Pregnancy and dismissal from nursing school

caroladybelle, BSN, RN · Mar 30, 2012

and besides pregnancy is not always a choice

Actually getting and staying pregnant is, indeed a choice for the vast majority.There are plenty of ways out there to keep from getting pregnant, or post intercourse to help prevent a viable pregnancy from occurring.And should one get pregnant (whether through a voluntary act or through assault/abuse) it is still legal in this nation to have an abortion..... At least for now, in most places.If abortion and/or the morning after pill goes against my beliefs, then that choice to continue the pregnancy is indeed my own choice.The choice to have sex or not, to have unprotected/under protected sex is also mine to make. While aasault may eliminate that choice, there are other alternatives to maintaining the possible pregnancy, barring the attacker holding one hostage for an extended period of time. That is extremely rare.

Saija · Mar 30, 2012

Well I have been married for coming up on 4 years now, and have never been pregnant, HOWEVER.. I am also aware that no matter what protection we use and no matter how responsibly we use it, there is always a small possibility of an accidental pregnancy. There is always that risk as long as someone is having sex. And although abstinence is always an option, that would be pretty ridiculous for people in long-term relationships, married or not (and frankly, even not in long term relationships as long as protection is used, I don't see the problem if it's two consenting adults). As far as abortions go, not everyone would feel comfortable with an abortion. Me, for instance, although I believe in a woman's right to an abortion, I'm not sure I could ever do it myself.

Accidental pregnancy when being responsible and using protection is somewhat unlikely, I'll give you that, but every single form of birth control has a failure rate, and some people cannot use the more reliable forms for various reasons (like women who have a tendency to clot shouldn't use hormonal birth control). I agree that people should have sex responsibly, but to suggest that true accidents never happen or that if they do then a woman should just be expected to get an abortion because "it is legal" is ridiculous. It almost makes it sound like if a woman gets pregnant on accident then you're assuming she has been fooling around without protection. Sometimes life happens and women should not be punished for it. Frankly I see this as a bit of an infringement to women's rights, unless we're okay with women getting fired for getting pregnant and things like that.

Of course, you shoudn't get unlimited missed days just for being pregnant or anything like that, but I like the schools here - you're allowed to "delay" your schooling for any reason up to a certain amount of time (like if you get pregnant, a close family member dies and you can't handle school then, or otherwise are going through a difficult time) and you just drop back into the next group and continue with them where you left off.

grownuprosie · Mar 30, 2012

At least for now, in most places.If abortion and/or the morning after pill goes against my beliefs, then that choice to continue the pregnancy is indeed my own choice.

I agree that people should have sex responsibly, but to suggest that true accidents never happen or that if they do then a woman should just be expected to get an abortion because "it is legal" is ridiculous.

I think you are misunderstanding the previous statement. Caroladybelle was not saying that you should be expected to have an abortion. She is simply saying that the woman would be making the choice: Continue to attend school or have a baby. A hard choice? absolutely. But, still a choice.

I already know what I would do if I got pregnant while in school. My boyfriend and i had that talk so if the time came we would know where each other stands.

I am one of those people that does not think that pregnancy or having children should give anyone a free pass on class, clinicals, or lecture. The rest of the students made sure not to get pregnant. Accomidating the pregnant students excessively (any more than they would accomidate a ill student) does not respect the commitment that the others made to the program.

BuckyBadgerRN, ASN, RN · Mar 30, 2012

Um, "pregnancy discrimination" applies to employment. You are not employed by the school. My school allows so many hours per clinical rotation to be missed, which translates to about 1 day per clinical rotation. My closest friend in nursing school (we did PT, so clinicals were on Saturdays) had her baby on Sunday, the day after clinical and then we had Spring Break and then she "took" the next week off, so she had 3 weeks away, the best possible scenario. I know FT students who have T/Th clinical deliver on Tue and back to clinical on Thursday!!

BuckyBadgerRN, ASN, RN · Mar 30, 2012

The military does. Get pregnant while deployed and they will send your heiny home!

