New Grad RN-Accepted Position, Just Found Out Pregnancy (High Risk)

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Hey Everyone,

I'm in a bit of a pickle and wanted to know if anyone has any experience with this topic, or any advice on what to do.

I graduated in December 2018, and I have a job offer for Labor and Delivery RN (my dream specialty to work in) to start orientation on July 8th. The hospital is about a 40 minute drive from where I live, and I have to cross a toll bridge to get there.

I just found out that I am pregnant......with twins ?. Still processing this information lol. Its early in the pregnancy, but I am considering a lot of things now due to my last pregnancy. I had pre-eclampsia my last pregnancy and my daughter was 2 months premature. So I am being considered high-risk.

The orientation/training period at this new job is 4 months long. By the time I am done with orientation I am worried that it wont be long before I am possibly placed on bedrest, or have another reason to have to leave early for maternity leave. Basically, I fear I won't be at this new job for very long before I have to leave.

I am wondering what my best bet is here. Should I continue with the position? Or should I decline for now, and find something more local that I can still use for work experience? I have been in contact with a home care agency that would accept me right away for locations that are closer to me, as well as another job prospect that is close to me as well. These jobs are not particularly in my field of interest, but I could still work them for nursing experience and save some money for the new babies; then once I'm ready to go back to work after they're born, I can try for a hospital job.

Any advice?

Thanks

Specializes in Psychiatry, Community, Nurse Manager, hospice.

I think you should take your dream job.

It isn't unprofessional to be pregnant.

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Specializes in Adult Primary Care.

I have no job advice, but congratulations on the pregnancy. Wishing you the best!

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On 6/10/2019 at 8:44 AM, LovingLife123 said:

I wouldn’t decline the position. You won’t necessarily have preeclampsia this pregnancy. Just be honest with the unit manager.

I’m not sure with what having to go over a toll bridge has to do with anything. If you are trying to talk yourself out of this position then don’t take it. If you would prefer the other position for family reasons, that’s one thing. But automatically declining a position that is where you want to work because you are pregnant is another.

I guess I see things differently because we always have several women pregnant on my unit. There’s always a baby shower. We currently have 4 pregnant.

She may not but I can guarantee you they are going to write her out early. Her risk of developing complications with a twin pregnancy is higher than a singleton. Most twins are early and she has a long commute. She is going to have a lot of sleep deprivation as she progresses with that work schedule. Learning L&D is very physically demanding and a lot of position changes with the mother.

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11 hours ago, AnnieNP said:

I have no job advice, but congratulations on the pregnancy. Wishing you the best!

Thank you!!

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6 minutes ago, Jory said:

She may not but I can guarantee you they are going to write her out early. Her risk of developing complications with a twin pregnancy is higher than a singleton. Most twins are early and she has a long commute. She is going to have a lot of sleep deprivation as she progresses with that work schedule. Learning L&D is very physically demanding and a lot of position changes with the mother.

That’s what I was thinking. I did L+D for my senior Capstone the end of last year so I know how physically demanding the job is, that’s why I wanted to seek some realistic advice here. I think my best bet will be to speak with the manager and ask her about deferring my start till after the twins are born and see what happens.

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1 minute ago, JennaSnow said:

That’s what I was thinking. I did L+D for my senior Capstone the end of last year so I know how physically demanding the job is, that’s why I wanted to seek some realistic advice here. I think my best bet will be to speak with the manager and ask her about deferring my start till after the twins are born and see what happens.

.....she will probably have to tell you it will be based on staffing needs, but she will appreciate the honestly. The first year out of of nursing school working is argh....the worst. I have never encountered anything so stressful, not even in CNM school/clinicals. If this was your first baby without a little one at home, or you were pregnant with just one? I would say stay quiet and take the job.

But a twin pregnancy can be rough, then with a long commute, new nurse, L&D, plus another little one at home? I think you would be too stressed out to even enjoy your beautiful pregnancy and worried about your job if you had to be wrote out early.

You haven't said anything about finances, so I'm assuming you can swing this at least short-term. Girl....ENJOY this time. There will ALWAYS be nursing jobs.

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9 minutes ago, Jory said:

.....she will probably have to tell you it will be based on staffing needs, but she will appreciate the honestly. The first year out of of nursing school working is argh....the worst. I have never encountered anything so stressful, not even in CNM school/clinicals. If this was your first baby without a little one at home, or you were pregnant with just one? I would say stay quiet and take the job.

