getting pregnant and finding a job

tridil2000, MSN, RN · Aug 30, 2005

hi all...i hope this question does not sound dumb...im just a prenursing student with 1 more prereq to go...
i want to start a family after nursing school and was just wondering for example if i get pregnant during my last semester of school and pass the nclex and stuff if it will be hard to find a job if i am pregnant...i know employers are not supposed to discriminate...will they be more unwilling to hire someone who is pregnant than someone who isnt? have anyone of you ever applied for a job while being pregant? also, i know the first year of nursing is the most important because that is where the real learning begins...should i wait a year after i graduate?? thanks for the input and sorry if this sounds dumb!

i want you to ask yourself that question outloud twice so you can really hear how illogical it sounds. :uhoh3:

anyone who has the brains to be an rn knows the answer is as clear as the nose on their face.

at 20 years old of course you should wait.:smackingf

SmilingBluEyes · Aug 30, 2005

"logic" is not always involved in the decision to become a parent.

How "logical" is it to take on 100s of thousands of dollars in costs rearing ONE child, not to mention all the WORK and EMOTIONAL drain, you face?

Rely on "logic" and no one will wind up a parent.

I also find the comments about being "only 20" really condescending.

Personally, I find the above post a wee bit harsh.

I do think were it me, I would wait, but only YOU can decide what is best for you and your s/o. Good luck whatever you do decide.

Pipsqueak, ADN · Aug 30, 2005

We had a new grad that got hired at our facility last year. She was 7 months pregnant with twins when she got hired. Only worked for a few weeks before she had to stop working d/t health reasons. Hopefully the she had been able to take the NCLEX before her babies were born like she wanted to do.

ShayRN · Aug 30, 2005

I was very pregnant with my daughter when I went interviewing after nursing school. I got offered 4 jobs that day (at nursing homes, but then hospital jobs were few and far between then.) By the time I was able to get an interview at a hospital, I was pregnant with my son. I told the manager THAT DAY I was pregnant. She smiled and said, that is okay honey. I don't need to know that and I started 2 weeks later.

jeepgirl, LPN, NP · Aug 30, 2005

thanks everyone for your opinions...i know i am young and it's so easy to make a baby...it's just that everytime that i see one i think to myself i can't wait until that day! i'm lucky that i get to finish school and reach my dream of becoming a nurse and nothing is getting in the way of that...it's so sad to think of all my old high school classmates who have gotten pregnant at such an early age and i told myself that that was not going to be me...i know soooooo many girls that have gotten pregnant so young and there lives are ruined because they don't get to finish school...i guess i'll probably just wait...you all are right...the stress of the first year of nursing and having a baby doesnt sound like too much fun to me!!!!:)

I am 21. I have a four year old. Do the math! I went thought nursing school with a baby. While my situation was not the same, I can tell you this... I would have had an easier time my first year without the guilt of not being home with baby because of orientation, work related newbie stuff, etc. Wait until you are settled to have a baby... you won't regret it.

nurse4theplanet, RN · Aug 30, 2005

Just my two cents...

I am in my second semester of nursing school and two of my best friends have small children (3 and 5), and the mother of the 5y/o is a single parent on top of that! I watch them struggle sometimes, they have to leave study group early, forgo celebration night of margaritas after a big test, beg for babysitters or pay oodles of $ for childcare, and then their is the occassional night they were at the ER cuz the kid swallowed a quarter or was throwing up and lethargic. Neither one of these women would take a million $ for their child and they love motherhood, but they both have said if they had the choice to wait or go to school earlier in life they would. Once you get into school I believe you will understand better. Right now all you've got under your belt is pre-req's....nursing school is a whole other ball game :coollook:

GrnHonu99, RN · Aug 30, 2005

wait until you can enjoy it (pregnancy that is)! 20 is soo young...enjoy being single and having such great job security while you can:) JMHO:) good luck!

GrnHonu99, RN · Aug 30, 2005

Just my two cents...
I am in my second semester of nursing school and two of my best friends have small children (3 and 5), and the mother of the 5y/o is a single parent on top of that! I watch them struggle sometimes, they have to leave study group early, forgo celebration night of margaritas after a big test, beg for babysitters or pay oodles of $ for childcare, and then their is the occassional night they were at the ER cuz the kid swallowed a quarter or was throwing up and lethargic. Neither one of these women would take a million $ for their child and they love motherhood, but they both have said if they had the choice to wait or go to school earlier in life they would. Once you get into school I believe you will understand better. Right now all you've got under your belt is pre-req's....nursing school is a whole other ball game

good point!!!! I have quite a few friends in school that have kids...they too love their kids so much but they also are sad when they have to miss out on celebrations and someone usually has to leave class early to pick up their kids, or I hear them say, well i didnt get to study that much for the test bc my son was throwing up all night...and these are women who are married with stay at home husbands! Im not a mom but I know how hard nursing school is for me and I dont have any kids.. I want kids too, in fact, id love to have one right now, but i know that its just not the right time...we (my fiencee and I) are struggling financially and dont have that much time between school and work and trying to have a life outside of those things...all in good time:) Good luck though, im sure whatever path you choose youll find a way to make it work:)

Kaseyrn2b · Aug 30, 2005

I'd say wait, but not too long. I had kids at 24 not too long after finishing my BA in psych. I am VERY happy I started early ...and you are in a wonderful position. You can finish school, work for awhile and STILL be a young mama! Lucky you :) I can't tell you how many women I know started having babies in their 30s and stuggle with fertility issue and lack of energy. Just my opinion,as several others have voiced theirs. But I do agree wait until you start working for awhile, then try to get pg. Most likely you'll be fine, but you really never know what to expect w/ pregnancy...my best friend just found out she's having twins, for example! It is often said, if you want to make God laugh, tell him your plans! Just my 2 cents...hope this helps!!!

Good luck with everything:)