Pregnant ER nurse

MurrR · Apr 16, 2011

I had an instructor once who was filmed by a local news crew performing CPR on top of a gurney coming out of a helicopter into the hospital while 8 months pregnant with twins. I wouldn't advise such a thing, but I think it just goes to show that if you want to do something you can find a way!

By the way, the hospital got angry letters from locals about it to which they issued a public resonse: "Let her? You think we let her do that?! How about you try to stop her!" :lol:

nurse2033, MSN, RN · Apr 17, 2011

Just keep an eye out for toxic patients. Occasionally EMS brings in someone covered in chemicals that haven't been properly identified or decontaminated. Once we had a helpful firefighter bring in the toxic substance that poisoned our patient and left it in the room so we could identify it. Of course someone opened it up- "what's this"? Not pretty.

hillaryedrn · Apr 17, 2011

We've had many pregnant nurses in the ER I work in. Some have worked up until delivery time!! Just stay out of x-ray and ct, watch for possible meningitis pts, and get lifting help!! LOL! Good luck!

miss81, BSN, RN · Apr 17, 2011

Also, we have pt's come to the ER from time to time needing their methotrexate injections (community health not available or they are from out of town). I'd try and avoid that too. I know there is a whole protective gear policy but ya never know when something could go wrong!

Liz520 · Apr 18, 2011

Congratulations! I am a pregnant ER nurse now on leave; I’m due in 6 days! I planned on taking the last 4 weeks off, but ended up going out at 5 weeks before my EDD, it was getting pretty wearing on my body, back pain and fatigue. Towards the end it’s hard to sleep thru the night and getting off a 12 and trying to get a good night’s rest before my next 12 was getting tough. Up until I went out, I felt great. I’ve always tried to stay active so make sure you do that, snack on healthy stuff often, alternate often between sitting and standing, and get help lifting. In addition to what was stated earlier about staying away from patients with meningitis and X-rays, stay away from combative patients too! Good luck!

Nrsstudent09 · Apr 18, 2011

Thank you everyone. I'm so nervous, but excited at the same time. I know we don't exactly have a cake job and I don't wanna do anything to jeopardize my future little one. I'm nervous about telling work too since I've only been there since Feb but we've been trying for over a year and were beginning to think we were going to need help getting pregnant.

Larry77, RN · Apr 19, 2011

There are two types of pregnant nurses in the ED, the ones who keep doing their job until they physically can't, and the ones who look for any possible reason to get out of work or to feed their paranoia...please don't be the latter.

We have 5 pregnant nurses fairly close in gestation and it is really interesting to see the different types they are...one started to "waddle" after her 10th week, another was in her doctor's office weekly until he let her work only 8 hrs, and there were a few that you wouldn't even know they were pregnant as hard as they worked.

Congrats on your pregnancy and follow the fantastic advice before me...

MikeyBSN · Apr 19, 2011

I'm going to have to disagree with most of the other comments. There was a time where I would applaud that 8 month pregnant nurse doing CPR on a patient. Perhaps I am just getting older and more "paranoid", or maybe I have seen far too many netflix documentaries. In any event, I no longer support the pregnant ED nurse.

I don't know how long you have been an ED nurse in the past, but I hope you understand the risks that you will be taking. How many x-rays are done all around you on a regular basis? How often do you sit in CT with a patient? How often are you walking around radiology? Has an HIV/hep C patient spit on you yet today? How about a nice bite from the aforementioned patient? How many drugs you handle every day? How many times per day does that "methylethyldeath" chemical in that vial you just pierced spray out onto you? Crushed any pills lately? Do you hold your breath? How often do they clean and buff your floors with that terrible chemical that they claim isn't toxic yet sends half the staff into status asthmaticus? Just some things to think about...

If you do work, I would wear gloves, a mask and a gown when pulling, crushing an administering meds. Wearing a lead vest around the ED wouldn't be a terrible idea either.

Hagabel · Apr 20, 2011

I'm going to have to disagree with most of the other comments. There was a time where I would applaud that 8 month pregnant nurse doing CPR on a patient. Perhaps I am just getting older and more "paranoid", or maybe I have seen far too many netflix documentaries. In any event, I no longer support the pregnant ED nurse.
I don't know how long you have been an ED nurse in the past, but I hope you understand the risks that you will be taking. How many x-rays are done all around you on a regular basis? How often do you sit in CT with a patient? How often are you walking around radiology? Has an HIV/hep C patient spit on you yet today? How about a nice bite from the aforementioned patient? How many drugs you handle every day? How many times per day does that "methylethyldeath" chemical in that vial you just pierced spray out onto you? Crushed any pills lately? Do you hold your breath? How often do they clean and buff your floors with that terrible chemical that they claim isn't toxic yet sends half the staff into status asthmaticus? Just some things to think about...
If you do work, I would wear gloves, a mask and a gown when pulling, crushing an administering meds. Wearing a lead vest around the ED wouldn't be a terrible idea either.

What about the pregnant ICU nurse then? I worked in ICU whilst I was pregnant and actually transferred to the ER as there was less lifting and I could do shorter than a 12 hr shift. (high risk pregnancy)

I would defintely keep away from the combative, drunk, suspected meningitis, chicken pox pts but not pulling meds. That seems a bit extreme unless it is methotrexate and such like that someone mentioned.

I would say sit when you can, drink plenty of fluids, snack often and make sure you take your breaks as allocated. Also make sure you get plenty of help lifting.

Kooky Korky, BSN, RN · Apr 20, 2011

There are two types of pregnant nurses in the ED, the ones who keep doing their job until they physically can't, and the ones who look for any possible reason to get out of work or to feed their paranoia...please don't be the latter.
We have 5 pregnant nurses fairly close in gestation and it is really interesting to see the different types they are...one started to "waddle" after her 10th week, another was in her doctor's office weekly until he let her work only 8 hrs, and there were a few that you wouldn't even know they were pregnant as hard as they worked.
Congrats on your pregnancy and follow the fantastic advice before me...

Larry, I assume you are a male, so have never been PG. I don't like the tone you employ when talking about the one who got her doctor to let her only work 8 hours. You sound critical. Maybe 8 is the best she can do for now.

Dude, PG is not exactly a comfortable time for lots of women. Be it the nausea, the frequent urination, the back strain, the varicosities and hemorrhoids, the gas and heartburn, the softening joints, troubles at home, fear, elation, fear, pride, fear, feeling trapped, fear, feeling invaded, fear, joy, or maybe fear. Or the hormone-influenced emotions, it can be a very tough season for a woman.

Be nice. Just give people the benefit of any doubt. They will love you.

I am a guy, in case you wondered.

Larry77, RN · Apr 21, 2011

I'm not critical of all pregnant nurses only the lazy ones...these are not newly lazy people in my experience but people who have a new excuse to be even lazier.

I'm very sympathetic to the uncomfortable pregnant female in the workplace...my only point was there are two types, those who handle it well and those who don't (whether it be because of more severe s/s or because they chose to be lazy).

I do not see it as a disability and would hope that the women on here don't expect us to. There is a reason the women have the babies they are much tougher than us men...if we had to have the babies mankind would have been extinct shortly after Adam and Eve...:-)