Best way to approach job opportunity while pregnant...

[Nursing2102]

Hi all,

In August of this year I will have reached 1 year experience as an RN. At the hospital I work at, I am eligible to transfer/apply for other positions after the 1 year mark.

In March of this year I e-mailed the head of fellowships at the hospital I work for regarding an OR fellowship I was interested in. She told me she wants to meet with me in August when I will have reached a year and will be eligible to apply for the fellowship. The thing is: I will be 8 months pregnant in August and I did not mention to her that I was pregnant when I e-mailed her 3 months ago.

How should I approach this? Should I mention to her before I meet with her that I am going to be on maternity leave for 3 months starting around September? Should I mention that I will be interested once I come back from leave?

Any advice will be helpful.

Thanks.

[NurseSpeedy, ADN, LPN, RN]

I would meet with her as planned and express your interest in transferring and applying for the fellowship program. This would allow you to meet with her and she can see if you would be a good fit for the position. The transfer does not have to happen right away, it's just after a year you would be eligible. When you sit down with her you can explain what your plan is in regards to maternity leave and returning after three months and hopefully things can be arranged around that. It's not like you are expressing interest for the first time right before you are getting ready to go on leave, but that's just my opinion.

[dishes, BSN, RN]

Since you are already working for the hospital, mention your planned maternity leave before you meet with her, it's better that she finds out directly from you, rather than the grapevine.

[travelingrn2001, ASN, BSN]

I do not believe pregnancy or maternity leave are topics that can be broached by an employer or potential employer. If you bring up the subject it becomes a topic that can be discussed. Just thought I would mention this.