Pregnancy and... the floor?

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Specializes in Psych, Stepdown, Research.

So, I'm 31, ready for babies, and on the floor. I'm still a new nurse (nearly a year), but we're thinking of pregnancy in the next 3-6 mos. Any opinions on being pregnant on the floor? I know the norms, i.e.: swollen feet, stressed, tired, etc., but what do you think about coming into contact w/ drugs (possibly carcinogenic), bacteria, etc.? We're lucky, in that we're not exactly financially bound to my floor position but I just want to know what other people have done or thought. Thanks for the replies!

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I worked on the floor until I was 7.5 months pregnant, and you know what? Working then was actually MORE pleasant than when I was not pregnant! As soon as your belly starts to show, everyone is so much nicer and polite to you. Doors and elevators are held for you, patients quit nagging so much, doctors are considerate to you, and in general the other nursing staff are accommodating as well.

Now, that all being said, I took a full load (7 patients), including those on isolation--that's why there's such a thing as personal protective equipment and hand washing. I NEVER complained about my aching back, my Fred Flintstone feet, or my big butt. I smiled a lot, and did my job as best as I could. And it was fine!!!!!! You will be fine. Go girl.

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I work the floor in LTC. My pt. load is 28-32 (usually on the higher end). We don't have treatment nurses or wound nurses, etc..We usually don't have enough CNAs. My job is fast paced, busy, busy, busy, and I am currently 38 weeks pregnant. I have yet to miss a shift since getting pregnant.

It can be done :)

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Specializes in Endoscopy/MICU/SICU.

It's really not bad. I'm 6.5 months pregnant with my third child, working the floor again on night shift. I'd say the worst part is being really sore in my back and not being able to rest much on my shift. I think it will get tougher towards the end when I'm huge!

I do agree with RN1555, people are nicer to you and more respectful. Go for it, you'll be fine! With a year at your company you can take FMLA, so plenty of time with the baby and then decide what to do after that. Good luck to you!

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Specializes in ER, Pediatric Transplant, PICU.

I, personally, have never been pregnant, but I have worked with quite a few pregnant women. I will say, nothing will irritate people more than constantly saying 'oh, I'm pregnant' and not doing your work or making excuses. I have seen hugely pregnant women work normally and happily, and also completely normal pregnant women do nothing but complain and refuse assignments. I had one coworkers complain that we didn't have 'expecting mothers' parking for employees right in front of the hospital. On the flip side, one of my best friends had twins, both over 6lbs, and went into labor while she was at work at 36 weeks.

I guess what I'm saying is, you can be pregnant and work as long as you have the attitude that you can. :)

And just as a disclaimer before I get flamed, I DO understand there are circumstances that mean pregnant people can't work and can refuse assignments. That's not what I'm talking about. :)

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I work on a ICU unit and we have 3-4 patients each and most cant help with any movement at all. I worked until I was 8 months pregnant then I stopped a month early, only becaused I kept getting 3 out of 4 of my patients that were over three hundred pounds on my team. I talked to the manager to see if they could maybe give me try not to give me pts that were close to 400 lbs, she acted as if I cursed her when I asked. She told me that there wasnt any light duty. She even asked me to take an extra pt one night and I told her that I couldnt, that I could barely take care of the 4 I had. The unit at night was just as busy as in the day. The nurses that were in charge knew that I was pregnant and didnt have any pitty on me. To top it off, the facility stayed over a hundred degrees at night. I would be dripping in sweat and 85 percent of the patients were on isolation. You would have to mask and gown up in just about every room you went in because the next day you would look up and that pt would be on isolation anyway. I would be like dang, I went in that room yesterday and now that pt is on droplet precautions. I developed a cough that I had for about two months and I know it was because of working there. I am just glad my baby is ok. I know if I had not stopped when I did, that I would've had my baby early. I am an RN and we would have to help the CNA's with baths for all four of your pts. Being pregnant and hot, it was really hard. When I decided to stop a month early, my manager said it was ok. then told me I was stopping too early. About 4 of us were pregnant at the same time, so she was stressed about possibly losing staff for us going out on maternity leave. The place is a dump and she should be happy anyone works under those conditions. I felt like crap after I first told her I was pregnant. She made it seem like I was 10 years old and I am 36. It took me awhile to get over how she made me feel for getting pregnant. I have never met a manager with no class at all. I am looking for another job while on maternity leave. I have not made a year yet. They are not obligated to hold my job even though she said she would.

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Specializes in LTC, Acute care.

I'm currently pregnant and work on the floor. While it's getting harder pushing my belly and the computer, I'm still taking my full load of work. I hope to work as close to my delivery date as possible before I stop working and I hope I do make it until then. I still take isolation patients as it's not always easy not to, I use my PPEs and standard precautions. In the first trimester though, I was kept off airborne patients. People are definitely nicer and I've had patients refuse me lifting them now I'm showing (not that I was going to lift them anyway), some tell me about someone they know who is expecting or due at the same time as me or tell me stories about their children/grand-children, but some patients are still their demanding/entitled old selves.

Only pet peeve I have is people asking what I'm going to eat or how many breaks I plan to take (this is when I show up for my shift!), or asking if I brought my pregnancy brain to work or my regular brain; maybe they have nothing else to say so I just move on and go do my assigned work. These days I still try to move as fast as I used pre-pregnancy but it's not always easy since I'm always burning up, don't know where the heat is from though.

Sorry, this is a tad too long, but it felt good writing my experience so far.:)

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I worked at a facility where one of the LPNs was VERY pregnant...had been pushing the 200# medcart around for 9 months. She showed up one day, gave her 8:00 am meds, and very politely excused herself to go see about some contractions, and dropped the kid 2 hours later :D

I had a deal with a pregnant CNA at another facility- she started looking a bit 'odd' one day, but said she was ok when I asked her. I told her if she worked too late to get to the hospital, she'd just have to drop the kid, and pick it up at the end of the shift- I'd keep him/her safe and warm in the med room :D She promised to not come to work in labor.... GREAT- all I wanted to hear :D

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Specializes in Certified Med/Surg tele, and other stuff.

Worked up until the day of labor or a few days before with my seven pg's.

I did refuse any chemo patients, otherwise PPE kept me safe. I did make sure I got some small breaks on a busy day because I did have to feed a baby. Going 8 hrs without food/drink isn't smart when pg.

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Specializes in Hospice.

Its not bad i did 12 hour shifts up until my due date. I took all precaution pts (except those with shingles and cmv per policy)

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