New pregnant nurse

[lizdimi54873]

Hello

Im a new ICU RN and about a month off orientation. I just found out I’m pregnant, super excited, but not sure how to navigate through work. I spoke to My manager and educator so that they would know in case I can’t take certain patients or give certain meds. They both told me I could give these certain meds as long as I’m in full PPE. Then I spoke with some seasoned nurses on the floor and they told me not to give the meds and to avoid that type of patient all together. Also to avoid Covid. So I’ve been doing this, coming in early to tell resource or asking someone to help, but I also feel bad putting this on other people. I’m just not sure how to navigate it all. I want to keep myself and baby safe but at the same time not overreact and be a team player. Any advice ? I also couldn’t find much online about what is or isn’t safe to administer or be around during pregnancy. 

[HiddenAngels]

Congratulations...yaaaaaay baby ? ?

I would take all the advice I can get.   Seasoned nurses are a wealth of knowledge.  Not sure about all of the meds you can and can't give but definitely don your PPE and double glove regardless. 

Luck!!

[SmilingBluEyes]

Congratulations. Make an appointment with an OB or Midwife ASAP and get from him/her what is safe and what is not for during pregnancy. We can't offer advice like that here.

I wish you a happy and healthy pregnancy and birth experience.

[Pepper The Cat, BSN, RN]

If you need someone else to administer a treatment or test, ask what you can do for them while they are helping you. I hate it when I do extra for someone else and then fall behind in my work. And then find the person I helped sitting at the nursing station.

if you need to me to take a Covid pt from you, make sure the pt you take from me requires similar care. I am not giving up my one easy pt to take on your Covid pt.

[londonflo]

On 8/26/2022 at 10:06 AM, lizdimi54873 said:

I spoke with some seasoned nurses on the floor and they told me not to give the meds and to avoid that type of patient all together. Also to avoid Covid.

If they are so seasoned, they should be able to tell you specific meds. 

3 hours ago, SmilingBluEyes said:

Congratulations. Make an appointment with an OB or Midwife ASAP and get from him/her what is safe and what is not for during pregnancy.

 The advice given already is golden. 

 

[Nurse Beth, MSN]

Also think about  checking with your educator or manager/employee health about your organization's policy. Your provider is probably not going to be specific as to which drugs you can or can't administer.

For example, the policy on chemotherapy may say that pregnant employees (or employees trying to get pregnant) should not administer chemotherapeutic drugs. 

The advice to dbl glove is good, esp when handling hazardous drugs. Best wishes!

[LovingLife123]

There should be an actual handbook on your unit that tells you what you can and cannot handle.  It’s mandatory requirement to know about this manual and the info it provides.  Each facility can call it something different but you absolutely have to train on it.  
 

That’s where you start.  Policy and procedures.  Not word of mouth that others tell you.  
 

Congrats on the pregnancy!

[LovingLife123]

9 hours ago, Nurse Beth said:

Also think about  checking with your educator or manager/employee health about your organization's policy. Your provider is probably not going to be specific as to which drugs you can or can't administer.

For example, the policy on chemotherapy may say that pregnant employees (or employees trying to get pregnant) should not administer chemotherapeutic drugs. 

The advice to dbl glove is good, esp when handling hazardous drugs. Best wishes!

I thought this was federal training each employee had to train on each year.  I feel like my old facility called it U-800 hazardous meds.  
I had to do a new one at my new facility last year but cannot remember if it is called the same thing.  But each unit should have that manual per federal law.