New Grad RN, 17 weeks pregnant with upcoming interview

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I live in Southern California and I graduated from nursing school in June from an LVN-ADN program. I passed my state boards in July and have been looking for an RN position ever since with no luck. I currently have an interview lined up for a hospital that I have been trying so hard to get hired at, but my predicament is that I am currently 17 weeks pregnant. At the time of my interview do I tell them that I am pregnant, but plan on working until as close to my due date as possible and plan on returning back to work right after maternity leave? I really don't want me being pregnant to deter me from getting this job, but don't want to make an uncomfortable working environment when they find out that I am pregnant after being hired. Since finding an RN position as a new grad is hard enough in this economy I wanted to know what the best advice is for my situation. Thank you so much.

In an LVN-ADN program you receive your RN, I passed my RN state boards in July. Thank you for your response.

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Specializes in school nurse.

I'm going to get lambasted, but I think this attitude stinks for the employer and co-workers. Get a job, get oriented, barely get to the productive stage, then skeedadle for a leave of absence. Yeah, it's legal, but it's knowingly creating hardship for your job. Just like the mothers who KNOW they won't be back, but take their so-called "leave", use up all their time, and keep the position in limbo...BTW, FMLA eligibility wouldn't kick in for a year.

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I'm going to get lambasted, but I think this attitude stinks for the employer and co-workers. Get a job, get oriented, barely get to the productive stage, then skeedadle for a leave of absence. Yeah, it's legal, but it's knowingly creating hardship for your job. Just like the mothers who KNOW they won't be back, but take their so-called "leave", use up all their time, and keep the position in limbo...BTW, FMLA eligibility wouldn't kick in for a year.

Thank you so much for your response. I do completely see your point of view. I am also aware that I would not be eligible for FMLA which is another reason why I do plan on coming back to work, if I get hired, no later than 8 weeks. I made this post to see what other nurses opinions would be, so nobody is going to be "lambasted". I just want to do what is best for me and my employer. If I do get this job I plan on being here for a long time, since this is the hospital that I have always wanted to work in, which is why I want some good advice.

Thank you for yours:)

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Specializes in school nurse.
Thank you so much for your response. I do completely see your point of view. I am also aware that I would not be eligible for FMLA which is another reason why I do plan on coming back to work, if I get hired, no later than 8 weeks. I made this post to see what other nurses opinions would be, so nobody is going to be "lambasted". I just want to do what is best for me and my employer. If I do get this job I plan on being here for a long time, since this is the hospital that I have always wanted to work in, which is why I want some good advice.

Thank you for yours:)

It seems like you have a go-for-it work ethic, and hopefully the facility will provide a long career for you, then.

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Specializes in Oncology; medical specialty website.
I wouldn't tell them. Cover up, get the job, pass your 90 day probation, get fmla, then take your maternity leave when it's time. Make sure you get FMLA to protect your job. Plus, I'm curious...are you a LPN or RN...b/c you said you graduated from a LVN-ADN program but you're looking for a RN job...please clarify. Good luck.:)

You cannot get FMLA until you have been with an employer for a year and have worked the required number of hours to qualify (I think it's 1200).

ETA: Sorry, I see others already addressed this.

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I wouldn't mention it either!!

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Specializes in mental health, aged care/disability care.

Are you showing yet? They may work it out for themselves.

If you do get the job, I would make a point of telling them that you are coming back to work asap and won't be taking extended maternity leave. If you are only going to be gone for a limited time, it may help to smooth things over.

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If i were you,i will explain to the hospital that you are pregnant and you will like to come for work when you finish having the baby(You never know how you going to feel about you baby and you might not be able to come back to work as planned).It is good to land a job at your dream hospital,but it is also good to try and wait until you delivery safely and nurtur the baby the way you want before leaving to go to work;you might change your mind about leaving your baby in care of someone.Just my two cents and i might be wrong!Either way goodluck.

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Specializes in Hospice / Psych / RNAC.

I found out I was 4 months pregnant right after I got hired in a similar situation like yours. I didn't tell anyone. I had to go out early due to complications and my doc wanted me to stay off my feet so I went and retrieved the workman's comp forms, filled it out, took it in and 4 days later I was out with all my benefits in tact. As I was walking out to go on leave the HR person came to me and said that when I went in and got the forms; she thought I was getting the forms for someone else. Hmmm; so they were keeping track of who went in to get TDI forms.

If I would have told them they would have got rid of me; I'm sure about that. I say this because when all this was happening another nurse became pregnant but told everyone and ya know what happens next. A nurse with a perfect record all of a sudden is fired for some trumped up charge. Yea; that's how cut throat some places can get.

Now your place may be more ethical and loyal so you need to decide if they will stand behind you if they know your pregnant before they hire you. Personally if you're going to tell them do it after you get hired. I only worked a few months but was eligible for TDI and then had to return within a 6 week period post birth. I am not familiar with the type of insurance you people are talking about but your benefits will remain in tact once you go out to give birth.

They had to give me my job back as well with the working schedule that I was doing when I left. It was union so we nurses had real good back-up and they made sure management didn't take advantage of us (except they couldn't help that other nurse). Anyway...........

You are under no obligation to tell them and it's not a crime. Plus it's against the law for them to ask; just like your age, sex, religion etc...You want to know what's really funny when I was pregnant all the staff just thought I was gaining weight but it was the patients that would ask me and knew I was pg. Are you going to be protected by a union and what does lambasted mean?

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Specializes in Medical Surgical & Nursing Manaagement.

By Federal Regulations, a potential employer CAN NOT ASK if you are pregnant nor can they not hire you because you are pregnant. A savvy interviewer could, however, find another reason not to hire you so be careful. Don't offer the information.

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Specializes in ER, OR, PACU, TELE, CATH LAB, OPEN HEART.

I would NOT tell anyone I was pregnant. Not even after I started working. Some managers and HR will do whatever they can to get rid of someone who will use too many benefits. Hopefully, you are going to a unionized facility. It will be difficult but in this economy you need to provide for you and your child today and in the future. Good Luck.

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Specializes in mental health, aged care/disability care.
I found out I was 4 months pregnant right after I got hired in a similar situation like yours. I didn't tell anyone. I had to go out early due to complications and my doc wanted me to stay off my feet so I went and retrieved the workman's comp forms, filled it out, took it in and 4 days later I was out with all my benefits in tact. As I was walking out to go on leave the HR person came to me and said that when I went in and got the forms; she thought I was getting the forms for someone else. Hmmm; so they were keeping track of who went in to get TDI forms.

I'm curious to know how you got workers comp for a pregnancy. :confused: It may well work differently in the USA to what it does here (Australia), but our workers comp is for people who injured themselves while at work and pregnancy certainly is not a workplace injury.

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