Brand new license, brand new job, and pregnant...

Nurses General Nursing

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Hi,

I need some advise. I just passed my Boards and will start my new job as an RN on med/surg in a small hospital on Monday. And I also just found out that I am pregnant. Probably around 6 weeks or so. So here's my dilemma....when do I tell my new employer? My very first day of orientation is Monday....can they deny me employment now? I think it would be safest to tell them ASAP, but I am afraid of losing my job- I was so excited to get it. I have to fill out a health form and one question is "do you have any health-related restrictions? Please explain", and on the bottom it states "I understand that employment can be denied if I do not meet the health requirements for the job." So this worries me.... also, I will mainly be working nights.....is that going to be okay?

We have been trying for quite a while for another baby and I am happy to be pregnant, but the timing is slightly inconvenient now.... any advise would be greatly appreciated!!

Thanks!

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Congratulations X 3!!!!!!!!:yeah:Just my opinion but I would not say anything just yet. If you are only 6 weeks along, you can manage and start your trainging without stressing out about losing your job.

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That's what I'd like to do since it is not even DR. confirmed yet- but what if they assign me to patients with CMV or radiation implants or whatever else may harm my baby?

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I wouldnt say anything yet. Id wait until your out of your 90 day window. :) Congrats!!!! I dont know what state you are in, it is illegal to be fired for being pregnant but in some places it is common for them to come up with another reason. Id wait it out until you get to know everyone and see how training goes. Only tell them when you have to or when you do have restrictions.

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Specializes in School Nursing.

I wouldn't say anything until it becomes necessary to do so. (safety issues or you are showing). You are not required to state being pregnant during the application and interview period and it's strictly up to you when you'd like to share the information. Personally, I'd wait until people start to asking "when are you due" to say anything at all.

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Specializes in Med Surge, Tele, Oncology, Wound Care.

Yay! So happy for you! This happened to me, but I wasn't a new grad.

I told my charge nurse and my nurse manager, because we give chemo and I am chemo certified and I didnt want to expose my baby- now, some nurses didnt have a problem giving chemo when pregnant, but the literature I read wasnt supportive of it.

As far as isolation for c-diff, mrsa, vre and so forth- these are contact precaution patients and if using proper handwashing (like we always do) and wear gloves and gowns/masks,shields you will be fine.

I think the only one where we couldnt take the patient was if they had varicella.

Now the other issue I had was with FMLA. If I wasnt at my place of employment for 12 months I wouldnt qualify. So if I had a medical issue before the baby was born (bedrest let's say) my job wasnt protected. I could be wrong but being that this is a federal law I think all facilities are the same way.

I had to go on bedrest a month before I was due, due to highblood pressure issues and luckily it was to the day that I had been there a year! Oh I was so lucky to have FMLA at that point.

Now, being pregnant and working isnt easy (for any preggo mommy). Make sure you bring snacks (take your breaks) drink loads of water. I really didnt do well with water intake in the end and being preggo in the summer made it bad for my health. I got really sick and dehydrated.

As far as telling your employer, that is a personal thing for you. I decided to tell them right away because of the chemo, and so they could adjust the assignment if needed.

I would wait (as said below) until your 90 day period is up too. Good idea.

I am just so happy for you. I had my little one September 5th and being a working mommy isnt easy, but I love my job which makes it a little easier. You are going to have so much love and fun with your little one! Congrats!

If you dont mind my advice a little further: start looking for someone to care for your baby to be now. I had the worst time finding anyone that I felt comfortable with and who would be there for the 12-13 hours that I needed (also because I am neurotic :)). Get those support hose, comfy shoes too.

If you have any questions for me, just send me a note. I would be happy to give advice or support if you need it :)

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I agree with OP.. don't say anything as of yet. I know when i was preggo with my son and i didn't say anything until i was almost six month... i hid it very well... I wanted to show them that i could do my job regardless.. also i wasn't i nurse so i'm not sure if this is helpful in this field. but i would wait at least until your probationary period is up.

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I would not say anything. Your probation period is probably the typical 90 days, where they can get rid of you for any reason. If you tell them Monday you are pregnant, it is very illegal, but they may decide they don't want a pregnant nurse and find some other reason to let you go in that 90 days.

Make it through the probation period, then tell your employer.

If they try and assign you a patient you should not have, pull aside the person assigning you and tell them you are pregnant, ask them not to tell.

Dont worry about the paperwork with

"do you have any health-related restrictions? Please explain", and on the bottom it states "I understand that employment can be denied if I do not meet the health requirements for the job.

You can still do your job and pregnancy is not a health-related restriction.

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Congrats on your baby!

I agree with everyone I would not say anything until the point where you need to. But the one piece of advice I would offer as a manager, different field, is make sure your boss does not find out from anyone other then you. Meaning make sure your coworkers do not know, make sure your FB isn't public, or if you add friends to any social network don't talk about it on there.

There is nothing worse then blindsiding your boss!

Also the post above is correct about FMLA and the 1 year period before you qualify for it. But in my experience most companies do not replace the position as long as the person takes 6 weeks. I have seen positions lost when these workers take 3 months.

Hope that helps and good luck!

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Don't say anything to anyone until you absolutely must, like when you really start to show.

Seriously not one peep about this to your coworkers, because the news *will* get back to your boss. The first person you should tell is your boss and then next comes the coworkers.

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Congrats! I was in your exact shoes a couple of years ago. I didnt tell my employer outright, but around 6 months it became pretty obvious.Unfortunetly I didnt hit the one year mark for FMLA when the doctor put me on bedrest. Manager offered to hold my position but by the time I was ready to come back to work 2months on bedrest + 6 weeks recovery, my position had already been filled. So if youre really wanting to come back to your job you could go ahead and be upfront with your manager and let them know how bad you really want it. Good luck

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I would not say anything to anybody until you absolutely have to. There is nothing to say that you knew at this point. Mention it now and the employer may get rid of you. Why give them the opportunity?

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