MedChica · Mar 31, 2012

I'm currently attending an LPN program in the state of CT and I'm due to have my baby in April 2012.. I'm in a eighteen month program and they only allow eight clinical days to be missed. I have reached my eighth day because I'm a high risk pregnancy and have been in and out the hospital several times. The director of the nursing program notified me about reaching my eighth day and told me if I miss one more clinical day I will be dismissed from the program. She said I better pray to god I don't deliver on a Wednesday, Thursday or Friday because those are clinical days and if so I better make sure it's a Friday after 2:30pm I'm due to graduate in June 2012 and would really be devastated if I get dismissed from the program. I plan to return to school at least three to four days after the delivery if all goes well. I dont know what to do now since she said I'm at the end of the rope. Please advice!! Thanks

Congrats on the pregnancy.

Well, clinicals are important. You usually can't miss. My school doesn't do clinical 'make-up' days. You miss? It's a zero.

With that said, I don't see the big deal.

A certain amt of clinical hours are required by the State.

If you can't miss clinicals, well...you can't miss clinicals. If there are no clinical 'make-up days offered? You can't miss clinicals.

No way around it. You could be the best student in the world, but...rules are rules. What are you gonna do?

shrug

Here's what I'd do: Take medical leave. Get on bedrest and take care of myself + that little one. Have the baby. Go back to school and repeat this semester. Finish up with another class.

School will be there, regardless.

caliotter3 · Mar 31, 2012

Have not read the entire thread, but my first thought is that you should have either prevented the pregnancy while in school or dealt with the situation when you first found out your condition. By not handling the situation beforehand or at the beginning, you accepted this possibility and must accept responsibility for wasting your time should you be dismissed. I don't understand (without reading otherwise) why you have not taken a medical leave of absence.

MedChica · Mar 31, 2012

I'd agree.

I don't understand this 'pregnancy is not a choice'/'things happen' mess. Who knew that it was so hard for some women to not get pregnant?

Of course, I'm somewhat understanding. I just dislike excuse-making. Some women simply don't like hearing the truth or being confronted with their unwise life-choices and mistakes. No -- they don't understand their bodies or how to use/choose birth control or how to abstain, etc...and everyone has to make concessions for THEM. It's selfish.

If I just 'up and became' pregnant like some of these women...I'd understand that certain options might be closed to me.

For instance, nursing school.

Everyone in nursing school understands that they can't miss clinicals, labs - hell, you can't miss days, PERIOD. On lectures there are usually quizzes and case studies that are worth 15-20% of your grade. Miss a single one and that 92 avg becomes an 85.

You can't miss.

...however, if I 'just up and found myself in a situation' that could potentially cause me to miss some days? Well, that might be something of a problem.

Common sense.

I'm not going to be p/o at the school. The heck kind of sense does that make?

caroladybelle, BSN, RN · Mar 31, 2012

I think you are misunderstanding the previous statement. Caroladybelle was not saying that you should be expected to have an abortion. She is simply saying that the woman would be making the choice: Continue to attend school or have a baby. A hard choice? absolutely. But, still a choice.

Thank you! That is indeed what I meant.I personally doubt that I would ever consider abortion. But that be choosing to keep in line with my personal convictions over other issues in my life, and realize that other plans would have to be altered so that I could stay true to my principles. This is a choice.

tokyoROSE, BSN, RN · Apr 1, 2012

Missing EIGHT days of clinicals is generous. Mine was one. You can make up some hours, but as many know, make up hours are limited. There were a couple of pregnancies in my cohort and one gal took a semester off, had her baby, and came back. Nothing wrong with that. But to think you deserve special accommodations because of your pregnancy is...naive to say the least.

caliotter3 · Apr 1, 2012

Family planning is a personal responsibility, not the responsibility of the administration at a nursing school or an employer or any other third party.

Brannray · Apr 4, 2012

Your babies health as well as you're own is the most important thing! I am surprised that they have allowed you to miss 8 clinical days! If you miss one day where I go to school!! There was one girl that was in my class that was pregnant, but had to miss too much and ended up having to drop out. They are going to let her back though next time.