Pregnancy is not a disease!!! (vent)

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I am so upset right now:angryfire I work as a PCT in a busy ER on the weekends. There is a girl who found out she is pregnant a couple of months ago, and now she thinks that's an excuse not to do her share of the work. We have 22 er rooms in which we have 3 PCT's to cover 2 in the back splitting rooms and 1 in triage. Last night the pregnant tech who is 4-5 months pregnant (3rd child by the way) would not empty her laundry bags or help take her admitted patients upstaris! Now I understand if you have complications then you should be at home or on light duty, not in the er where it is very busy for you to just fold your arms and ignore your work!. I had to take her patients up and mine and still maintain the care for my own pts. I am not the one who got her pregnant if she feels she can't carry out her duties then maybe she and the baby's father need to work it out where she can stay at home, because employers are to treat you like any other employee who is not pregnant.:madface:

I hope I don't come off sounding mean but that's how I feel, I have two kids of my own and worked very hard with both until it was time for me to deliver with no mercy:trout:. You do what you got to do!

Specializes in ER, Occupational Medicine.
Oh, I completely agree that ppl should be careful about when and with whom they have children. That is another story completely, but there is a limited time when a woman can get pregnant. I would not put off my dream of having a child b/c someone at work is going to be inconvenienced, I'm sorry. Now, as said before lazy is unacceptable. I am 8 months preg now, and in the beginning I had complications of bleeding, and spotting, but I had to keep my job. There was no way I could predict that that was going to happen, but it's always a possibility. You can't always just wait until the perfect time. Maybe if we went back to being more family oriented instead of job oriented our children would turn out better. No one or nothing comes before the well being of my children.

Ok RNCRNA2BE I hear what your saying and no one is asking that she put off having a chid and true know can predict the outcome of the pregnancy, BUT why should I have to pick up your slack b/c you are preg. If the job is more than she can handle pls look for another position where the work is not as physicaly demanding.

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Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
ok rncrna2be i hear what your saying and no one is asking that she put off having a chid and true know can predict the outcome of the pregnancy, but why should i have to pick up your slack b/c you are preg. if the job is more than she can handle pls look for another position where the work is not as physicaly demanding.

if you cannot do the job, then you shouldn't be holding the job! no one should have to pick up all the slack for a pregnant employee day after day, week after week. and it's been my experience that once someone gets used to that sort of special treatment, they expect it all the time.

"i can't take patients in isolation because i might take mrsa home to my baby!"

"i can't take that patient because he's too heavy and i had a c-section last year!"

"i can't work weekends anymore because i don't have child care."

"i can't work christmas because i have a child."

most of the pregnant women and mothers i've worked with have been just terrific, but a few seem to expect everyone in the world to step and fetch for them, and that's just not right.

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I know I will get flamed here - but honesty is the best policy right? Yes people who are preggers deserve a consideration. No matter who or how they came to be in the family way, in my lil opinion it's a civility issue. The kiddlett to be deserves the best chance possible. Now the prudent MTB gives and takes, does all that she can to pull as much weight as she can, but if you don't want to take MRSA or others and a switch can be made - hopefully a co-worker steps up.. When I was single with out kids I worked all the holidays that were family oriented, families matter and people with little ones need accommodation, just like people with kids who are home on the New Year ought to make it so the unencumbered singles - and younger folk can go out. It's kind of scary to me how people are so mean to each other these days , we all have seasons in our lives that require give and take

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I know I will get flamed here - but honesty is the best policy right? Yes people who are preggers deserve a consideration. No matter who or how they came to be in the family way, in my lil opinion it's a civility issue. The kiddlett to be deserves the best chance possible. Now the prudent MTB gives and takes, does all that she can to pull as much weight as she can, but if you don't want to take MRSA or others and a switch can be made - hopefully a co-worker steps up.. When I was single with out kids I worked all the holidays that were family oriented, families matter and people with little ones need accommodation, just like people with kids who are home on the New Year ought to make it so the unencumbered singles - and younger folk can go out. It's kind of scary to me how people are so mean to each other these days , we all have seasons in our lives that require give and take

Touched a bit of a nerve here....

I don't think we are refusing give and take. But notice that expression has two words, it isn't just take. Some people do that. I will not work every Xmas for the rest of my life if I don't have a baby. I am not a mother, but that doesn't mean I don't have a family. I'm a daughter, a sister, an aunt. I made the choice to go into a job that requires some holidays and weekends and looking after infectious patients. I'll do my fair share of that. I won't do all of it.

