Hypothetical New Grad Residency Pregnancy Question

RNMeg · Apr 19, 2011

I'm a new grad, not in a residency program, but I am under contract with the hospital that employs me. I am required to work for 4 years to pay the hospital back for paying my tuition. My husband and I have recently started trying for a baby, and I understand (according to co-workers who have been through it) that their system is not sophisticated enough to "pause" my payback schedule during maternity leave, so I won't have to tack extra time onto the end of my contract. Your mileage may vary, though, since every contract and hospital is different. :heartbeat

ObtundedRN, BSN, RN · Apr 19, 2011

I know of a couple people who had their baby while in a new grad residency program. Being out with the baby during the actual residency program is where you could have issues. Most programs I'm hearing are as short as 12 weeks, and as long as 8-12 months. But many are set up differently. If you go out on leave during the program, you won't be able to finish the requirements with everyone. One co-worker of mine was out during the program, and when she came back had to finish the rest of her precepting time and testing. The other person had the baby right after taking her final testing, so she actually finished the program, she just has her 2 year contract to now carry out. Once you finish the program, you are just like any other employee, with rights to FMLA (don't think anyone can have you give those up?). You go out on maternity leave just like anyone else. You are just contracted to be an employee for the specified time, even if you're out on leave for part of it.

DedHedRN · Apr 19, 2011

There were two girls who had babies in my nursing program, one in second semester and the other one in the third semester, and another one pregnant in the fourth semester. They all passed. The girl who had her baby in the mother/baby rotation seemed to garner more sympathy from the teachers though, that was second semester. Why not just do it while your in nursing school?

Cinquefoil · Apr 19, 2011

There were two girls who had babies in my nursing program, one in second semester and the other one in the third semester, and another one pregnant in the fourth semester. They all passed. The girl who had her baby in the mother/baby rotation seemed to garner more sympathy from the teachers though, that was second semester. Why not just do it while your in nursing school?

1) DH chronically ill & not in great job besides

2) My nursing school health insurance is OK for regular preventative stuff, terrible for specialists, and private insurance is too expensive

Better to wait until I can be employed at a job that pays me better than $9-12 an hour

Better to wait until we have better health insurance

Bobbkat · Apr 19, 2011

I'm currently pregnant and in a residency program, though mine only consists of classes once a month for a year. I'll be missing the last 3 months of my classes, but my facillitators don't seem to care. As far as my unit is concerned, I'll be taking my maternity leave and then coming back like any other nurse.

I don't rotate through units, and I didn't sign a contract for any required length of time. My thought on if I had signed a contract, however, would be that since I am coming back after a medical leave, it shouldn't really effect the contract length. That could vary hospital to hospital though.

I had my first child during nursing school, and am having my second during my first year as a new nurse. I know, I'm insane. As an older grad though, you do have to get on with your life.

hiddencatRN, BSN, RN · Apr 19, 2011

Or am I too stuck on new grad residency programs, and would I be better off looking for a regular job?

Maybe a little. When I was in school I was really in to residency programs too- they sounded great and I liked the extra training they seemed to offer. Then I graduated and started looking for jobs, and honestly, the job hunt was hard enough without being limited to residency programs. I accepted a position with a hospital that doesn't offer a residency program but I still feel like I'm being provided with a good orientation. I've had two preceptors and they've both been fabulous, and being in a clinical setting with patients 3-4 days a week for 12 hours at a time is like nursing clinicals time 1,000 in terms of what you learn. I wish there was some sort of classroom component geared towards new grads (I've taken classes at my hospital, but they're mixed in with experienced nurses so sometimes the material is a bit ahead of me), but overall I'm in the specialty I wanted with a minimum 17 week precepted orientation that I can extend as desired.

I wouldn't say forget about residency programs altogether, just be more open to looking at positions that don't have a formal program IN ADDITION to the residencies.

buenavidaRN · Apr 19, 2011

I may be misunderstanding you, and maybe I just don't know about the residency programs you are talking about ... usually the residency programs are for 12 or 16 weeks, some with classroom training, some have classes with your 'new grad' group for the first year, and some are closer to 6-8 months (preceptorships etc) for critical care. The 3 year committment would entail at least 2 years where you are a legit RN (out of preceptorship, on your own), right? If so, I haven't ever heard of any problems with maternity leave during this period. Depending on how your hospital works, you should be accruing PTO hours starting your first day of work and those can be used towards maternity leave.

Good luck! Try to get a job in the hospital (tech/CNA) during school, this will only help you when it is time to look for the RN job!

rmlRN · Apr 20, 2011

I become pregnant one month into my new nurse residency program. Everyone was very supportive and I was allowed maternity leave under FMLA then allowed to come back. No issues what so ever.