Pregnant and new job

Nurses General Nursing

Published

  1. When to tell new employer I'm pregnant?

    • 7
      At the start of orientation (13 weeks)
    • 2
      During orientation after 16 week ultrasound
    • 7
      At the end of orientation (19 weeks)
    • 10
      Literally ASAP!! Even before starting orientation
    • 2
      Wait even longer

28 members have participated

I've scoured the internet for advice on this and have asked some close friends but I am still not sure what to do.

I was recruited for an ICU position at a different hospital than I am currently working in and I accepted. When they called, my husband and I had just found out the week prior that I was pregnant. We hadn't had our first ultrasound or anything. When I start orientation (orientation will be 7 weeks long before going on the floor), I will be just shy of 13 weeks pregnant. We haven't even publicly announce our pregnancy to anyone other than close family and several of our closest friends.

What is the proper etiquette on this?

Obviously I didn't mention it in my interview because we hadn't even confirmed viability (we had been having difficulty conceiving). But now, I feel like I am walking this line of we aren't even comfortable telling friends, coworkers, and extended family yet let alone my employer. I know they can't fire me for being pregnant, but I'm not even past the first trimester and as I mentioned, I don't like the idea of telling people I'm closer to, so I don't want to rush to tell my new employer right this instant. But I don't want to wait so long they would think I was trying to hide it from them.

So I'm debating between telling them at the start of orientation (around 13 weeks), after I have my 16 week ultrasound, or at the end of orientation (around 19 weeks). I don't think it would be a good idea to wait any longer than that.

What should I do? Particularly interested in hearing from nurse managers or those who have anything to do with the hiring process.

Specializes in ED, CTICU, Flight.

To address some questions I see popping up, I absolutely have every intention of returning to work after what I anticipate being a short maternity leave. Being a stay at home mother is not for me.

I also completely understand the risk of receiving certain precautions patients and I'm sure everyone's OB is different, but my OB has stated I am able to take any patient so long as I utilize appropriate PPE (obviously). However, I do see how this is a reason to mention my pregnancy sooner rather than later.

I have started orientation and was relieved to see several OBVIOUSLY pregnant nurses in orientation, which makes me feel very comfortable about telling my manager.

At this time, I have decided to tell her the next time I see her, and if I do not see her this week during orientation, I will ask to meet with her specifically. I am still in my first trimester, so I have a good 6.5 months of being able to work, and I anticipate my maternity leave not being longer than 6-8 weeks. I will not make specific claims to her about how long my maternity leave will be, because of course there could be complications, but without a doubt my intention is to work my pregnant little butt off leading up until I deliver and then I'll be returning my non-pregnant butt back to work as soon as reasonably possible.

you need to tell the new job that offered you icu position. they probably arent looking to train someone who will then turn around and take at least 3 months off. Its pretty selfish on your part to even think that would be ok. to dump the extra responsibility on the unit of having to cover for 3 months that you are brand new to isnt ok either. Stay at your current job until you can make a real commitment to the new job.

they cant fire you for being pregnant but they also dont have to hire you either. its pretty shady to hide it to secure a position.

As I stated in my original post, I have already accepted the position. So moving on...

FMLA applies only after a year with the employer:

https://www.dol.gov/whd/regs/compliance/posters/fmlaen.pdf

As I already noted, I have reviewed the maternity leave and have no concerns. While my new position is in a different hospital, it is under the same umbrella entity as the hospital I am coming from and therefore, per their policies, I am considered an employee of the same company. The same benefits will apply as this is considered a "transfer" position.

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you need to tell the new job that offered you icu position. they probably arent looking to train someone who will then turn around and take at least 3 months off. Its pretty selfish on your part to even think that would be ok. to dump the extra responsibility on the unit of having to cover for 3 months that you are brand new to isnt ok either. Stay at your current job until you can make a real commitment ....

Please please don't listen to this person. The nursing workforce is predominantly made up of women and guess what..women have babies. Dont assume you are dumping any responsibility onto anyone. I like you started working while I was preggo...4 months to be exact and you know what..they were happy and excited for me! Also please don't short change yourself on your maternity leave if you can take more do if you can't then take 6-8 weeks. As you will see many women will have babies and return to work and guess what we move up into management as well ...who would have guessed!!

Congrats and good luck on your new job. As others have stated you should tell because of the safety of the baby

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Specializes in ICU, Med-Surg, Post-op, Same-Day Surgery.

