pregnant and unregular shifts - Mgr won't listen to Dr. recommendations

Nurses General Nursing

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Hi there. Been a while since I posted here since I'm so busy with work kids etc. I am in a dilema right now and need some advice.

Background: I am pregnant with our 6th child and this is the 1st one I'm working as a nurse. Our youngest is 5 yrs old. Working now for a couple of yrs and have always always been more than accommodating to work with staffing and will swing shifts irregularly working a day shift here then a night then 2 days and then a night etc without recovery time between and not complaining about it. I work whenever needed and I am the only one who will bend over backwards to help out. My husband and I both need to work and we make things work at home. Sleep has always been a challenge for me with this "flip-flopping" but I deal with it.

Now: I am 33 weeks pregnant and my dr (and I) both agree that keeping my shifts more regular (ie either days or nights) will make things easier on me and my body to get needed sleep. Getting bigger and working these unregular shifts if making it very difficult to get rest. 3 wks ago he wrote a Dr. note stating that I need to be on "regular shifts". The note wasn't specific to days or nights, but was obvious that was either/or.

HR and my nursing manager are both stating that it is not specific enough and my dr says that he cannot tell them what shift to keep me on. (my dr has talked to my nursing manager personally) My nursing manager won't budge and I feel that I am in the middle of this mess because my dr doesn't want to tick off my nursing manager because he has to work with her too. I also feel that no one is looking at the stress it is causing me. HR is not helping and I feel just stuck. Luckily, I have had no pregnancy problems aside from the fact that I have braxton hicks for 3-4 days straight when I get over tired.

My dr nor I understand why this is such a problem as in the past with other employees who are pregnant they are pretty accomodating to keeping regular shifts for those employees. What do or can I do??

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Specializes in PeriOp, ICU, PICU, NICU.

I don't think they have to accommodate you, but it sure would be mindful of your manager. Just know they are not concerned about you being pregnant and they are probably just looking at the holes (accommodating you) would bring.

Since you are already 33 weeks, is there any way you could go on maternity leave early if this continues to not work well out with you and your family?

If not, then you might just have to stick it out until you deliver. I know I am not help, just want to say I am sorry and hope that your manager has a change of heart soon.

What I don't understand it, why can't your OB write a little more specific note? Something to the effect of you working either nights or days but consistently the same shift and not flip flopping.

GL

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I had been with a facility once for at least 6 months when I needed a few days off to recover from foot surgery. I was coming back Sat. and they called me into the office Wed. and that was ALL SHE WROTE. I had had a good six month review up to that point, all was fine. I had a docs. note TOO, and they could have cared less. I had only missed a few shifts and had a docs. note with orders. I resigned in the end. Ridiculous. Absolutely terrible. So NO, they do not care about you nor the doctors request (at least in my case). I will never work for that facility again. I am sorry you are running into problems, but no, they could care less. That's the sad truth. :(

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Specializes in IMCU/Telemetry.

I agree with Jessy. If it is harming you go out early. or you can let it be known that you are thinking of that route. That will be one really big hole to fill, and maybe your manager will take the hint.

The other way is to pick a shift. get your DR to write an order for that one and do it. Your manager can't argue that its not specific enough. And if she doesn't like the one you chose, she should have made the choice when she had the chance.

It sounds to me like your manager got spoiled with you flipping shifts at her whim. If I were you, I'd put a stop to that. Its not healthy, and you need time to adjust your body. Tell your manager you are no longer willing to switch shifts like that (unless that was what you were hired for), and that you want a regular shift.

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Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.

most people have no difficulty getting permanent night shifts. perhaps your ob would write a not specifying you go to straight nights.

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I wouldn't be bending over backwards anymore. You have shown them that you are accepting of this.

OP states

" always been more than accommodating to work with staffing and will swing shifts irregularly working a day shift here then a night then 2 days and then a night etc without recovery time between and not complaining about it. I work whenever needed and I am the only one who will bend over backwards to help out."

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Specializes in Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes.

I would tell them you have changed your availability to only days (or nights if you prefer), if they don't accommodate you as you have accommodated them, I would deal with it as long as it's not hurting your baby. Get on maternity leave as soon as you can and when you're ready to return to work, find a different job.

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I'm glad you are towards the end of your pregnancy and won't have to deal with this crap much longer. Your employer isn't very nice and is fighting semantics with you. Ask doc to specifiy a shift or take you out of work. If he won't specify a shift you flat out ask. Put it on them but be firm and polite.

In the future work only your scheduled shifts. No more Mrs. Nice Girl. Totally with Otessa on this one. They can't work with you then you can't work with them. They are short not your problem. While they don't have to meet your request it was a fair one. Asking your manager to provide you days or nights shouldn't have been an issue here. Unfortunately your willingness to help has been seen by them as you being easy to manipulate and pushover. No more.

You need to get on one or another after the baby anyway. What you are doing now is bad for your health. You need rest and stability and deserve it before, during, and after your pregnancy.

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Find a new job ASAP. And wait to quit until they are already short staffed, and don't give them a 2 week notice. Normally I would never recommend this, but they are unwilling to accomodate a very reasonable request and they obviously don't care about your health or the health of your baby. Shame on them.

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Specializes in IMCU/Telemetry.
Find a new job ASAP. And wait to quit until they are already short staffed, and don't give them a 2 week notice. Normally I would never recommend this, but they are unwilling to accomodate a very reasonable request and they obviously don't care about your health or the health of your baby. Shame on them.

Fungez, I don't think this is an option. As she is so close to term no-one will hire, and she will lose her insurance. Also, in this jobmarket you don't want to burn any bridges. imho

It is a nice thought though :)

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Oh, I don't mean now. After a nice leisurely maternity leave, maybe around the Christmas holidays.

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why can't your doc just make it more specific and say "either all day shifts, or all night shifts?" i don't see how that would be offending to your manager? what is the doc afraid of?

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