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I know I will get flamed here - but honesty is the best policy right? Yes people who are preggers deserve a consideration. No matter who or how they came to be in the family way, in my lil opinion it's a civility issue. The kiddlett to be deserves the best chance possible. Now the prudent MTB gives and takes, does all that she can to pull as much weight as she can, but if you don't want to take MRSA or others and a switch can be made - hopefully a co-worker steps up.. When I was single with out kids I worked all the holidays that were family oriented, families matter and people with little ones need accommodation, just like people with kids who are home on the New Year ought to make it so the unencumbered singles - and younger folk can go out. It's kind of scary to me how people are so mean to each other these days , we all have seasons in our lives that require give and take

The key phrase here is give and take. The person described by the OP seems to only be taking. Most of the moms-to-be I have worked with have done as much of their own work as they were physically capable of, pitched in to help others who were helping them and expressed thanks to those who helped them out. I think we all want our pregnant coworkers to have uncomplicated pregnancies and healthy, term babies. Really, I have no problem doing some of the "heavy" stuff for a pregnant coworker. I just think that there are plenty of other ways pregnant coworkers can carry their weight on the unit. Thankfully most moms-to-be in healthcare do give as much as they take. I think the takers need to be told there are other ways they can help their coworkers without jeopardizing their pregnancy.

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Specializes in Med-Surg.
Touched a bit of a nerve here....

I don't think we are refusing give and take. But notice that expression has two words, it isn't just take. Some people do that. I will not work every Xmas for the rest of my life if I don't have a baby. I am not a mother, but that doesn't mean I don't have a family. I'm a daughter, a sister, an aunt. I made the choice to go into a job that requires some holidays and weekends and looking after infectious patients. I'll do my fair share of that. I won't do all of it.

Those are the one's this thread is about in my opinion - the one's that take advantage, like my coworker (who was lazy to start with, but suddendly became an invalid when she got pregnant). So I wonder why so many of us on this thread are going off on a tangent.

These people are irritating. If that makes me uncompassionate then so be it.

I will bend over backwards for the pregnant cowoker that needs my help (I seek them out and offer help, and when I need help with heavy stuff I don't even ask them - some of whom get mad that I bypass them when I need help) even if they aren't giving back, if they are putting forth an honest effort, and aren't being lazy and taking advantage of their pregnancy of the guise of "I'm not going to put my baby at risk".

It's a no-brainer to me that the pregnant co-worker deserves some consideration, TLC and help.

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Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
i know i will get flamed here - but honesty is the best policy right? yes people who are preggers deserve a consideration. no matter who or how they came to be in the family way, in my lil opinion it's a civility issue. the kiddlett to be deserves the best chance possible. now the prudent mtb gives and takes, does all that she can to pull as much weight as she can, but if you don't want to take mrsa or others and a switch can be made - hopefully a co-worker steps up.. when i was single with out kids i worked all the holidays that were family oriented, families matter and people with little ones need accommodation, just like people with kids who are home on the new year ought to make it so the unencumbered singles - and younger folk can go out. it's kind of scary to me how people are so mean to each other these days , we all have seasons in our lives that require give and take

when 1/4 to 1/3 of our staff is pregnant at the same time and at least 1/2 of our patients have mrsa, vre or some other nasty bug, those of us who aren't pregnant could end up taking all the isolation patients all the time. how is that fair? how is it even possible to keep the pregnant staff out of those rooms?

so the pregnant nurses don't want to lift -- i understand that. our patients are getting heavier and heavier and i had a serious back injury last year. should i do their lifting for them? maybe mark who can't get pregnant and is taking three of the isolation patients so some mother-to-be doesn't have to should drop everything and run and help her lift.

if you want to give up all of your christmases because someone else has little kids, more power to you. the fact that i was unable to reproduce, however, doesn't mean that i don't have family i'd like to be with on the holidays. i entered nursing knowing i'd have to work my share of weekends, nights and holidays, and i have always worked my share. but that doesn't mean i'm willing to spend my entire life working christmas for someone else! when it's my turn to have christmas off, i'm taking it off! little kids who can't read calenders won't know santa came on the 23rd instead of the 25th and older kids are old enough to understand that santa's coming to their house on the 23rd or 27th because mommie or daddy has to work.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Geriatrics.
I know I will get flamed here - but honesty is the best policy right? Yes people who are preggers deserve a consideration. No matter who or how they came to be in the family way, in my lil opinion it's a civility issue. The kiddlett to be deserves the best chance possible. Now the prudent MTB gives and takes, does all that she can to pull as much weight as she can, but if you don't want to take MRSA or others and a switch can be made - hopefully a co-worker steps up.. When I was single with out kids I worked all the holidays that were family oriented, families matter and people with little ones need accommodation, just like people with kids who are home on the New Year ought to make it so the unencumbered singles - and younger folk can go out. It's kind of scary to me how people are so mean to each other these days , we all have seasons in our lives that require give and take

I agree completely. People really are so mean to each other, determined not to give an inch lest they give even a tiny bit more than they take.

The title of this post is pregnancy is not a disease. Well, when I was pregnant I felt like I had a disease. I have never been so sick in my life as during my two pregnancies. I actually took a leave of absence when I was pregnant with my daughter as I was hospitalized frequently. When I was pregnant with my son, I was dizzy and nauseous every minute of the day and I had zero energy. One day, the company I work for had an "emergency" meeting about some sort of bull and there was no way I could make it, I was just too sick so I was terminated. I guess that should make those who feel I shouldn't have had the job in the first place feel better. Since they were unwilling to accomodate me for a few months, they lost an experienced, hard-working employee and increased the workload for their remaining employees for about 6 months which was how long it took them to replace me. Coincidentally, that is right around the time I would have been returning to work after my son was born. Smart move on their part!

