Pregnant Workers in the OR

[babaz]

What is your hospital's policy/routine with pregnant women in the the OR? Mine states that we can not be in cases that involve cement and that radiation can cause harm to the fetus. There has never been an issue with my boss assigning pregnant women in c-arm and mini c-arm cases. They just weren't put in those cases, no questions asked... Until now. I am pregnant and my boss seems to not remember (I guess!?) that I shouldn't be around x-ray, which includes the mini c-arm. My co-workers are real good about offering to switch cases with me, which is really appreciated. Do any of you or your co-workers do x-ray cases while pregnant? I am a circulator, so it's not like I am right in the x-ray beam, but I don't care and don't want to take a chance.

Christine

[shodobe]

If he isn't willing to switch you just be able to step out of the room during x-rays. Everywhere I have worked we just don't assign cases to pregnant co-workers.

[MamaCheese]

Our OR director is very good about not assigning the preggies to x-ray rooms. We have enough services that there are always many rooms running that don't require flouro. Some of the girls will do mini c-arm rooms with the heavy lead but some won't. Personally, I would not take that chance.

[ewattsjt]

My facility does not assign the pregnant women to rooms using cement. They do sometimes have to be in rooms using x-ray. My facility provides a maternity gown. As mentioned before, you can sometimes just step outside the room while the shots are being made (except cases like pacemaker, port-a-cath, etc. where floro is being used more constantly).

While our manager sees the need and tries to work the schedule around it, sometimes it can not be helped. Our Rad techs just went through a round where they all seemed to be pregnant. Most worked up to the end but they had different X-ray badge monitors. They also had one that was worn by their abdomen and they all wore maternity gowns.

I hope things work out for you.