3 month training and pregnant

Nurses General Nursing

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I don't know how to proceed, hoping to get some advice.

I recently graduated and passed the NCLEX, since that time I have been given three job offers. Offers one and two were my main choice mainly because the third choice is a three month new grad training. The first two offers did not work out when they understood that I can not work Friday night even though the second offer knew that from the interview (I understand that it is an inconvenience and really don't want to piss anyone off). The training hospital knows about me not being able to work on the sabbath and they seemed really ok with it, which leads me to my next problem. When they gave me the offer I was not pregnant, now I am, the program starts soon and it is three months so when I finally get onto the floor I will be pretty darn pregnant.

Doesn't that look really bad ? I am going to come onto the floor pregnant and they are already going to be expecting me to take at least two weeks off, and to top it off they are already going to be accommodating my Sabbath issues? I am a really hard worker and I have a lot to offer but I don't think they will be able to see that with everything else going on.

This is my worst case scenario that is on repeat in my brain, I am going to do this program that essentially says I owe the hospital 10,000 and then I am going to get on the floor and they are going to fire me because I am so complicated but obviously thats not going to be the reason, they are going to fire me because I am going to make some mistake that they will make a big deal out of and be out of a job and owe $10,000.

Would you take the risk of accepting the offer, Do you even see it is a risk?

Specializes in BMT.

First of all, you can't be fired for being pregnant. That's discriminatory. If you didn't know, you didn't know. What gets you into hot water is that you probably won't be eligible for FMLA, since you won't have been there a year.

Also, you're not the first nurse who can't work on the Sabbath. Usually there's a workaround for that. For example, we had nurses in school who had Saturday classes. Those nurses worked every Sunday. I used to work every Monday to make up for being off every Friday, and so on. If they can't work around that... Idk what to tell them. People have lives outside the hospital.

Thanks for responding, I know they can't technically fire me for that but they could find a different excuse to fire me and I would still be required to pay back the contract.

Many nurses become pregnant before and during orientation. A facility cannot fire you for being pregnant.

They CAN fire you if you are too anxious to complete the orientation.

You cannot be fired because for being pregnant - but you will not be eligible for FMLA when you have your baby... To be honest, it happens and some nurses feel well while pregnant and do not miss much time while others have problems. Plus I just want to point out that pretty much any HR and manager will AVOID to fire you for anything when you are pregnant as they are afraid it will be seen as discrimination (and being sued for letting go a pregnant nurse is not a great thing....). If the hospital is ok with you not working Shabbat I would not worry about it.

What does too anxious to complete the orientation mean?

Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.
What does too anxious to complete the orientation mean?

Too nervous. Too much anxiety. Can't do the work

Well just keep in mind that you have days you cannot work and there will be other nurses that want certain days off for their religious activities, so be as willing as possible to help those nurses out and they'll be understanding of your circumstances as well! I hope that makes sense! I know I personally wouldn't mind covering some of your Friday shifts if you were willing to work days I needed off. As for being pregnant, don't worry about that! As long as you work hard and are a nice person, I can't imagine anyone will go out of their way to fire you. You got this, girl!

Thanks! It just seems to be such a big issue, I have missed out on my dream jobs because I can't work the Sabbath.

Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.
Thanks! It just seems to be such a big issue, I have missed out on my dream jobs because I can't work the Sabbath.

My area has math nurses that celebrate Sabbath from Friday sundown to Saturday sundown and other nurses that celebrate Sunday as their Sabbath. Most holidays don't overlap (though sometimes they do) and those that work Fri/Sat work for those who can't and in turn the nurses that work Sunday cover. The big issue is if you can't work any weekend day. This year Christmas and New Years were on Friday so that limited the number of nurses that could work. My family is flexible with our celebrations so I worked double shifts because I could and my family just adjusted the days we celebrated. If you are flexible the other six days it should not be as much of an issue.

Specializes in NICU, ICU, PICU, Academia.
Thanks! It just seems to be such a big issue, I have missed out on my dream jobs because I can't work the Sabbath.

I have subscribed to the 'ox in the well' philosophy throughout my career as it regards my religious life.

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