Found out I was pregnant, after I accepted new job. What to do?

[JeniRN]

So, I accepted a new job in a cardiology clinic, leaving ccu finally. I found out the weekend after I accepted the job that I was pregnant, so I have not yet told either my current, or new job yet. I start my new job next week, and at that time will be 10 weeks. I am very nervous about telling my new job, because I don't want them to think I was hiding anything from them, but am also afraid that when I do tell them that they think I won't be able to do my job to it's potential, and they will be mad at me, or mad they didn't hire someone else. Don't want them to find some reason to not let me transfer anymore, since it's an internal transfer. I do plan on returning to work there after the baby, but just feel bad that I will have to take that long of a leave only like 6 months after I started. It's also a M-F job, which I have never had before, working in the hospital and all, and I am worried about how I will coordinate dr appts with work, as I have one just a couple weeks in that I would need to leave early for. After my first 3 months, I have the option of doing 4 10's, so then I can just schedule on my day off, just don't know what to do until then. I just don't know, I don't want them to be mad, and find some reason to not let me transfer there. I am really excited about our new addition, but am feeling down right now and worried about how it's gonna work with my job....and it sucks, because I want to just be happy about it and not worry so much. So...do I tell them my first day when I start to be upfront?? Or....do I wait a little while until more established to tell them?? hmm...what to do. Any advice?!

[tyvin, BSN, RN]

Well........................................yes this happened to me exactly as your situation. It all depends of what type of management you have. Are they supportive, is there a union, have others worked while pregnant, etc... Where I was a women had been mysteriously terminated once they found out she was pregnant. It was bull and everyone knew it. Management was terrible and non-supportive of nursing staff period.

Ok; so I hid it until I took my docs paper for early out to be signed by HR. Back then it was covered by workman's comp. I was having braxton-hicks so my doc wanted me out at 7 months. The funny thing is no one suspected except the patients. Everyone thought I was getting fat; anyway... I went out and returned the required 6 weeks after delivery (my job in tact) and that was that.

I know a friend who told her place right away but she worked in a nice place with union protection and then my other friend who wasn't union but with supportive management told and it was cool. What does your 6th sense tell you? And that gentlemen is how you roll. If you're comfortable telling them do it, if not ... then don't. Even if you want to wait awhile it's not a crime. Whatever you do don't forget to take your prenatal vitamins!

Congratulations and good luck.

[xtxrn, ASN, RN]

You're pregnant Not a criminal :) Congratulations. You didn't know- so you couldn't tell them- end of story ! Congrats, and enjoy your expanding life :) This is a profession of child-bearing age women- nothing they haven't seen before

[JeniRN]

thinking I would probably wait a bit to tell them, BUT the only thing I feel like is holding me back from that is the fact that I would have to leave early from work once or twice for dr appts.....so, maybe I should??? heck...idk. Thanks for the advice so far. Anyone else have advice too??

[sandanrnstudent]

Once you do decide to tell them, I'd be upfront with, "I didn't find out until the week after I accepted this transfer/job."

sandan rnstudent

[rocknrollnurse]

A cardiology clinic is tricky business, esp if other nurses are going to have to cover you, and the docs you are working for, for 6 weeks. I know what you mean. scary stuff, but hopefully you have a good team in place. best of luck, and congrats!

[Poi Dog]

Congratulations on your double good news.

[caliotter3]

Best wishes.

[Kooky Korky, BSN, RN]

thinking i would probably wait a bit to tell them, but the only thing i feel like is holding me back from that is the fact that i would have to leave early from work once or twice for dr appts.....so, maybe i should??? heck...idk. thanks for the advice so far. anyone else have advice too??

oh, and no one else ever leaves work early for appointments, emergencies, etc.

look, congratulations on your being pregnant and on getting the job you wanted. this seems to be a good time in your life so enjoy it!

i wouldn't say anything to anyone at your job yet. you will do just fine and will tell them as far from now as possible. life has a funny way of changing on us without notice. better to keep your sweet secret to yourself for as long as possible. part of the reason i say this is that i am superstitious, you might call it, about announcing pregnancies before they are visible. i believe in the evil eye. call me old fashioned. that's just the way the women in my family always have done. no one but the spouse was informed until several months along. of course, if you are ill a lot, it would be harder to keep the secret. still, don't announce til later. when you do tell the job, if they get on you for not telling them sooner, cite the superstition/religion reason. they really won't be able to say much about your religion.

[Kooky Korky, BSN, RN]

Once you do decide to tell them, I'd be upfront with, "I didn't find out until the week after I accepted this transfer/job."

sandan rnstudent

No. She doesn't have to apologize to anyone. She has done nothing wrong. There's a reason that pregnancy testing isn't part of the job hiring process.

[Kooky Korky, BSN, RN]

A cardiology clinic is tricky business, esp if other nurses are going to have to cover you, and the docs you are working for, for 6 weeks. I know what you mean. scary stuff, but hopefully you have a good team in place. best of luck, and congrats!

She might be called upon to cover for her coworkers, too, at some point.

[Chico David, BSN, RN]

Speaking here from the point of view of a male RN who was a manager for 13 years and been on the other side of this: You owe nothing special and no explanations to your new department. In a profession where women of fertile age are a major part of the work force, having your employees get pregnant comes with the territory. And it would be both immoral and illegal for an employer to consider that in making a hiring decision.

Personal story: I hired a new nurse into a small department and then found out she was pregnant. Unlike you she had known it when she interviewed, but had not told me. I had a short period of feeling miffed about that, but then realized that she was entirely right not to have told me. In truth, it might have made a difference in my choice, which it ought not to have - So I was happy I hadn't had the conflict to deal with. And never regretted hiring that nurse, as she was terrific.