Removed since op has received answer they were looking for í ½í¸‰

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Specializes in Hospice, corrections, psychiatry, rehab, LTC.
I have already reviewed their maternity and FMLA leaves and have no concerns in that regard, but thank you.

You changed employers. You don't qualify for FMLA until you have been with an employer for a year.

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Please please don't listen to this person. The nursing workforce is predominantly made up of women and guess what..women have babies. Dont assume you are dumping any responsibility onto anyone. I like you started working while I was preggo...4 months to be exact and you know what..they were happy and excited for me! Also please don't short change yourself on your maternity leave if you can take more do if you can't then take 6-8 weeks. As you will see many women will have babies and return to work and guess what we move up into management as well ...who would have guessed!!

Congrats and good luck on your new job. As others have stated you should tell because of the safety of the baby

Right? I read somewhere that the nursing position is 90% women, and like somebody else said, when you're hiring lots of young women, babies are going to happen. Are women not allowed to have babies while working? What a terrible comment, shaming the OP and everything.:sniff:

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you need to tell the new job that offered you icu position. they probably arent looking to train someone who will then turn around and take at least 3 months off. Its pretty selfish on your part to even think that would be ok. to dump the extra responsibility on the unit of having to cover for 3 months that you are brand new to isnt ok either. Stay at your current job until you can make a real commitment to the new job.

they cant fire you for being pregnant but they also dont have to hire you either. its pretty shady to hide it to secure a position.

Wow I really can't believe you are talking to another human this way. She is carrying a child, and yes while she is going to need some time off when the baby is born it doesn't mean she can't get a new job! In my opinion, I would tell your employer as soon as possible to protect the baby (isolation rooms, heavy lifting, etc.) and don't ever let anyone make you feel ashamed! Good luck!

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Specializes in Maternal - Child Health.
You changed employers. You don't qualify for FMLA until you have been with an employer for a year.

The OP indicated that she works for this employer in another location, so this job change is considered a transfer, not new employment.

Even if it was an outright job change and new employer, that would not necessarily rule out some job protection at the time of delivery, depending on employer policy.

FMLA requires certain employers to provide up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave for employees with at least 1 year and 1000 hours of service. That is the bare minimum. There are employers who offer more generous protection, such as extending FMLA to employees with less seniority than noted above, or allowing leave times longer than 12 weeks. That's why it is important to understand one's own employer's policy, which may differ substantially from the minimal required by federal law.

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Specializes in ED, CTICU, Flight.

I know this post is over a year old, but as the OP, I wanted to post an update in case any other nurses find themselves in my situation and come across this thread looking for advice.

First, I let my nurse manager know about my pregnancy very shortly after posting this thread, I was still in my first trimester. I let her know I was strongly committed to my position, I intended to work until delivery, and return full time from maternity leave. Her response was nothing short of amazing. She was kind, understanding, and made me feel at ease.

From that point, I just worked like normal. I didn't hide my pregnancy but also didn't advertise it. As my coworkers learned I was pregnant, I am so relieved to say not one person seemed to bat an eye to it (other than offer me congratulations). I worked up until the week before my baby was born.

I took the full amount of maternity leave my employer/state allowed and returned full time as I had intended. I couldn't be more happy about my position and returning to work went great. Not one single person made me feel guilty or bad about how everything transpired and I am so proud to be a nurse on my unit.

If you do come across this thread and have questions because you find yourself in a similar spot, don't hesitate to reach out to me. I'd be more than happy to talk more about my experience.

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I know this post is over a year old, but as the OP, I wanted to post an update in case any other nurses find themselves in my situation and come across this thread looking for advice.

First, I let my nurse manager know about my pregnancy very shortly after posting this thread, I was still in my first trimester. I let her know I was strongly committed to my position, I intended to work until delivery, and return full time from maternity leave. Her response was nothing short of amazing. She was kind, understanding, and made me feel at ease.

From that point, I just worked like normal. I didn't hide my pregnancy but also didn't advertise it. As my coworkers learned I was pregnant, I am so relieved to say not one person seemed to bat an eye to it (other than offer me congratulations). I worked up until the week before my baby was born.

I took the full amount of maternity leave my employer/state allowed and returned full time as I had intended. I couldn't be more happy about my position and returning to work went great. Not one single person made me feel guilty or bad about how everything transpired and I am so proud to be a nurse on my unit.

If you do come across this thread and have questions because you find yourself in a similar spot, don't hesitate to reach out to me. I'd be more than happy to talk more about my experience.

Congratulations on your new baby! Updates are always interesting and welcome ...to me, at least.

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