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??
Specializes in Peds, PACU, ICU, ER, OB, MED-Surg,.
I agree your doctor should state that you should be placed on days or nights but not both. You have been too nice. I would do my scheduled shifts and no more from this time forward. Why is your manager acting this way? Most places need night staff and she should be able to put you on one shift or the other. You may not be on this unit when you return from FMLA, keep that in mind.
If they still aren't willing to budge is there a way to trade shifts with someone else who works day/night? This way they end up on all days or nights and you end up on the oposite shift?
Specializes in CT stepdown, hospice, psych, ortho.
If they want to play coy, play it right back.
I say drop the hint that you may need to get put on early maternity leave if you don't have a regular shift because your body is so exhausted. And when I say drop a hint, I mean tell them flat out that you're going to have him take you out if they don't fix the schedule now.
Be prepared to be a doormat after that because mgmt often takes it personally when the accomodating learn that it doesn't always pay to take one for the team. I would use my maternity leave to investigate other employers and, if you have 6 kids, I understand the need for you to work and have the money and stability but swinging like that can't be easy on them either. I have 3 so I can understand where you are coming from. Every consider home health? Once you get acclimated to the differences between HH and hospital nursing, its so liberating. The pay of a 12 hour shift job (more, in my case) and often done before the kids even get out of school.
An example of the saying "No good deed goes unpunished".....Because you've become very accommodating to them and you have bent backwards for them, they now expect this from you all the time. You can go on FMLA if it really affects you health wise. I wish you well.
Playing the devil's advocate here on manager side: What if I had 4 nurses who were all pregnant, I do this for one of them and then the others come in with notes, then what? I am thinking that the manager does not want to set a trend here, and I can't blame her. Being pregnant and working as a nurse is tough, I know that, but this is our job and thousands before you have done it. Can you switch up with someone who is rotating the week you are and maybe take their night shifts/day shifts? The other thing you could do, but it will cut your maternity time short, is to take intermittent FMLA for the remaining 7 weeks of your pregnancy to cut your hours down. You doctor can state either days or nights, but if they don't want or can't accomodate that, you are most likely going to be told you have to go out on leave now.
Sometimes it isn't all about you, it is about the unit as a whole and what they have to do to keep the "harmony" there. Also, I am sure that if you went to days because you are pregnant, that may cause some stir in the staff.
Specializes in CT stepdown, hospice, psych, ortho.
Playing the devil's advocate here on manager side: What if I had 4 nurses who were all pregnant, I do this for one of them and then the others come in with notes, then what? I am thinking that the manager does not want to set a trend here, and I can't blame her. Being pregnant and working as a nurse is tough, I know that, but this is our job and thousands before you have done it. Can you switch up with someone who is rotating the week you are and maybe take their night shifts/day shifts? The other thing you could do, but it will cut your maternity time short, is to take intermittent FMLA for the remaining 7 weeks of your pregnancy to cut your hours down. You doctor can state either days or nights, but if they don't want or can't accomodate that, you are most likely going to be told you have to go out on leave now.
Sometimes it isn't all about you, it is about the unit as a whole and what they have to do to keep the "harmony" there. Also, I am sure that if you went to days because you are pregnant, that may cause some stir in the staff.
I hope you find a solution that suits you!
I agree with you to a point but OP said she'd be willing to do straight nights too. It sounds like she's the only one working some back and forth see-saw schedule. Trading shifts with someone symphathetic sounds like an EXCELLENT plan if she can find a kind soul willing to do such.
Specializes in Med/Surg, Neuro, ICU, travel RN, Psych.
I'm guessing you work in a nursing home or something? Do you guys not have specific time slots you are hired to fill? Usually you are hired for 1st shift, 2nd shift, 3rd shift, or a flex shift which would allow you to flip flop like that.
I havent been in the situation but I expect it when I do have another child. If you plan on going out on ML soon then maybe you can ride it out. If not then why not try switching shifts with some of your co-workers. Ive seen the nurse manager approve if you and another nurse agrees.
Specializes in Infusion Nursing, Home Health Infusion.
They are not willing to accommodate you in the latter stages of your pregnancy....I would not try to find a new job this late in your pregnancy and potentially lose your benefits .....not a good plan...You must keep your source of income at this time and use your head and not make decisions with your heart. Do not tip your hand and tell anyone your plans. It is very difficult to get early maternity leave in some cases unless you are bleeding or contracting....its considered a normal state. So you are pregnant and stressed and your employer is making it worse....GO OUT ON STRESS leave until maternity leave kicks in. The MD would not put me out either and all I was asking for was 2 weeks before the maternity leave would normally kick in. I was in horrible pain from endometriosis that actually worsened during my pregnancy. OK.....then...I guess we will play it that way....and I went out on stress leave. Turns out I was right and had a huge mass removed along with my right ovary as soon as I could stand it post delivery. My doctor told me he did not know how I had made it through my pregnancy and worked full time. Listen to your body no one knows it better
Redhead28
200 Posts
I agree your doctor should state that you should be placed on days or nights but not both. You have been too nice. I would do my scheduled shifts and no more from this time forward. Why is your manager acting this way? Most places need night staff and she should be able to put you on one shift or the other. You may not be on this unit when you return from FMLA, keep that in mind.