Excited about ER internship, but just found out I'm pregnant. Should I take the internship

[LovelyBlue]

Recently I applied to an ER internship program and got it! Today I just found out that I am pregnant. My internship will last 6 months and then I will be on the floor on my own for 2 months before I have my baby. I am so sad because I don't think this sounds like a workable scenario. I have worked on a med-surg-oncology-tele floor for the past two years and recently have been desperate to try something more intense. What do you think? Would it be crazy to think this ER internship might work out despite the pregnancy. Thank you for your insight!

[hson15]

It is totally up to your comfortable level. If it is me, I would like to move to ER. First, you like to be in ER. Second, it does not sounds right being pregnant and working in oncology to me. I am not fully comfortable to work in oncology if I am pregnant. I have seen so many oncology nurses who deliver their babies just fine, but also seen some oncology nurses who are struggling after miscarriages. We try not to give active IV chemo patients to a pregnant nurse, and you also can say "no" to take care of chemo patients. However, who knows. Some patients have 5FU ointment, and some has po chemo pills. You empty the urinal, and you may find out that the patient takes chemo pills everyday, but nobody put a chemo precaution sticker on the urinal. You may touch your new admitted patient's forearm with your bare hands to feel the veins without knowing that the patient apply 5FU before admission.

[Roy Fokker, BSN, RN]

DO let management know early (and co-workers when you feel ready) - just so we don't slot a patient with a communicable disease or someone with potential for violence in your area.

But no, pregnancy is NOT a "can't work in the ED" type of case. LOL, somedays I joke with management that it seems like half our staff is on maternity leave on a semi-permanent basis (or paternity leave).