pregnant and exposed to all communicable diseases

luvschoolnursing, LPN · Nov 28, 2008

Talk to your doctor about it, to help allay your fears. I never worked in PICU, but through both of my pregnancies, I was a float nurse so I never knew what patients had if they were diagnosed after I took care of them. I used universal precautions and delivered 2 healthy babies. Many, many nurses are pregnant every day, and somehow we all survive.

Aneroo, LPN · Nov 29, 2008

Talk to your doctor, occupational health, and your murse mgr.

MRSA and VRE should be alright.

Let your bosses known straight up- I cannot accept these patients. Your coworkers should help you out, and if they give you hell because of not taking a patient, let the mgt. know.

I refused CMV and all of the herpes types cases (EBV, Varicella...). Even though I could have taken it, a lot of my coworkers wouldn't let me take droplet precaution patients (TB or meningitis).

I never dealt with it, but anyone with chemo or receiving the radiation that is implanted- also a no go!

I reached a point where I couldn't push stretchers b/c I'd start contracting (even if it was Braxton Hicks, no one wants to risk it LOL). Know your limitations and make them known to staff. Most of them are female, most have been there before or will be.

shoegazer · Nov 29, 2008

Hi,

I have been dealing with the same issues during my pregnancy. I request no CMV/varicella/herpes patients because of the risk to the fetus. My coworkers also did not want me taking care of a pt with meningitis. Other than that isolation pts are OK, but I make sure to wash my hands ALL the time. Unfortunately a few times I found out that my pt had CMV after taking care of them, it has been really stressful. I chose to pick my battles, I don't really make a stink over lifting/pushing or isolation issues, but when it comes to CMV etc. I will not take care of them. That being said, CMV is everywhere! Many people, especially children shed the virus and luckily it is only really dangerous to the fetus when YOU are infected for the 1st time-even then you may not pass the virus to your baby and on the off chance that you do it doesn't mean the baby will not be OK. so the odds are in your favor (can you tell I freaked out and did some research?...). I also know some other RNs that were exposed to CMV while pregnant and their kids are fine. That being said if I had the option I would not work with sick people and all their cooties while pregnant if I didn't have to, unfortunately that was not an option for me. Follow your instinct, no one can give you an perfect answer, and ultimately it is your child and no one will worry and care about them as much as you! I say if your gut instinct tells you to stay away from bedside nursing for the moment and you can find an alternative, then do it. But if you have to continue working where you are just know that many people have gone through the same thing and their babies turned out just fine. Best of luck and wishing you a happy healthy pregnancy!

mama_d, BSN, RN · Nov 29, 2008

Check with your OB.

I took care of all kinds of isolation patients when I was pregnant, and delivered a healthy, big baby boy.

The only ones I wouldn't take were shingles and those who were

Check with your OB to see if you're even CMV negative, it's likely, given the extent of the population that's CMV positive, that you already are.

Elvish, BSN, DNP, RN, NP · Nov 29, 2008

I'd talk w/ my OB and get titers drawn for everything you've mentioned that it's possible to get a titer on - esp varicella, parvo, & CMV. They should already know your rubella status. We got a baby in newborn nursery (I was in charge there) the other day that was acting funny - really funny - and no one knew what was wrong w/ him. Later on he gets transferred to NICU (shoulda gone there immediately post delivery but that's another story) but when we admitted him, a pregnant nurse did his initial assessment. Later on, we found out that NICU suspected CMV. I was worried all week about that nurse, who happens to be a good friend of mine also. She got a CMV titer, which showed that she was immune, and baby's CMV came back neg. We all got lucky on that one but it was darn scary.

But that's what I would do if I were you. If you can avoid the TB, meningitis, and shingles pts, I would. But if you're immune to the other stuff, you can breathe a lot easier.