Pregnant nurse interviewing for school nurse position - need advice

[newSN]

Hello all! -

I am interviewing tomorrow with the school district for a position as a school nurse. The interview's been scheduled for 3 weeks and I recently found out I'm pregnant (8 weeks). I'm struggling with whether or not I should mention this on the interview. I'm very early so I can't even be sure how this will turn out but I'd be due in April. I hate for this to affect their decision, but think it's only fair that they know. Thoughts?

Also, I've been trying to prepare some thoughtful answers for questions they might ask me (what do I think the job entails, "a time when you..." questions such as "dealt with a difficult child, educated a child or family member, etc.), but would you mind sharing your best guesses on school nurse interview questions? My background is ER nursing (ER's that treat both adult and pediatric patients) but feel I'm totally unprepared for a school nurse interview!

Thanks in advance!

[fetch, BSN, RN]

Personally I wouldn't bring it up at all. Legally they can't ask you about it, and as you said you don't even know how it will turn out (though of course I wish you the best!). I would be afraid it would affect their decision, and you deserve a fair shot as well as anyone else, as long as you intend to return to the position next school year. It might actually work out pretty well for you - pregnancy leave in April/May, go back for a week or so to close your clinic in June, have all summer with the baby, and back to work and ready to go next August.

Also consider, in the schools there are a LOT of pregnancies - teachers, administrators, secretaries, nurses, across the board there's women of child-bearing age. The school should have substitute nurses available for long-term positions, just like they have long-term teacher subs.

[OldDude]

Fetch's advice is spot on.....don't worry about the interview. Coming from an ER background, especially with pediatric experience, there is nothing they can ask you that you haven't already dealt with. Schools are just like ERs regarding pediatrics; it's the parents that are the greatest challenge. Good luck!!

[RNlove17]

This was me last year. I interviewed for my current school nurse job around 17 weeks pregnant (wasn't showing much). i did NOT say anything then. They legally can't ask and you don't have to tell them. It shouldn't effect their decision. I didn't even tell them when they offered me the job. I told them on my 1st day. And not for nothing, in the school setting, there are tons of pregnant teachers and staff. I've become friends with a teacher who had a baby 4 days after me :) It was NOT a big deal at all.

So just go and interview and keep it professional and based on your experience as nurse. If they offer you the job, THEN disclose.

As far as interview questions...I can't even remember what they said/i said lol. I had a whole document prepared too...and some of the questions I used to prepare I got off of here. Search thru the old posts in the school nursing specialty because I know there are good ideas. I know they asked why I wanted to work there. I just said because it was my dream job and I was an alumni so what better place to work!