Pregnant ED RN--Is this discrimination or is it fair? Please weigh in.

[sarabear44]

Preface

I am 38 weeks pregnant and still being a CHAMP as an ED RN. I work the busy busy swing shift and have neither asked for nor expected any job modifications. However, most of my co-workers will gladly switch tasks with me if I have a patient that needs to go upstairs. For example, "I'll watch your patients and do your meds if you can push this patient upstairs for me and transfer them to the bed."

I only ask co-workers to help me out with this when: a: my back is hurting/injured b: the patient is heavy or requires total lift assistance.

Situation

Last night while it was NOT busy, (charge nurse--who is male--was doing a computer game), I had a 200 pound man that needed to go upstairs. The pt had a sacral decubitus and couldn't help transfer himself. I asked my charge nurse to take the pt upstairs for me while I watched triage and his rooms.

His response: "No, if you can't do the work then you shouldn't be at work. There's no such thing as light duty in the ER."

So I took the patient up by myself.

Please weigh in. Who is right? And what should I have done/do?

[hiddencatRN, BSN, RN]

I get nervous when pregnant coworkers lift at any gestation, I'm sorry this guy was such a tool. I also agree, take care if yourself and the baby, hospitals certainly aren't too concerned, unfortunately. Congrats on the soon to be new arrival!!

Yeah, I go to lift anything heavier than a pen and my coworkers all gasp and shoo me away. I've never been made to feel like I'm a slacker for asking for help, and if anyone I work with is resentful they hide it really, really well.

OP have you had your baby yet?

[brithoover]

While the way he said it sounds rude he does have a point that if one is unable to perform the required work, one shouldn't be working in that environment. What were the recommendations of your OBGYN? If he or she has not implemented any restrictions, then your coworkers are not obligated to help you (not that they would if you were on restrictions and the hospital didn't offer a light duty option- you may have simply needed to take a medical leave at that point). The fact that they have speaks to great coworkers and teamwork, but there is no obligation on their part to do so. This is in no way discrimination, and the charge nurse may have refused for many reasons- maybe he has his own back problems, maybe he's helped before (with many nurses, not just you) and just didn't want to at that point or felt taken advantage of, and maybe he was just being a jerk.[/quote']

She just needed help with a transfer. Any normal human being would help her. Just like if I'm sitting on a bus, I would give up my seat for a pregnant lady. Common courtesy.

[SionainnRN]

If it's a rare occurance then I don't see the harm, but if you're no longer able to do your job then it's time to go on leave. And to me it's very different to have someone offer to help vs you asking for help.

[anotherone, BSN, RN]

hmmm. where i work most of the male aides and nurses trip over themselves to help (lol). the few guys on our unit love to show off how "strong" they are. as if i wasnt turning bariatric pts before they showed up . to an extent, i agree with him, but many of our 90lb non pregnant nurses couldnt transfer most pts on their own either. it would be discrimination to give the non pregnant nurses the heavier assignments .......