Maternity discrimination

Ruby Vee, BSN · Sep 10, 2015

Hello, I am a nursing student. I am set to graduate this December and will be about 6 months pregnant at that time. Can you tell me if you have had any experiences with applying for a job pregnant? Do you find you are turned down more? Would you suggest waiting to apply after the baby is born?

Maternity "discrimination"? Are you just trying to start a controversy?

I would think it would be difficult for you to start a new position in your last trimester of pregnancy and then go out on leave. Even if you were "finished" with orientation before you delivered, you'd likely need more orientation when you returned. It seems to me that the best thing for YOU is to wait until after your baby is born to look for work.

decembergrad2011, BSN, RN · Sep 10, 2015

I would wait to apply after I had passed NCLEX and delivered baby. My friend did this and did not take her first job until after her son was around 9 months old I believe. It was just easier for her. She honestly did have a rough time with the space in-between, but in her case she also was moving to a different state so it was a whole other can of worms.

I have found that they do not directly discriminate but that pregnancy can affect a hiring decision. I would not want to go into a new job knowing that I may not be protected upon leaving to have my baby, either.

The only thing I can suggest, possibly, is to apply for a tech position on a unit NOW that would not require heavy lifting that may get you in the door for a RN position on the same unit or within the same hospital system after you graduated and passed boards. It would also give you a source of income leading up to your leave. For my hospital, already being here gives you preference over other applicants. I think that would be looked at more favorably to go on leave as a tech and return as a RN than being hired in as a new grad then leaving right after.

ixchel · Sep 10, 2015

I'm curious as to where people get this idea that a new grad not done with orientation would qualify for a 6 week maternity leave. The United States does not have any laws guaranteeing maternity leave other than FMLA. FMLA doesn't apply until you have worked 1250 hours in a 12 month period, therefore the OP would not qualify. If an employer has a time off policy that states no time off in the first 90 days or 6 months or what have you, OP would deliver before that time is up and could find herself with no job to return to.

Agreed. And vice versa - an employee does not have to come back, even if they have FMLA, unless they've entered into a contract with said employer.

ixchel · Sep 10, 2015

I think the poster used the word "discrimination" because there is really a hiring bias against pregnant people. Not only is it a great big flag to potential employers that a potential employee has priorities above work (call outs for sick kids, etc.), but it also advertises that this employee may be taking up to three months off (and will need to have their hours covered) very soon. It's a valid concern to employers.

Frankly, a pregnant person would REALLY have to blow my mind if I considered hiring them, and even then, I'd be inclined to hold onto their resume and call them back some months later. I say this as a person who has gone on a job search during pregnancy.

Is this fair? Of course not. I can indignantly declare the injustice of it all. But if I'm being completely honest, pregnancy discrimination does exist and is valid.

iluvivt, BSN, RN · Sep 10, 2015

No discrimination here! They can choose to hire you or not! The employer needs to look out for their needs too and make certain that they have enough staff to take care of the patients. It is an employment contract,you have the credentials,provide the service and they pay you!

Some may choose to hire you despite your current limitations and some may not. You will find that having children and coordinating their care and working is always a challenge for women and families. I wish you good luck. Try not to take on too much until you have all childcare issues figured out because many employers have very strict attendance policies and you only get so many sick calls in before you get warnings.

Jules A, MSN · Sep 10, 2015

I think the poster used the word "discrimination" because there is really a hiring bias against pregnant people. Not only is it a great big flag to potential employers that a potential employee has priorities above work (call outs for sick kids, etc.), but it also advertises that this employee may be taking up to three months off (and will need to have their hours covered) very soon. It's a valid concern to employers.
Frankly, a pregnant person would REALLY have to blow my mind if I considered hiring them, and even then, I'd be inclined to hold onto their resume and call them back some months later. I say this as a person who has gone on a job search during pregnancy.
Is this fair? Of course not. I can indignantly declare the injustice of it all. But if I'm being completely honest, pregnancy discrimination does exist and is valid.

I agree with everything you have said but still think to start a thread with a title as inflammatory as "discrimination" or "bullying" without an actual event to discuss is over the top and minimizes the experience of those who have actually been injured. Again a sign of our times I guess.

Horseshoe, BSN, RN · Sep 10, 2015

The Pregnancy Discrimination Act (PDA) forbids discrimination based on pregnancy when it comes to any aspect of employment, including hiring, firing, pay, job assignments, promotions, layoff, training, fringe benefits, such as leave and health insurance, and any other term or condition of employment.

Pregnancy Discrimination

Good luck proving it, though.

I had a potential employer once tell me that I was a perfect candidate for the (non nursing) job, but that he was hesitating because I was a young married woman and he feared I might become pregnant and cause problems in the process. Totally illegal, but he figured I wasn't going to sue him. And I didn't.

Within the month, I learned that I actually was pregnant. It all worked out for the best anyway.

AuDDoc · Sep 10, 2015

Have the baby. Enjoy some time with your little one. Then apply for jobs. As others have said you would not be with the company long enough for FMLA if you had complications and if you have insurance through your significant other then you are covered there. As another person said use this time as a natural break because once you hit that 3rd trimester and finish nursing school you're going to just be ready to nest and get ready for the little one.

Ruby Vee, BSN · Sep 11, 2015

I agree with everything you have said but still think to start a thread with a title as inflammatory as "discrimination" or "bullying" without an actual event to discuss is over the top and minimizes the experience of those who have actually been injured. Again a sign of our times I guess.

And I agree with this -- over the top. People seem to go LOOKing for bullying and discrimination. If you look for something, you WILL find it -- even if it's not really there.

KelRN215, BSN, RN · Sep 11, 2015

Pregnancy Discrimination
Good luck proving it, though.
I had a potential employer once tell me that I was a perfect candidate for the (non nursing) job, but that he was hesitating because I was a young married woman and he feared I might become pregnant and cause problems in the process. Totally illegal, but he figured I wasn't going to sue him. And I didn't.
Within the month, I learned that I actually was pregnant. It all worked out for the best anyway.

Correct. It is illegal to not hire someone because she is pregnant. However, a new grad would have a very hard time proving that her pregnancy was the sole reason that she was not hired. And, while you cannot be fired for pregnancy, there would be no guarantee of maternity leave and if one gives birth within 3 months of hire and then does not return to work for her next shift, one would not be covered under FMLA.

kmarie724 · Sep 11, 2015

Do you have a job now that you can stay at until you have the baby and pass NCLEX? I was 9 months pregnant when I graduated nursing school. I had my baby a few days after finishing school, took 6 weeks maternity leave, and then went back to my CNA job while I studied for NCLEX and looked for a job as an RN. I think finding a job as a new grad while pregnant will be difficult for the reasons already described by other posters. If you already have a job, I would suggest maybe sticking to that job until after your maternity leave.

Kmendi · Sep 19, 2015

kmarie, I do have a job now as a CNA in the ICU. I could stay here until I go on Maternity leave which would probably be easiest, but the pay on maternity would be nicer as a nurse :)