Start new OR RN job in 2 weeks; oops - pregnant...

Specialties Operating Room

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Specializes in O.R. Nursing - ENT, CTC, Vasc..

Been a circulator for almost 18 months, right out of school. I just accepted a new job in an OR closer to home. It is 10 minutes away instead of 30, and it pays $2.00/hour more. Pretty sure I'm pregnant now - which must have happened close to the time I interviewed for it. I'm 39 and this will be my 2nd baby, and I had a great pregnancy the first time - only felt icky as opposed to nasty vomitty morning sickness and near the end I had horrible symphysis pubis pain -TMI.

I feel kind of like an idiot for not being careful when job-changing was happening, but does this look bad coming into a new OR job in early 1st trimester? I just want to be prepared for whatever...

My 1st pregnancy, I worked in an office answering emails all day - a cake job. I have no idea what I'm getting myself into with a physical job like this. I don't see why I can't do my job, and I know about x-ray and bone cement. I guess I am just blabbering because I hate getting a new job only to have a baby in less than a year posing a staffing issue with them and I didn't even start! I wish I could keep it a secret but as soon as everyone sees you can't be near the bone cement, everyone knows.

Again, I am just venting. I plan on only doing a 6-week maternity leave (baby will have a stay-at-home dad, most likely). So it's not like I'll be gone for months...I don't even think I'll qualify for maternity leave, only being there for 9 months.

Maybe I ought to just stay with my current job, where I have earned the leave and I know the OB docs.

Specializes in Peri-op/Sub-Acute ANP.

I know I'm probably going to be shot down for saying this BUT.... IF IT WERE ME, I would stay at the old job. You have a history with them, PTO built up, and a staff that knows you. My fear for you going into a new job is that right off the bat you will be "special" and the staff in the new job might not care for that too much with a new employee if you can't do a bunch of assignments because of your condition. I think this will be especially true if the new place does a lot of ortho. I see potential for a bunch of resentment and I frankly wouldn't want to deal with it in a new job. Plus, you don't need the stress of having to prove yourself all over again while you're dealing with pregnancy. You're probably in quite a comfortable groove with your old job, and I'm assuming it's not a horrible place to work just that the new job would be more convenient.

Now I know, legally, they can't discriminate against you in the new job but we all know how it works in the real world is all I'm saying.

Specializes in O.R. Nursing - ENT, CTC, Vasc..

I personally haven't seen the discrimination in my OR, but, my mother warned me about it (she is an HR manager).

I didn't mention the new job will pay me $13k more per year than I make now, and the director there was the director at my current job up until 7 months ago and had worked with me for 9 months before he left.

This is also a charity general hospital where they don't do lots of ortho, and rarely do totals. It's a teaching hospital and most of the patients are indigent.

I am still thinking.

Specializes in 2 years school nurse, 15 in the OR!.

I agree with "TakeTwoAspirin." I think stay at the current job. You won't have the stress of all the crap when you start a new job. Being pregnant is hard enough, but changing jobs in the OR is even crazier. I wish you lots of luck in whatever you choose to do.

Specializes in Med/Surg, International Health, Psych.

Hi LAM2010,

I'm Jane Come Lately, but I say go for it. What did you finally decide?

Specializes in O.R. Nursing - ENT, CTC, Vasc..

Talk about a late reply!....I'm the OP, heehee!Here I am, 37 weeks pregnant.

I took the new job. I told my new team lead I was pregnant when I was about 12 weeks. This was because she assigned me to a total hip with bone cement, and while I was trying to work out how I was going to bring up my pregnancy, this assignment left me no choice but to just tell her. She was pretty excited!

Anyway, when I got a chance, I explained that I only recently found out, I know I don't qualify for FMLA, and that I love my job and will be coming back after the OB releases me. Up to that point, I made a great impression on them as a new employee, they decided I was a "keeper". I had a preceptor for maybe 2 weeks until I got oriented to how they did things, to the point where they felt confident that I would work out for them :)

As for ditching the old job and the FMLA...I am happy I did because the increase in my pay and the less-stressful atmosphere, plus the shorter commute, have been wonderful. They say I will still have my job when I come back, and I've assured them I'll be back after 6 weeks (I have no choice, I am the breadwinner and can't afford unpaid leave).

My boyfriend is still unemployed and we've agreed he may as well stay that way for a bit longer than 6 weeks to avoid daycare as long as possible. I am not as "scared" about possibly getting fired while out on leave, because I know things will work out. But I am pretty sure I'm safe because they will spend a lot more money replacing me and re-training another nurse for just an absence of 6 weeks.

And the hospital is currently under a hiring freeze as well, because of the economy etc.

And I worked hard to prove to them I am good and I'm dependable. I am also having a very healthy pregnancy and plan to work til I deliver - and I'm delivering at the same hospital because I like the OB people and the hospital writes off what our insurance doesn't cover.

So....Sorry I didn't follow the advice, but for all the benefits I've gotten out of changing jobs, it is worth the small risk that they'll ditch me because I don't have FMLA protection. (p.s. I will be using short-term disability to pay me 60% of my pay while I'm out).

Been a circulator for almost 18 months, right out of school. I just accepted a new job in an OR closer to home. It is 10 minutes away instead of 30, and it pays $2.00/hour more. Pretty sure I'm pregnant now - which must have happened close to the time I interviewed for it. I'm 39 and this will be my 2nd baby, and I had a great pregnancy the first time - only felt icky as opposed to nasty vomitty morning sickness and near the end I had horrible symphysis pubis pain -TMI. I feel kind of like an idiot for not being careful when job-changing was happening, but does this look bad coming into a new OR job in early 1st trimester? I just want to be prepared for whatever...My 1st pregnancy, I worked in an office answering emails all day - a cake job. I have no idea what I'm getting myself into with a physical job like this. I don't see why I can't do my job, and I know about x-ray and bone cement. I guess I am just blabbering because I hate getting a new job only to have a baby in less than a year posing a staffing issue with them and I didn't even start! I wish I could keep it a secret but as soon as everyone sees you can't be near the bone cement, everyone knows.Again, I am just venting. I plan on only doing a 6-week maternity leave (baby will have a stay-at-home dad, most likely). So it's not like I'll be gone for months...I don't even think I'll qualify for maternity leave, only being there for 9 months.Maybe I ought to just stay with my current job, where I have earned the leave and I know the OB docs.

Congratulation on your pregnancy. I am glad everything worked out fine.

Congrats & so happy it worked out for u!

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