Pregnant new grad with upcoming interview..

Nurses Job Hunt

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Hi everyone,

I am a new graduate nurse, about to take the NCLEX in the next 3 weeks and I am currently 17 weeks pregnant. (Please don't scold me about the pregnancy..it was not planned and this is my first baby.)

I have been trying to find a job since before I even graduated, and have my first interview tomorrow. The position is at a psychiatric facility specializing in detox. I am a nervous wreck about it because I am not sure if I should or should not disclose the pregnancy. I obviously don't want to be deceiving, but I don't want to throw myself under the bus either.

It is a woman who will be interviewing me. I do have a little pregnant pudge, but it really looks like I just have a little abdominal obesity :sarcastic:

This is for a part-time position with no benefits, so it would not be like I would be screwing them over in that aspect. I currently have health coverage so that would not even be an issue, and I would be willing to work right up until my due date and take an extremely short maternity leave since it is a part-time position...less than the traditional 6-8 weeks would be fine with me.

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Specializes in Med Surg, Specialty.

There is a reason why interviewers are not allowed to ask if you are pregnant. Disclosing this to them would only hurt you.

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Specializes in Psych ICU, addictions.

I would be realistic and not expect that they will hold the job for you to return to after the baby. You are 17 weeks now and still need to pass the NCLEX, so figure that you will start working around 21-22 weeks. That means you'll be working for only 4 months or so, therefore you would not qualify for any FMLA. Depending on the facility, you may still be on probation at the 4 month mark.

So you'd have to gamble on them thinking well-enough of you and your performance that they would entertain granting you a LOA. Who knows, they very well may do that. Or you could consider aiming for a per-diem position, where you'd have more flexibility to take time off.

Best of luck what the interviews, the NCLEX and the pregnancy.

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FMLA! Family medical leave act.

They have to hold your job because of that. Not sure, how much maternity leave a partime employee gets but take it all, especially if you're going to work up to delivery time.

DO NOT tell them you're pregnant. They aren't allowed to discriminate against you for that, so they won't ask.

You might want to plan for unexpected events, having to go on bed rest...things like that.

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It some cases just because you work for a facility doesn't mean that FMLA will protect you. Some company policies state that you must be working for the company for 6 months or more before FMLA would cover you. Don't just assume.

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I switched jobs mid pregnancy and didn't qualify for FMLA. I was obviously pregnant when I interviewed though and disclosed my due date and that I planned to take 6 weeks for maternity leave.

It's definitely a gamble: even if you take a minimal leave you'll still be taking time off shortly after being hired. As a pt position I'm pretty sure you won't have the hours/time required to qualify for FMLA, but replacing you if you've proved yourself a strong employee might be more trouble than it's worth.

I think I'd still wait to bring up your pregnancy until (and if) you are offered the job. Once they've decided they're interested in you they might decide they're OK with you taking maternity leave shortly after starting.

Good luck with your job hunt, the NCLEX, and of course your baby!

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You are 17 weeks now and still need to pass the NCLEX, so figure that you will start working around 21-22 weeks. That means you'll be working for only 4 months or so, therefore you would not qualify for any FMLA. Depending on the facility, you may still be on probation at the 4 month mark.

Even though I still have to take the NCLEX I do have a temporary license which grants me permission to practice right now if I had a job, as long as I am under the supervision of a RN.

Thanks for everyone's comments. I will not disclose it during the initial interview...seems like I would be shooting myself in the foot! :dead:

But if I did get offered the job than I would have to disclose it then because I am sure they would be pretty displeased with me if I suddenly became 5 &1/2 months pregnant right after I was hired.

Sometimes the timing of life just blatantly sucks. Obviously this is not an ideal situation, but it was just the cards I was dealt I suppose

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Specializes in Hospital Education Coordinator.

on the bright side - you will have a salary for the next several weeks after you test. If the job is there after you deliver, great. If not, you move on.

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Specializes in Psych ICU, addictions.
Even though I still have to take the NCLEX I do have a temporary license which grants me permission to practice right now if I had a job, as long as I am under the supervision of a RN.

Thanks for everyone's comments. I will not disclose it during the initial interview...seems like I would be shooting myself in the foot! :dead:

But if I did get offered the job than I would have to disclose it then because I am sure they would be pretty displeased with me if I suddenly became 5 &1/2 months pregnant right after I was hired.

Sometimes the timing of life just blatantly sucks. Obviously this is not an ideal situation, but it was just the cards I was dealt I suppose

Still, even with the hiring process you're probably not going to start working for at least 2-3 weeks anyway.

In your case it's a pretty tough call on disclosing. On one hand, telling them now means that you've giving them a heads-up instead of announcing 4 months into the job that you are taking several weeks off, and they could plan for it. On the other hand, it can make you look less-than-desirable as a potential hire.

And while they can't discriminate against you for being pregnant, they can always say "we went with a better candidate"--which may actually be true, BTW--and it'd be up to you to prove discrimination. Or like I said earlier, they may not be willing to hold the job while you're out on maternity leave, especially if you don't qualify for FMLA and so they're not required to.

I agree, the timing of life can suck at times. All you can do is make the best of it. Good luck.

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Specializes in NICU, PICU, PACU.

You have to work for one year and 1250 hours to be covered under FMLA. They don't have hold your job either if you are still on probation. I might just be up front, tell them you are pregnant, only plan to take off the minimum amt of time and go from there.

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Specializes in Pedi.
FMLA! Family medical leave act.

They have to hold your job because of that. Not sure, how much maternity leave a partime employee gets but take it all, especially if you're going to work up to delivery time.

DO NOT tell them you're pregnant. They aren't allowed to discriminate against you for that, so they won't ask.

You might want to plan for unexpected events, having to go on bed rest...things like that.

You don't qualify for FMLA until after a year of employment so that certainly won't apply in this case and they do NOT have to hold the position.

OP, I would not disclose it during your interview and, once they offer you a job, they cannot rescind it because of your pregnancy. That said, don't expect them to be too excited about it. When I worked in the hospital, we hired a new CNA into a full-time position that we desperately needed. She showed up on her first day of work and was very obviously 6 months pregnant. No one was amused and the people who interviewed her then remembered that she didn't take her coat off during the interview- presumably to hide her belly. She barely finished orientation before she had to go on maternity leave and she's lucky that they did hold the position for her.

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