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

[RNnik07]

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.

[Otessa, BSN, RN]

Talk to employee health and HR-give THEM your note and the manager will need to comply-bypass the manager. It is about the health of you and your childas noted by your OB/GYN.

otessa

[Otessa, BSN, RN]

I don't understand... is there a reason you can't take a LOA or maternity leave?

Usually you only are able to take a 12 week maternity/LOA for a pregnancy(sometimes only 8 weeks) unless you want to use up vacation time-if you have any. I was pregnant with twins and worked 8 hour shifts until I was 32 weeks along and then from 32-34 week I worked 4 hour shifts. Had to be off after 34 weeks since none of my shoes for work would fit and many of my patients and staff were worried I would go into labor-I was that big

Had my kids at 36 weeks.

Had several miscarriages prior to my twin pregnancy and had previous abdominal surgeries that put me at high risk. Never had a note from my MD-but would have if needed. My co-workers knew about my history and were AWESOME (and I floated throughout the entire hospital).

Money was a big factor to keep on working since my hubby was laid off when I was 24 weeks along-lovely.

otessa

[Orca, ADN, ASN, RN]

Irritates me that people seem to have a "So what? You're JUST pregnant" attitude about the whole thing.

Part of the reason may be that some people abuse it. I worked with an LPN on a mental health unit who learned that she was pregnant. She tried to lay down conditions, specifying all the things she would not be involved in because "I'm pregnant". The list included virtually all of her duties. She would have been essentially useless on the floor had we complied with everything she wanted.

[misplaced1]

Wow talk about no compassion. And from so many of you. I am speechless. I always wonder if this is from upbringin or is it just learned from nursing school and culture. I guess everyone deserves compassion accept the nurse. Your number 5 position, or lower on the list, as to who and what are most important in your life is clearly intact. I believe however it is one thing to not take care of yourself but advising someone to not take care of their unborn child either- WOW

Well guess these attitudes are just an indicator of why nurses tend to not be role models for good self care!

This post was obviously not directed at everyone but all I can say to the "your just preggers people" is WOW

[Schmoo1022]

Just a quick response. I don't think anyone is trying to be mean or tell her or anyone pregnant not worry about their unborn child. Many people here have worked while pregnant. I worked LTC while pregnant with both my children. Yes, it was uncomfortable, but I had no restrictions. At my facility, you either work as every other nurse, or you have a note to be OUT of work. Of course, we have TDI, which covers pregnancy, so if you are out you can collect.

[nursejohio, ASN, RN]

Not knowing what's going on with the OP, I won't jump on the "you're just pregnant" bandwagon. However, working triage in L&D for only a couple hours will let you see how many women DO try to abuse the fact that they're carrying a child. I've had moms come in at 20 weeks for some random complaint, usually fatigue or backache (hello, you're growing a human in there! of course you're tired, and your back is gonna hurt sometimes!) and before going home will ask for a note to get off work, for the *next* 20 weeks... um, no. You're not sick, you're just pregnant. They've even been amazed by our nurses who are still working at 40+3, "you mean your doctor won't take you off work???? that's horrible!" Why? Pregnancy is not an illness in and of itself. Now, if there are special circumstances... short cervix, preterm labor, previa, etc, of course she should do what's required to have a safe pregnancy and a healthy baby. But being on light duty *just* because of the pregnancy? That's not always necessary.

[Schmoo1022]

I worked pat my due date, and yes it was hard. I was tired and crampy, but no sympathy from my Dr. She said " sure, you can stop working, but I am not giving you a note. You are pregnat, you don't have an illness" Exact words. She would have gladly taken me out of work if I was high risk.

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

wow talk about no compassion. and from so many of you. i am speechless. i always wonder if this is from upbringin or is it just learned from nursing school and culture. i guess everyone deserves compassion accept the nurse. your number 5 position, or lower on the list, as to who and what are most important in your life is clearly intact. i believe however it is one thing to not take care of yourself but advising someone to not take care of their unborn child either- wow

well guess these attitudes are just an indicator of why nurses tend to not be role models for good self care!

this post was obviously not directed at everyone but all i can say to the "your just preggers people" is wow

i wondered how long it would be before someone pulled out the "compassion" card.

i know nothing about the op's health status, and neither do you. but after working for over three decades as a nurse, i've seen an awful lot of pregnant women try to get out of everything and anything "because i'm pregnant." it gets wearisome after awhile. one woman i worked with wanted to avoid isolation, all lifting including heavy charts, working weekends, working holidays -- and thought she should be in charge all the time.

there's nothing wrong with the attitudes of the "you're just pregnant" posters. but something tells me that your attitude needs a bit of adjustment!

[firstyearstudent]

They totally would not do it for me. I had to go on leave.

[RNnik07]

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'm not looking to be on light duty because I'm "just pregnant." I expected to work until at least 38 weeks with my normal everyday assignment, with the exception of taking patients who would need a lot of heavy lifting, or someone on contact/droplet precautions that could be harmful to my baby.

I'm looking to go on light duty so I have a chance to carry my baby full term and not have to leave work yet. Of course I will leave work if he wants me out when I go for my next visit, but until he says that I want to work so I don't use up all my time off while sitting home alone. I want to spend the time with my baby and we can't afford for me to go out earlier if we can prevent it.

I hope that makes things a bit more clear...

What I'm most frustrated about is the fact that they assign light duty to other nurses who have been hurt both on and OFF the job.

[Angel@MyTable, RN]

I was a CNA and worked until I was 6 mos. pregnant. I worked until I knew my body couldn't handle it (no restrictions even though I was having some early contractions and almost 39 yr. old). I had a confused patient kick me in the abdomen when I was 5 months pregnant and it wasn't much longer after that I decided to go on LOA. I had worked at the facility for over 4 years and saved up a good amount of vacation and sick time, so I was able to take off the last few months before and a few months after. I had them pay out as if I were working part time and made due with that. I might add I was doing it on my own and it was tough, but I did it!

I would like to add that the only accommodation I asked for was to not work with a specific patient who had MRSA in a very large/stage IV decub. I worried that it may cause harm to my unborn child. It was nothing formal, I just traded patients with my co-worker's if I had the list this patient was on.

If you have the ability, try to go on LOA early. It is not worth the stress of risking you and your babys health.

Good Luck with your new babe!

[Southern Fried RN]

I had a placenta previa with my first pregnancy and was subsequently put on light duty--no lifting or turning. I was working an adult ICU at the time, so lots of heavy lifting, pulling, cleaning, etc. My doctor specified this in the note and my NM was fine with it. My co-workers were also very kind about pitching in on the heavy work and I made darn sure I helped them out by doing their charts.

A few years later, I worked in another aread of the same hospital where a fellow co-worker asked to be put on light duty. To the best of my knowledge this woman did not have a valid excuse (previa, those other risks another poster mentioned.) This woman was somewhat drama-queen anyways, I don't know if that had anything to do with the NM denying the light duty. The NM did come out and say "No light duty for anyone in this dept, for any reason." I don't know how that would fly with worker's comp. Anyways, the hospital created a position for this woman of doing chart audits and medication reconciliation forms. I heard she went through HR to get this position created for her. You might consider looking for something like that if your NM playing hardball about the light duty and there is a real risk of miscarriage/PTL.

In your case, the fact that the NM has set a precedent of allowing injured people on light duty could work in your favor. I would continue to follow up with HR. There is really no reason why a pregnancy light duty (with valid medical reason) can't be accomodate, they know there will be an end date after the baby is born. It's different that someone with a bad back who goes FMLA every other month. HTH. Good Luck!