Pregnant

meanmaryjean, DNP, RN · Jan 6, 2015

Millions of women have worked as nurses while pregnant. I'm a little curious as to why you've posted this under the 'Nurses with Disabilities' section? Do you consider pregnancy a disability?

emilybuchanan1030 · Jan 6, 2015

I wasn't sure where else to post it and I'm 28 weeks pregnant and considering working a private duty case but I'm not sure if it's a good idea.

emilybuchanan1030 · Jan 6, 2015

And in a way, pregnancy is a disability. You cannot do the same things you have done not pregnant, such as lifting.

edmia, BSN, RN · Jan 6, 2015

And in a way, pregnancy is a disability. You cannot do the same things you have done not pregnant, such as lifting.

That's not true! Pregnancy is a normal process and unless you have some other issue, lifting restrictions are not recommended. There are women who continue to lift weights and run competitively throughout pregnancy. It's awkward to maneuver the belly, but that advice is antiquated.

Sent from my iPhone -- blame all errors on spellcheck

meanmaryjean, DNP, RN · Jan 6, 2015

Normal pregnancy is not a disability.

OrganizedChaos, LVN · Jan 6, 2015

People choose to get pregnant. No one chooses to have a disability.

silverbat · Jan 6, 2015

I worked in a factory with women pregnant, lifting 70 pound blocks of frozen meat and carrying said block 30 feet, for eight hours a day, so yeah, I think a nurse can work while pregnant and do her normal stuff as long as she uses common sense with lifting like all nurses should, and get help. The only area I am concerned about with pregnant women more so than non-preggers, is in a unit with combative, and I mean really combative areas. But then everyone in such an area should be careful anyway. As long as all is well with your pregnancy, you will feel better for working. Walking helps the leg and abdominal muscles stay strong, which helps with labor and delivery. Best wishes

JenERally · Jan 13, 2015

Pregnancy-related illnesses such as severe morning sickness, sciatica, gestational diabetes, PIH, etc are better protected in the US than they were five years ago now that the PDA is federal law. I agree that pregnancy alone isn't a disability; the havoc that it can wreak on some women's bodies can be.

pfongk · Jan 28, 2015

I worked in aged care up until I was 8 months pregnant. The only restrictions I had placed on me were not looking after residents who were on cytotoxic drugs and I requested not to be rostered in certain areas due to the amount of walking on concrete causing havoc with my legs. I was still using hoists, feeding people, turning people, pushing meal trolleys, emptying laundry skips and everything else that the AINs do at my facility. I was also still taking on student nurses.

carolinasweetheart88 · May 7, 2015

As a PDN I understand your concern. Im 8 weeks and work a private duty case with a 20 year old male who is 6ft 3in and 160 lbs who can't walk or stand alone who is transferred without a lift due to family wishes. But with pdn cases there isn't another nurse and sometimes not another person at all to ask for help.