Pregnant and feel I'm being treated unfairly

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Specializes in Long-term care, wound care.

What do you think? I just turned 12 weeks pregnant and I feel like I am being given a really hard time at work. I work in LTC and my ADON and Don have had a negative attitude toward me ever since I tod them I was pregnant. For example. Back when I was only 6 weeks along we had a res break out with Shingles. I called her Doc and got an order for her but told him I had not seen her since I was PG and that I was reporting what the NOC nurse and other staff had told me. The Doc stated that was fine and for me not to go in there. My ADON attempted to force me to go into this res room and kept telling me that it was absolutely safe for me to go in there basically telling me I was overreacting. I refused and still have not went into her room. (BTW- This is an independent res who only needs minimal assist of a CNA). Also, last week when I arrived at work, they were laying new ceramic tile. The glue was very stong so I called my Doc and asked her if it was safe. To make a long story short, the maintenence men were supposed to show me an MSDS stating that there were no known birth defects from this glue. Well, nobody could show me that so I went home, as instucted by my Doc. The next day I get a nasty phone call from my ADON insisting that this glue is perfectly safe. She flat out said "Your Doctor is wrong." I told her I had read the MSDS on the web-site for this glue and it does not state anywhere that it will not cause birth defects so that is not good enogh for me. She still continues to insist that it is perfectly safe. My DON shares her view. I explained to him that I could not be at work around this glue and he was very short with me and swears that they won't be using it when I come to work Friday. I do have a Doctor's note stating that she does not want me around this glue but my Don also acted like I was overreacting. He stated to me in a very sarcastic tone "Oh, aren't we getting all motherly" which I did not appreciate at all. I really never thought that they would give me such a hard time over this. What should I do if I go to work Fri and they are using it? What would anyone else do in my position? Thanks! :confused:

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IMHO, you need to do what is necessary to protect yourself. We all know that employers and managers aren't necessarily looking out for our best interests! If you were exposed to tile adhesive at work, asked about an MSDS, and the employer couldn't produce one, that is probably an OSHA violation. Sounds like your doctor is willing to back you up with documentation, which is good. You may want to contact your BON about what your legal responsibilities are in this situation, so you are sure to not put your license in jeopardy, and your state nurses' assoc may have some helpful advice. Your state Department of Labor may also be able to advise you about your rights and the employer's obligations in this situation.

And don't forget to DOCUMENT EVERYTHING!! :)

Best wishes.

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I agree with all of the advice given by the previous poster. DOCUMENT, DOCUMENT, DOCUMENT. Do not be surprised if you are given lots of negative feedback regarding job performance, unwillingness to perform tasks, and etc. Your health and the health of your child is the most important issue on your agenda. Keep it that way, DO NOT allow the Don or the Adon to make you feel guilty. Seems like undo stress regarding their treatment of you during your pregnancy would be a workers comp issue.

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Specializes in ORTHOPAEDICS-CERTIFIED SINCE 89.

I'd call OSHA and ask them. They love drop by visits. And I'd also ask the worker's cop. board if this would be cause for a claim. The health dept and the BON will surely be interested and perhaps the news media. I just LOVE to type letters to the editor etc.

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Specializes in Everything but psych!.

When I was 6 months pregnant, a new OR educator joined our OR staff. I used to be the circulating nurse on A LOT of total joint surgeries. Back then they used Methyl Merthacolate (sp?) to adhere the prosthesis to the bone. When the educator came on staff she asked me, "have you been in on any total joint cases?" After I said that I was the usual circulator on total joint cases, she said, "DID YOU KNOW THAT INHALING THE FUMES CAUSES LIVER DAMAGE IN THE FETUS?" I made sure I was no longer scheduled for those types of cases. Wouldn't you know it, I was challenged about 1 week later, as I was scheduled for a full shift of total joint cases. I went to the nurse manager to discuss this with her. She nearly stormed down the hall and wiped my name off, inserting another one. She whipped around and stormed back to her office. No words, no anything. When baby was 24 hours old, her bilirubin skyrocketed. In the end, it went down and everything turned out fine. She is 25 now and is getting married in May. I feel for you though. As a mother, it is important to be aware of possible terratogens. You never know. Good luck and keep to your guns!

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Specializes in Long-term care, wound care.

hi everone! since i posted this thread my administrator has now started in on me as well. she already had it out for me because she does not get along with my in-laws. (that is another long story) i have kept myself out of the mess between them but since the problems started with them she has had a whole different attitude toward me. she won't speak to me and she singles me out for stupid little things that all of the staff does. now that i am pregnant and standing my ground because i am trying to protect my unborn child, she has became a real witch to me. she was overheard talking to our mds person last week about me and her exact words were "we need to get rid of her fast." that is quite a change from a few months ago when she was telling me what a great nurse i was and how everyone just loved me. now she is flat out rude to my face and doesn't even try to hide her negativity toward me. alot of the other staff has noticed it as well. i guess it made her mad when i took a stand to protect my child. she also insists that the glue is safe and does not violate osha standards. however, i know that they probably did not do any asbestos testing on the tile before they tore it all out!. anyway, i am going to keep fighting and maybe things will work out in the end. thanks for all the advice! :uhoh3:

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Specializes in Med-Surg.

I guess I'm sensitive but I would never work anywhere where I wasn't treated equally and fairly. If someone was as you say ""out for me" I wouldn't work there. But I'm not tough like that.

Good luck!

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

Yeah - I'm with Tweety - I kinda think there are greener pastures too...

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

move on. good luck.

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Specializes in Case Management, Home Health, UM.
she was overheard talking to our mds person last week about me and her exact words were "we need to get rid of her fast." that is quite a change from a few months ago when she was telling me what a great nurse i was and how everyone just loved me. now she is flat out rude to my face and doesn't even try to hide her negativity toward me. alot of the other staff has noticed it as well. i guess it made her mad when i took a stand to protect my child. she also insists that the glue is safe and does not violate osha standards. however, i know that they probably did not do any asbestos testing on the tile before they tore it all out!. anyway, i am going to keep fighting and maybe things will work out in the end. thanks for all the advice! :uhoh3:

they are trying to get rid of you, and, in this process are breaking every rule in the book. if i were you, i'd get the hell out of that place, get an attorney, and let him know up front that you heard her say that. long gone are the days where employers were allowed to give a woman's job to someone else...just because they were going to have a baby, and this is blatant discrimination! :angryfire

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Specializes in 5 yrs OR, ASU Pre-Op 2 yr. ER.
What do you think?[/b He stated to me in a very sarcastic tone "Oh, aren't we getting all motherly" which I did not appreciate at all. I really never thought that they would give me such a hard time over this. What should I do if I go to work Fri and they are using it? What would anyone else do in my position? Thanks! :confused:

That comment in itself tells me plenty about the type of DON you have. I agree with what an above poster said. Call OSHA, they'd love to drop by for a visit.

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I'm sorry you are encountering such negativity from your employer...they seem to be showing you the door because you are pregnant. Those of us who have become ill, develop chronic illnesses as we age, or been seriously injured have encountered similar treatment from healthcare institutions. Please make the best choice for you, your family, your baby. Not everybody chooses to stay and fight. Life is short, we make our choices. This is of course what employers want...for us to just go away quietly. And most nurses do. if we are in a nonunion area with emplyment at will it is difficult to stand up and demand fair treatment. And lawyers cost money.

Good luck to you for health, wellbeing and a happy healthy baby, first and foremost.

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