pregnant and securing a job as new grad?

mhull · Aug 19, 2006

Hello,
I'm currently a nursing student but will be graduating in Dec. I just found out I'm pregnant (wasn't planned but my husband and I are thrilled) and I'm due in April. I will probably take my boards in Jan.
I was wondering if anyone had experience getting hired while 6 months pregnant. I can't help but think that no one will want me as a new grad and they wouldn't want someone who will be out in a few months for a few months. My husband is self empolyed and I'm not working while in school. Neither one of us has benefits so I was also worried about getting a job with immediate benefits for the sake of the baby. I called up a few ins places and they consider my pregnancy a pre-exisitng condition.. ugh. As far as the benefit question goes, did you have to wait 3 months for benefits or was it immediate? I know my old office job gave immediate benefits so I'm hoping the medical community is the same way. Thanks!

Congrats!!! I am due March 21st.

As far as the benefits go, every hospital is different in this area. When I first started at the one I work at now, your benefits started immediately. They changed last year to a 3 month waiting period. I work PRN at another hospital who has a 45 day waiting period. I wish you the best in finding one who will not hold your pregnancy as pre-existing. That is going to be hard.

meownsmile, BSN, RN · Aug 19, 2006

I really dont know about the benefit situation although im pretty sure pregnancy before employment would fall into the pre-existing condition clause.

That said,, we have had several new hires lately that have come several months along in their pregnancies and have done fine. They have gone through the orientation and have left on maternity leave just as their orientation is over. They come back after baby to a couple catch up weeks on orientation then are on their own. Its worked out fine for them. I dont know about the facilities around you but your pregnancy isnt an obsticle for employment. Go for it, be upfront and see what they can do for you. Good luck with the new baby.

allnurses Guide · Aug 19, 2006

I don't know much to say, except good luck, I can sympathize somewhat. I just started a new job and found out three days after getting the new job that I was pregnant. My new job has a two month waiting period for insurance so that has caused a bit of a headache.

hope3456, ASN, RN · Aug 20, 2006

Good news!! Federal law prohibits group health insurance policies from viewing pregnancy as a preexisting condition. When you become employed and become eligble to enroll in the insurance plan - you can get prenatal care.

If you get private insurance - that is another story. Many private policies do not cover prenatal care - or if they do, are prohibitively expensive and they will not cover you if you are already pregnant.

I was in the same boat last year - I got pregnant (unexpectedly) shortly after starting my first RN job. I work in LTC which wasn't where I wanted to work, but I am glad I did. They had very good health insurance and I was eligble for it after only 30 days. Also (especially on night shift) it wasn't as strenuous work as hospital work is, which I was grateful for. I know this corporation is in Flordia, if you want the name of it PM me.

Some other options...... your state child health insurance plan. All states are different but here in Colorado they cover prenatal care and have fairly generous income limits - higher than medicaid.

Also, ask your school if they have any resources. Many colleges/universities have health clinics in which students can get care for reduced fees.

Also, provided you have no complications, midwives generally charge less than doctors for prenatal visits.

Having a baby is very expensive. I think that it is ridiculous that, in our great country, women have to jump through hoops like this to get prenatal care.