Pregnant Nurses - Any changes in duties?

suzanne4, RN · Aug 12, 2005

There are very few isolations patients that you would not be permitted to take care of. A patient who is positive for CMV, as well as a patient with radioactive implants. Otherwise, in most units, you will be expected to do everything else.

I have worked on some units where almodt 50% of the staff was pregnant.

Pregnancy is not a disability in terms of working..........Many of the nurses work right up to the time of delivery.

Aneroo, LPN · Aug 12, 2005

So far I haven't had any problems. That was one of the first questions I've asked my doc, was "What are my limitations at work". I was very worried about it, since I was a new employee. MY doc's advice was that so long as I'm following universal precautions, I should be find. My preceptor has been very protective with me and certain patients. Ex- Pt with active TB, had only been on her abx for about two weeks; My preceptor is all "Can you take care of this patient?".

Biggest problems I've had so far are managing to eat when I'm supposed to, getting over certain smells (since my sense of smell is increased), and feet swelling after long hours (like +2 pitting edema).

As I get further along (I'm currently 16wks) we'll see how it goes, if I'll have any limitations on lifting, long hours, etc.

-Andrea

Celia M, ASN, RN · Aug 12, 2005

Having worked through 2 difficult pregnancies with all day sickness through out both pregnancies I found that my colleagues were very protective of me, some were almost to the point of being overprotective. make sure you eat, drink and pee frequently. Put your feet up on breaks. As the previous poster said avoid CMV,Chemo and chemo patients waste, Radioactivity and X rays. Use standard precautions on all patients and look after yourself. I did not work more that 2 12 hr shifts in a row and did not pick up extra shifts. My kids are 2 and 6 and I still have a warm feeling of how my colleagues looked out for me during my pregnancies. Good luck and congrats :)

estrogen · Aug 12, 2005

When I was pregnant and working on med-surg my wonderful OB spelled it our very clearly for me: No heavy lifting (had wonderful co-workers back then who wouldn't let me do it anyway), no 1:1 duty in airborne isolation (like TB or chickedpox), no radiation or chemo patients and no handeling of cytotec...My charge nurses would just not assign me those types of pt's and it worked out fine. I worked up until the week of delivery.

Congrats! :)

austin heart, BSN, RN · Aug 12, 2005

I worked ER the entire time I was pregnant and could pretty much take care of anything that walked through the door. I did have a problem with smells and nausea so I had great co-workers that would pick up the particularly smelly patients, LOL! I didn't do any heavy lifting and often wore a mask with respiratory patients that had active coughing. I just explained to the patients and most where understanding. I worked up until 2 days before my scheduled delivery.

Aneroo, LPN · Aug 13, 2005

I worked ER the entire time I was pregnant and could pretty much take care of anything that walked through the door. I did have a problem with smells and nausea so I had great co-workers that would pick up the particularly smelly patients, LOL! I didn't do any heavy lifting and often wore a mask with respiratory patients that had active coughing. I just explained to the patients and most where understanding. I worked up until 2 days before my scheduled delivery.

LOL I have had a patient sit there and say "Should you be pushing this thing (stretcher) while you're pregnant?" Even the patients are protective!!!