Throughout my career, I have gladly made accomodations for coworkers who had some special circumstance whether it was temporary or permanent, in the hopes that karma would repay me. I see now that is a foolish hope.

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I agree completely. People really are so mean to each other, determined not to give an inch lest they give even a tiny bit more than they take.

The title of this post is pregnancy is not a disease. Well, when I was pregnant I felt like I had a disease. I have never been so sick in my life as during my two pregnancies. I actually took a leave of absence when I was pregnant with my daughter as I was hospitalized frequently. When I was pregnant with my son, I was dizzy and nauseous every minute of the day and I had zero energy. One day, the company I work for had an "emergency" meeting about some sort of bull and there was no way I could make it, I was just too sick so I was terminated. I guess that should make those who feel I shouldn't have had the job in the first place feel better. Since they were unwilling to accomodate me for a few months, they lost an experienced, hard-working employee and increased the workload for their remaining employees for about 6 months which was how long it took them to replace me. Coincidentally, that is right around the time I would have been returning to work after my son was born. Smart move on their part!

Throughout my career, I have gladly made accomodations for coworkers who had some special circumstance whether it was temporary or permanent, in the hopes that karma would repay me. I see now that is a foolish hope.

You had legitimate problems during your pregnancy and it's unfortunate that your employer terminated you because of that. However, the pregnant people that are being discussed in this thread DO NOT have any known complications. They are the women who feel they shouldn't have to do anything at work from the day they find out they're pregnant. If a pregnant employee can't hold up the requirements of the job, then she needs to speak to management so they can make changes and staff the unit appropriately. At my job, there is almost always someone pregnant and I'm sure it's that way on a lot of units. It's unfair to expect the other employees to constantly be picking up the extra slack when the pregnant nurse isn't doing her part to relieve her co-workers of some of their duties that she CAN help with.

No one here is saying that they aren't willing to help a nurse with special circumstances. It's just that with some people, you give an inch and they take a mile. It's hard to keep wanting to help these people out when it's obvious that they are taking advantage of you.

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Specializes in ICU/CCU, CVICU, Trauma.
I know I will get flamed here - but honesty is the best policy right? Yes people who are preggers deserve a consideration. No matter who or how they came to be in the family way, in my lil opinion it's a civility issue. The kiddlett to be deserves the best chance possible. Now the prudent MTB gives and takes, does all that she can to pull as much weight as she can, but if you don't want to take MRSA or others and a switch can be made - hopefully a co-worker steps up.. When I was single with out kids I worked all the holidays that were family oriented, families matter and people with little ones need accommodation, just like people with kids who are home on the New Year ought to make it so the unencumbered singles - and younger folk can go out. It's kind of scary to me how people are so mean to each other these days , we all have seasons in our lives that require give and take

You set yourself up for this. If you cannot do your job, you should not be there. Those of us who are not pregnant do not want to take MRSA home, either, whether or not we have children. Those of us without children also have families that are important to us. We deserve to spend holidays with them just as much as a nurse with children. I am so tired of nurses thinking that just because they have children they deserve holidays off more than me. Don't tell me I'm mean just because I, too, want time with my family or because I believe a pregnant nurse should not use her pregnancy as an excuse.

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Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.

I think that this OP's post is directed at a lazy person that is making excuses. I know some who will not work if a hair is out of place, or something really silly. Those types irritate me to no end. But, I do believe that accomodations should be made for pregnant women who are having a hard time coping.

I have one son (20, now) and had a difficult pregnancy; had a cervical cerclage placed in to maintain that pregnancy. I went out on leave because I was working as an aide in a psych hospital at that time, and the patients were unpredictable. Thank goodness, I was living with my mother because I had to accept public assistance and medicaid. I always felt guilty for taking the taxpayer's money because if I had been able to go to work on light duty, I would have done so.

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Specializes in Med-Surg, Wound Care.
Wow, sure is nice to know that we live in a supportive world. Plain laziness is not acceptable at work, but to tell someone not to have kids?!! You don't know their situation.

This situation in the OP is a person who doesn't want to work BECAUSE she is pregnant. If she knows that she doesn't want to work at be pregnant, then she needs to make other arrangements. Either don't get pregnant or find a job that will allow pregnancy within the scope of what she is willing to do.

I worked pregnant, until 10 days before my son was born because I had to work. My coworkers were great, and I picked up slack when they didn't want me to do something. Instead of pushing beds, I would give their meds. To refuse to do the job that you are being paid for and NOT be of assistance to your coworkers has nothing to do with their situation..it has to do with lazyness.

If there is a real medical reason that one cannot do the job then their doctor needs to step in a put them out on disability. It's a two way street and your coworkers will work with you, as long as you continue to work fair.

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