Modifying tasks when pregnant. My boss says "no".

Nurses General Nursing

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Has anyone else had to modify their tasks at work for being pregnant?

I'm an RN in General Pediatrics & Pediatric Oncology and my OBGYN wants me on "light duty" at work for my pregnancy and I told my boss about this, I have a note and all from the doctor too. My boss told me there is no such thing as light duty for pregnant women and that I'd either have to be on maternity leave or not, however I've seen on several occasions that they assign light duty to others who have had a sprained ankle or wrist or who have hurt their back. These women have been assigned transport or come in to help with admissions or just to walk through the units to help the other nurses out.

My position is such that I can be on my feet for literally up to 12.5 hours at a time. There is a lot of heavy lifting (which I've been avoiding), a lot of running, and extreme stress as I'm sure many of you can relate to! To top it off I work over-night and have always had a hard time sleeping during the day.

I don't want to push the issue of "light duty" with my boss but I feel like I'm being treated very unfairly. I found a government website stating "If an employee is temporarily unable to perform her job because of her pregnancy, the employer must treat her the same as any other temporarily disabled employee. For example, if the employer allows temporarily disabled employees to modify tasks, perform alternative assignments, or take disability leave or leave without pay, the employer also must allow an employee who is temporarily disabled because of pregnancy to do the same." http://www.eeoc.gov/facts/fs-preg.html

I'm really frustrated. I still have 3 months left before the baby is due and I was planning to work up to at least 38 weeks (unless of course my OBGYN wants me out earlier). I wanted more time off with the baby and I am so upset about this. I don't want to hurt myself on the job because my boss won't help me to modify my tasks.

Specializes in CVICU-ICU.

I know I posted this info earlier in the thread but after reading the rest of the posts I want to restate what I said earlier. Light duty is given to employees that have had a on the job injury because it is better fiancinally for the hospital to have a employee sit at a desk and stare at a wall if necessary than be out on workers comp. Each time someone is out on workers comp that causes the employer's comp rates to go up so unless the employee is so injured on the job that they are unable to do anything other than lay in bed the employer will give light duty. This was explained to me by one of the MD's that we are required to see if injured on the job. If we are injured on the job we must see one of the hospital's workers comp MD not our own physician and that is because the workers comp MD will do what is best for the hospital so therefore unless the injury is so severe it requires complete bedrest the MD will write return to work on light duty.

The case of injuries off the job or pregnancy is different because those reasons do not require the hospital to pay workers comp claims so therefore light duty is not offered to people injured off the job or for pregnancy. This policy is totally legal BUT if you are positive that people injured OFF the job have received light duty then you have a good case to inquire why they are given light duty yet you cannot. I'd say if you know and can prove it then I'd give your labor relations board a call and they will take it from there. If labor relations are called then they do investigate and they do it and get a answer back to you in a relatively short amount of time.

Wow. The facility I work at allows light duty for pregnancy, work related injuries, and non-work related injuries. We have one nurse on a 25 pound lift limit, she is 34 weeks pregnant. She was given a lighter patient load as well as patients that were ambulatory. We have another nurse on zero productivity for a non-work related illness/injury. She is allowed to come in and do just paperwork (admits, discharges, pt education) and no direct patient care. I was out with a back injury a few months ago and was allowed to come back on a 25 pound lift limit for 2 weeks before returning to light duty. Neither myself or my co-workers have a problem with having nurses on restrictions. If anything, it means that our patient load will be lighter because the nurses on restrictions are often considered extra.

In all honestly, you could probably come back to work a couple of weeks after the baby is born. If it is a matter of when to take your maternity leave, I would take more of it before the baby was born to avoid the risk of having something going wrong and opt to return to work earlier.

FYI my husband and I have plenty of money put away that we intended to use while I was unable to work. Enough to get me off of work for 6 months without having to lift a finger. However, I do not want to use 3 months before the baby is born. I want my full 6 months with the baby, not 3 with and 3 without. I would never bring a child into this world if I didn't think I could support them. Also, by me working another 3 months I will accumulate even more holiday time/sick time that I can use for maternity leave!

Sometimes plans change. You need think think about the health of the baby.

I've never been pregnant but plan to someday... but because of some health problems with my reproductive system I'll be considered high risk. I'm super nervous about how this will work with nursing.

I hope it works out for you. It's just an additional stress you don't need at the end. Enjoy the rest of your pregnancy!!!

Don't borrow unneccessary trouble. Get there first.

Specializes in PeriOp, ICU, PICU, NICU.

I recently was pregnant. I was high risk, had PIH, pre-e amongst other complications. I too was supposed to work "light duty" but my employer denied. I had to either stay home and use up my maternity leave time (6 weeks is all you can take) and literally come back the day after I delivered. I chose to risk it. I work in a non union, right to work state. I'm sorry.

I recently was pregnant. I was high risk, had PIH, pre-e amongst other complications. I too was supposed to work "light duty" but my employer denied. I had to either stay home and use up my maternity leave time (6 weeks is all you can take) and literally come back the day after I delivered. I chose to risk it. I work in a non union, right to work state. I'm sorry.

By "risk it", how do u mean? You worked or took your leave.

Specializes in PeriOp, ICU, PICU, NICU.
By "risk it", how do u mean? You worked or took your leave.

I worked til I delivered. I ended delivering at 32 weeks.

I worked til I delivered. I ended delivering at 32 weeks.

Do you think it was a good choice?

Specializes in Med/Surg/Tele/Onc.
(6 weeks is all you can take) quote]

If you work for an employer who employs more than 50 employees, you can take 12 weeks. That's a federal law. You may not get paid for that, but it is your right to take the time. Of course that is if you are in the US, which I'm guessing you are since you mentioned non-union, right-to-work state.

I guess I should have been more clear. My doctor wants me to be on light duty due to something that came up with my pregnancy earlier this week. I had some clear fluid loss (sorry if too much information but I'm hoping you can better understand where I'm coming from). I also had some moderate abdominal cramping (not the normal mild cramps that come and go). I went in for an exam and my doctor said he didn't know whether he should or shouldn't take me out of work for the remainder of my pregnancy yet. I told him they allow light duty to other nurses who were injured and he said I could go back on light duty.

His main concern was of course the fluid loss and the fact that my mother had given birth 2x's to premature babies at 27 weeks (where I am now) and lost one of her children. My brother is a strong and healthy man now but spent the first 8 weeks of his life in the NICU. My OBGYN said my mother's history wasn't of too much concern, but was of some concern to him. He said "I need you to carry this baby at least 2 more months."

i guess i'm not understanding what this clear fluid was?

to me, the only thing it could be is amniotic fluid.

did he test the fluid?

does he know what it was?

because if you are leaking amnio fluid, you would have likely been shipped to the hosp immediately.

that's what happened to me when i was 25 wks...

felt ________ trickling down my leg while sleeping one noc.

the first doc (over the phone) told me it was probably "urine" but to call him back if it happened again.

i went to my np the next am, and she put the pads i had saved, under the microscope and verified it was amniotic fluid.

so i need to ask (again)...

what the heck was this fluid??:confused:

leslie

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