But a twin pregnancy can be rough, then with a long commute, new nurse, L&D, plus another little one at home? I think you would be too stressed out to even enjoy your beautiful pregnancy and worried about your job if you had to be wrote out early.

You haven't said anything about finances, so I'm assuming you can swing this at least short-term. Girl....ENJOY this time. There will ALWAYS be nursing jobs.

Yeah just the thought of all of it is stressing me out already. It has been rough these first 6 months out of nursing school. Not what I hoped for at all. Even this job, while my dream specialty is L+D, the location of this hospital and the pay in comparison to other hospitals in my area, are not ideal at all. It was my first offer and it was starting to feel a little bleak since I was having a hard time landing anything.

I do kind of just want to pick up with finding work after the babies are settled next year, but I’m just worried with how it’ll make me “look” as a new grad without any work experience. I know jobs don’t care about your personal life, they just care that you haven’t been working.

But you are right. My father said the same thing. There will always be nursing jobs available even if I have to take another route before getting back to L+D.

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1 hour ago, JennaSnow said:

Yeah just the thought of all of it is stressing me out already. It has been rough these first 6 months out of nursing school. Not what I hoped for at all. Even this job, while my dream specialty is L+D, the location of this hospital and the pay in comparison to other hospitals in my area, are not ideal at all. It was my first offer and it was starting to feel a little bleak since I was having a hard time landing anything.

I do kind of just want to pick up with finding work after the babies are settled next year, but I’m just worried with how it’ll make me “look” as a new grad without any work experience. I know jobs don’t care about your personal life, they just care that you haven’t been working.

But you are right. My father said the same thing. There will always be nursing jobs available even if I have to take another route before getting back to L+D.

For what it is worth here is my two cents. First you need to do whatever you feel the most comfortable with. If you want to wait until after you have the babies, you should. While it might be illegal or them to ask you about kids, you would probably have to explain the gap in time. If you do really want to take the position, talk to the manager and see what she says. I have worked in L&D for over the last 7 years as a CNA. This is just my experience for where I am at, but there is always someone pregnant. Usually more than one, person. It has never been a big deal even with new hires. Also, breaking into L&D can be very hard. Again, all of this is only my experience, it could be much different where you are.

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I assume you have not told your new employer. You will start orientation already on limited duty: No infectious cases, no potential violence, etc. I don't know how that plays out in L&D but most anywhere else your daily assignment will be impacted by your pregnancy.

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Specializes in ICU.

I didn't read through all of the responses you already have, but I would just be honest with the manager and see what they think. I have a 9 week old now, and I was working as a traveler when I was pregnant. I started my last contract when I was 8 weeks, and I told the unit upfront. It worked out fine- I ended up extending with them, and then took a permanent staff job with them 2 weeks before I was due. They were willing to work with me because they saw the potential in me be being a permanent part of their team and were willing to wait. If you are the right fit for their unit the manager may be willing to work with you to meet your needs.

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On 6/11/2019 at 7:58 AM, Hoosier_RN said:

At every hospital that I've ever worked...we'd always laugh and wonder what was in the water on L&D ?

It’s why I no longer drink the water there!! I only bring my own bottled.

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I hope that whatever your decision is, you make it for yourself and not out of concern or consideration for the hospital, the unit, or the manager. You'll be 1.5 years out of nursing school if you wait until 3 months postpartum to start a new gig, right? That is less than ideal. Sure, L&D is kind of a small world, but it is not that small. And it's not like your name & photo will go up on some 'wanted' website of piss poor orientees.

I worked with a woman who went through L&D residency with horrible N&V - needed a zofran pump. She called out frequently. She eventually had to take leave. She finished the 12 week residency, worked for a few weeks, and then circled back around to restart work a few months after her delivery. So, about a 6 month hiatus? She is still an OB RN after an abbreviated orientation once she returned.

You could always start the job. See how it goes. And call it quits a few weeks into orientation if need be. This happens anyways in many nursing realms with a steep learning curve....at least you have a good reason. Like you said, it's not even your dream unit, so you're not blowing your once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

You know your extenuating circumstances (distance, tolls, high-risk status) that you have to weigh. Just make a decision for yourself, not out of concern for the hospital.

If they don't take you back, you'll have some experience and can explain your circumstances to the next OB hiring entity. If they're offended by your high-risk pregnancy and resulting circumstances, they are what's wrong with our maternal health care system.

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