Pregnant and no one seems to have any compassion.

Hands&Feet · Jan 3, 2009

IMO, you have to look out for yourself and that precious baby. Do what you think is best, regardless of their opinions and any inconvenience it may cause.

And on the bright side, at least you will have Christmas '10 off with the little one!

GadgetRN71, ASN, RN · Jan 3, 2009

We have pregnant nurses right now, and as far as Xray,they just wear the maternity aprons. Everyone's baby has been fine thus far. We switch rooms with people as far as bone cement cases and we help them move pts...that's just the decent thing to do.

As far as call..well, that's a tough one. Call is a part of the OR. Everyone has to do their share, pregnant or no. We have people with chronic conditions, sick kids, etc and they have to take call too. I'm on the low end of the seniority list and can only sign up once others above me have done so. I'm also on call the whole July 4th weekend. But again, part of my job.

Now, you may be able to go on a medical leave if your pregnancy is a difficult one...you might need to do that because like I said, they can't really cater to one person. I'm not meaning to sound harsh...I just think you could have a long ugly fight ahead of you about the call thing.

caliotter3 · Jan 3, 2009

A person does not have to be pregnant to feel that they are not treated right at work. I think they are not being careful concerning you and your baby when it comes to transferring 300 lb. patients. That is inconsiderate and dangerous. Basically I would advise you to talk to your doctor about going on medical leave at some point because it seems that you aren't going to be able to come to a satisfactory arrangement with your co-workers, managers at work. As for the scheduling problem, I would just suck it up and be thankful to have a job. When one gets too vocal about different kinds of slights, the PTB form a mental picture of who should be at the top of the list should they need to cut hours or do layoffs. You can't always count on your union to save you. So it is best to roll with the smaller slights. After all, time off is just time off when it comes to having a job or being unemployed. Good luck with your baby. Hope your delivery is as good as can be.

Ruby Vee, BSN · Jan 3, 2009

congratulations on your pregnancy!

that said, either you do your job or leave your job. i don't have a whole lot of patience for pregnant co-workers who insist that they shouldn't be expected to transfer patients, lift, give that med, go into an isolation room or cover their holidays because they're pregnant. i've worked with more than one pregnant colleague who seemed to believe that being pregnant entitled them to sit at the desk with their feet up all day. and one shoved me out of the way to get into the bathroom ahead of me. "i'm pregnant," she said when i protested. (she wasn't showing.) "i'm on diuretics," i countered. "and i was here first."

you said you're not a prima donna, but just what sort of "compassion" did you expect from those who are going to have to transfer your patients, lift, give your meds, go into that isolation room or cover your holidays since you feel you shouldn't have to?

karnit · Jan 3, 2009

Tiffany, congratulations on your pregnancy. You must look out for yourself. Others can and will move the patients and you shouldn't be working with anything radioactive,etc. I won't even go into the x-rays etc. Yes,this time is special and will require others to cooperate more and lend a hand.

We also have nurses that from the minute that they understand that they are pregnant,they use their pregnancy as an excuse for "not doing". That too,is an extreme and as we say "pregnancy isn't an illness".

Take care and the part of this that I didn't like was that you are also "spotting" etc.

Concerning your vacation time, try and work it out amicably. If they are smart,they should have someone on call to replace you,if need be.

$fracturenurse$ · Jan 3, 2009

We just had a lady have her baby. She took call up to the very end...I did feel sorry for her, but that is part of the job. We always tried to move her out of cases with a lot of flouro, and never let her be around bone cement. You might want to speak with your doctor on taking a medical leave. As far as moving patients, we always just found somebody else to help, or she got the feet. I don't know, I'm up in the air on this. You need to take care of yourself and the baby, but I promise you your co-workers will get irritated if they feel you aren't carrying your "weight" during your pregnancy. I had my baby while I worked in the OR 9 years ago. Waddled around, but made it through. I was always told you have a right to refuse certain cases if you feel you shouldn't be in there. Just a tip, when you get bigger be careful around the cords, I once got tangled up in arthroscopy tubing at 7 months, it wasn't a pretty sight....

Good luck.

Tiffany, RN, BSN · Jan 3, 2009

congratulations on your pregnancy!
that said, either you do your job or leave your job. i don't have a whole lot of patience for pregnant co-workers who insist that they shouldn't be expected to transfer patients, lift, give that med, go into an isolation room or cover their holidays because they're pregnant. i've worked with more than one pregnant colleague who seemed to believe that being pregnant entitled them to sit at the desk with their feet up all day. and one shoved me out of the way to get into the bathroom ahead of me. "i'm pregnant," she said when i protested. (she wasn't showing.) "i'm on diuretics," i countered. "and i was here first."
you said you're not a prima donna, but just what sort of "compassion" did you expect from those who are going to have to transfer your patients, lift, give your meds, go into that isolation room or cover your holidays since you feel you shouldn't have to?

rubyvee, with all due respect i am not one of those nurses who you speak of. i never said that i do not want to transfer patients, what i said is that i will not transfer 300 lb of basically dead weight with just one other nurse while i am cramping and spotting. once the na got there, i gladly helped with the transfer. i also did not say i did not want to take call. i asked them if it were possible for me to have thanksgiving '09 call since i know i will be back by then and they told me no because that's the way the call fell. i also pointed out that the call actually fell for me on labor day but since i would be out, they decided to move me back in the call rotation (instead of forward, which would have been just as good). i take my call, i lift my patients (with help), and wear my maternity aprons in xray cases. i didn't say i don't want to do my job, i would just like the same help and compassion that i have seen given to other pregnant nurses. please read my post the next time you decide to comment.

subee, MSN, CRNA · Jan 4, 2009

What is the evidence on the dangers of lifting and dangers of fluro (with lead, of course) during pregnancy. So much of what we do in nursing is based on sheer stupidity. No one, pregnant or not, should be lifting a 300 lb. patient without four people - period.

Whether it has anything to do to spontaneous abortion, I don't know. Anyone got any facts out there?

GOMER42 · Jan 4, 2009

You aren't the first or the last pregnant nurse. Your job duties are the same whether or not you are with child. However, your facility should really employ a lift team as no one should ever have to lift a large patient with so little help.

The radiation does not concern me. Nurses, radiation therapists, and many healthcare professionals have been pregnant while on duty. If it posed a major health concern there would be restrictions.

And have you talked to your doctor? It is concerning that you say that you have been cramping and spotting at 8 weeks...

Good luck to you during your pregnancy.

Jolie, BSN · Jan 4, 2009

No one, pregnant or not, should be lifting a 300 lb. patient without four people - period.
Whether it has anything to do to spontaneous abortion, I don't know. Anyone got any facts out there?

Bingo!

Tiffany, Congratulations on your pregnancy! I sincerely wish you the very best of good health.

But I agree with subee that the lifting issue you discuss has nothing to do with pregnancy and everything to do with good, safe practice for all staff members. I hope that your entire staff will insist on adequate personnel and equipment for everyone's protection.

It is your responsibility to notify your provider of your spotting and follow his/her advice on limitations of activities. Without written instructions, it is not reasonable to expect your employer to make special accommodations. If extensive accommodations are required, it may be necessary to take some FMLA time, although that's not likely this early in pregnancy.

I don't want to run the risk of offering medical advice, so I'll suggest that you read some reputable websites and talk to your provider about the safety of physical activity early in pregnancy.

Take care.

karnit · Jan 5, 2009

" So much of what we do in nursing is based on sheer stupidity."
You sound as if you have a "full stomach.".............."
karnit