Pregnant. Looking for advice!

CCU BSN RN · Dec 14, 2016

Definitely try to take your boards before the baby comes AT ALL COSTS. Baby brain and sleep deprivation will impair your performance.

Wait until after you're recovered to get a job. You do not qualify for FMLA until you have worked somewhere for a year. You will not have ETO/PTO/Sick time accrued. Technically a manager cannot refuse to employ you just because you are pregnant, but I would imagine they would find another reason to turn you down. You could consider interviewing for positions during that time frame where you have taken your boards but not had the baby yet, and just list your start date as a few months after delivery. The issue there is that so many women change their minds, want to be home with the baby, etc. that you're probably best off to take some time off, recover from childbirth and all that, and then apply to jobs. I would avoid mentioning that you just had a baby to potential employers until after you get a job offer. Telling a potential employer you have a newborn is essentially saying "I'm going to expect breaks during the day to express my breast milk, will need days off for pediatrician visits and baby sick days, and I'll need some extra consideration when you're making the schedule because of my childcare schedule." I know they can't technically refuse to hire you, and they can't ASK you this sort of stuff in an interview, but if you share it, it will definitely raise questions about if you're the best person for the job. I don't mean to be rude, I'm just trying to help you have a realistic picture of what to expect.

TX_nurse_08 · Dec 14, 2016

Having graduated from my RN-BSN program at 6 months pregnant and being hired the next month, I can say from experience that you may be able to get a job somewhere. That said, I would absolutely recommend at least taking your NCLEX as soon as possible. Ideally you would be able to get hired and get part of the way through orientation before taking maternity leave. Just because you are not yet eligible for FMLA does not mean you do not get maternity leave. Many places have policies for such circumstances, I know that I was allowed 6 weeks with no problem. It was extended to 8 due to c-section, and I returned to work without too much difficulty. I did nights, and was able to pump only 1 or 2 times per shift, but it was enough to keep supply up. I also had no trouble scheduling my pediatrician appointments since I was technically "off" every day. My husband did great with the baby overnight, we only needed a little help during "shift change", so if you have someone who can stay with baby at night and maybe a little after you get home so you can nap, you won't even need daycare. Personally, had I not started working before I had my baby, I would have had a very hard time with interviewing and orientation with a brand new baby. You need to think about what will work best for you but I would be hesitant to wait too long to get that first job as a new grad.