Planning to have a baby.. new nurse

Calixan · Apr 2, 2011

What I don't understand is why are you waiting so long to even look for a job? Graduation is two months away. Start looking now! You can work as a GN or GVN, whatever program you are graduating from and take your NCLEX after. I think thats why most new grads are having issues finding jobs, they are waiting too long and having the competition of all the other nursing programs in the area that are graduating. Look now, baby later!

carolmaccas66, BSN, RN · Apr 2, 2011

Do not ever lie to an employer about being pregnant (assuming you are at the time of the interview). My boss used to do HR recruiting for the clinical side of nursing and people used to lie to her, and it would drive her nuts. (1) you aren't going to be able to hide it eventually, (2) they might want to send you to an area where you will be exposed to radation or something hazardous, so you would have to fess up anyway.

My niece decided to get pg after she started college to get the money for study. She had to give up her double degree in teaching, and now has 3 kids. Her partner has to work away (to finish his study and for work), and she is left on her own. They both thought he would have secure employment in our town, but then the economy tanked. Now, she is working casual in a supermarket, has to run around at the last minute when she gets called in to find babysitters and regrets not finishing her study. Her whole life has changed because she decided to have these kids, basically for money (one was an 'accident' apparently).

Here are some words of wisdom: finish your nursing, get one years of critical care experience THEN think about a family. My niece did NOT think anything through when she got pg. She just got fed up and gave up unfortunately.

Finish your one year of critical care nursing first. And there is no guarantee of a a job afterwards. Have you thought of that when thinking of finances when raising a child? You may not get a position for a long, long time. Some people on here have been looking for literally years and have nearly given up. And, from what I have seen and read, the economy will not be turning anytime soon, or improving for a long, long time.

I also get slightly annoyed when nurses on here DO get pg when studying/working and then 6 months later, they are on here, complaining because they can't cope, or can't find the time to study, whatever, or they can't get a job.

I just wish sometimes, that younger people would think a little bit more before rushing into things. And I find today a lot of younger people do not think about the realities of having a child. There is also no guarantee of employment, unless you get a lot of child welfare benefits where u are living.

And you will not get employment without that critical care year either.

Just some advice from an older person who sees so many young people ruin their lives, because they do not think a little bit. Very sad.

nursie_pants · Apr 3, 2011

Also, not to sound negative or anything but just based on experience I wanted to throw this out there: I know the excitement of wanting to start a family.... and yet getting/maintaining a pregnancy can sometimes unfortunately be harder than it seems.

It's such a personal decision and it's so unfortunate that discrimination against women because of pregnancy takes place all the time.

Only you can decide the right time to try and start your family... a job is a job. It doesn't define us 100%. :) (thank God, huh?!)

rkitty198, BSN, RN · Apr 3, 2011

Please please please take my advice!

I got pregnant a few months into my job and here are the specifics....

If you need to take FMLA because of complications related to your pregnancy that leads you to having to be on bedrest (medical leave) *unless you worked there for a year* you do not qualify (this is a federal law and it applies to all states).

I am healthy and never have had medical issues and I got pregnant in December and my year anniversary at my job was in July. I am very healthy and didn't expect any medical issues with my pregnancy. Well then in May I developed issues with bleeding and had placenta previa. I needed to go on bedrest for a minimum of a week. Luckily my employer allowed me to use my sick time (because I had it- if you don't have sick time accrued then you need to take FMLA and I did not qualify). Luckily because I had sick time accrued I was able to retain my position at work.

I also needed to go on a modified schedule at work. I was not able to work 12 hour shifts. My employer told me that I was hired for 12 hour shifts and in my contract we are to lift up to 50lbs of weight. My MD didnt want me to do any heavy lifting. I was told that if I could not do the job I was hired to do then I had to quit. Luckily after a week of bedrest I stopped bleeding and was able to go back to my job.

I then developed hypertension and needed to go on bedrest a month before I delivered. Luckily, I had met my year anniversary and I was able to take FMLA and stay at home, have my baby and keep my job when I came back.

I was so stressed out thinking that I would not be able to keep my job!

In times like these where jobs are so hard to come by I would pass your boards, get a job and keep it for a year before you get pregnant. I would have never given advice like this in the past as I would have said "go for it get pregnant!" and I would be excited for you.

Being a new nurse is very difficult, then add on being pregnant, it makes for a really stressful time in life.

They say that new jobs, babies are some of the most stressful times in life, don't make it so hard on yourself where you are miserable and can't enjoy each moment!