Pregnant CNA working night shift

SoldierNurse22, BSN, RN · Jun 21, 2013

Not sure why you'd think night shift would be easier while pregnant?

One of my close friends became pregnant last year and was immediately taken off night shift. The debate and research continues into whether or not night shift is truly dangerous for pregnant women, but why take a chance?

Occupational risk factors and reproductive health of women

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havehope · Jun 21, 2013

From my personal experience night shift is by no way easier than day shift, especially if you are working in a hospital setting. I also wouldn't do night shift while pregnant, just my opinion. If you were to take a 7-3 or 3-11 shift just inform your coworkers that you are pregnant and a lot of them will help you out if they can. A girl was pregnant with twins when I was working and I would try to do every kind of lifting for her, because I'd want someone to help me if I were in that position. However, i've tried helping other pregnant coworkers and they expected me to do every bit of work for them. No, I will not be doing your work too because you are pregnant. Okay…sorry for the rant.

blwilliams10 · Jun 22, 2013

Evening shift would be the best place to go to. On NOC we do a lot of lifting and turning and on nights the facilities staff less so your ratios are way higher, I think right now I am about 1:25 on most nights and on good nights 1:18. Evenings are not as bad as you have very few showers to do, and then it's just dinner pass and putting people to bed, and the ratio is about 1:12 and as good as 1:7. Days could be possible, but keep in mind you will have a handful of get ups to do, but also the ratios are the best 1:10 and as good as 1:6.

Now these ratios are my facilities and they do very, but I'm just trying to show you will be a lot more independent on nights and the shift involves a lot of lifting.