. He technically has the diagnosis of hydrocephalus, but does not have a shunt (he had an endoscopic third vent.) and has been shunt free since 2...his neuropsych exams have been great. He's a regular 10 yr old kiddo!

[Jolie]

Wow, you could write the book! Glad to hear that your children are well, and wish you a very uneventful pregnancy and delivery!