Pregnant nursing student....

Nurses General Nursing

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Took a couple tests over the weekend and they were positive. I called my midwifes office and made my 1st appointment. Ok, we are excited!! I'm in my last semester and we knew we wanted another eventually and I'm glad it's happening now that school is almost over. However I'm worried about finding a job! I have fertility issues and have needed meds to get pregnant with both my kids, so this is a ******* miracle and didn't expect it to happen, lol. We planned on waiting until I was working before seriously trying. So I'll be about 4 months pregnant at graduation and plan on taking the boards ASAP after that. How likely is it that an employer will discrimate against hiring a pregnant person? I know legally they probably can't, but I know it probably happens, right? Any experience with this?

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I was hoping that I would graduate first and then have my baby (2nd child), but I had my baby... and I graduated 5 days later. I interviewed when I was almost 37 weeks along, and I got offered the job the next day... a week later I had my baby :p I knew a few nursing students who interviewed when they were about 4 or so months pregnant, and they were offered the job.. then went on maternity leave when the baby came.

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Specializes in Labor and Delivery.

I know this may not be the response you want because I am a nursing student, but I just wanted to share my experience. First though, Congratulations!!!!!! I was workign in a hospital in a clerical position when I became pregnant with my first and was a pre-nursing student. I had been applying to many positions taht had more patient care involved and a few of them I had experience in. Well as eveything in the hospital goes slow I didn't get called for interviews until I was about 5 or 6 months pregnant. I had great interviews, 3 to be exact and did not get any! I know you may think that I am just a bad interviewer but I have been working since the summer after 8th grade and have never went on a interview and not been offered the position except these three times. I know it was because I was pregnant, but you can't prove it so theres not much you can do. I actually got a call from another hospital for an interview when I was 8 monthes pregnant and just told them over teh phone and they said they would get to me and surprise they never did, but at least I didn't waste my time going in. These are just my experiences, not sure it's helpful but I do think it may be a little realistic but hopefully not.

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Specializes in Hospital Education Coordinator.

we just hired a pregnant nurse. I think it depends on the facility's need, the individual nurse, how far along she might be----

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hmm, in this economy i think discrimination is more likely to happen than not.

congrats on the pregnancy.

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Specializes in L&D/Maternity nursing.

I didnt get one call back from any of the interviews I went on while pregnant. I wasnt surprised in the least (though I was extremely disappointed obviously).

I hate to be a debbie downer, but my experience wasnt good. My son is now 7 weeks and I've been interviewing again and am more optimistic.

Congrats though! Enjoy your pregnancy and your little one when they arrive. A job will come eventually!

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I found out I was pregnant right before I took my nclex test. Besides the bad market I had three interviews while I was pregnant and I did not receive one of them. One of those interviews was the day before I was scheduled to be induced. I still have not found a permanent position. All I have found is this nursing home that calls me about 3 times a month when someone calls in sick (at least I am getting some experience) I hope this gives me something to find a more stable position. (by the way my kid is 2 years old now)

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Thanks all for your comments and for sharing your experiences! Good and not so good are good to know. Oh and melmarie....if I have a "they", I will blame you, lol!

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I just wanted to say congrats on the pregnancy!!

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Congrats! :anpom::anpom:

Sadly people often discriminate, in a way, with women in their childbearing years and whom are pregnant. I have personally seen people not hire women who mentioned wanting to start a family as a short term goal in interviews. Not everyone is like that though and you can always point out what a blessing this is for you and your family since you have had fertility issues. You would have to be cold hearted to not understand that!

Good luck!!!!

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Specializes in ED.

I was about 6 mos pregnant when I started interviewing for nursing jobs. I was a few mos from graduating with my BSN. I couldn't get anyone to hire me because I was very obviously pregnant. I kept working as a tech until I was ready to have my son, took boards ASAP, and enjoyed my family. (There were no nurse openings where I worked at the time, or I would have been hired on there) I started interviewing for a job at around 4 weeks postpartum with the plan to start work at around 8 weeks postpartum. I got a job in the field of my choice (emergency medicine) at that time.

Another thing to consider is, you do not qualify for FMLA when you have worked somewhere for less than a year. This means that they could hire you not knowing that you are pregnant, but when you go out on maternity leave, they technically do not have to hold your job for you.

HOWEVER,

I have a friend who was pregnant at the same time as me in nursing school. I was about 10 weeks farther along then her. She had a job as a Student Nurse in L&D. They found out she was pregnant while she was still a student, hired her to work there, and assured her they would hold her job for her during maternity leave. Everything worked out fine for her.

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You also have to be realistic and see it from the employer's point of view. They have a vacancy and need someone in it within the next few weeks. They need an employee that will be there for more than a few months. In my country we have one year's mat leave. I've seen more than a few managers burnt by this. Hire someone who isn't showing and after a month they share their good news. Manager has to start looking for a mat leave replacement for 12 months to cover someone who obtained and work in a full time line for 4-5 months and leaves.

I've heard my manager swear the next full time nurse she hires will be male (she forgot about parental leave, if the guy wants he can split the mat leave with his child's mother).

Manager's also have to consider co-workers morale. Short staffed, get new nurse, show her the ropes, mat leave and rinse and repeat with replacement.

I worked with one nurse who had child number one, took her year's leave. Returned four months pregnant with number two, worked enough hours to get a new mat leave. Gone for a year. Returned six months pregnant and tried to work enough hours to get a new mat leave and wound up on bed rest. Seriously, she was listed as permanent full time staff on the union contract and I think she may have worked 16 months out of 48.

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