Pumping at Work???

Nurses General Nursing

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I'm a new graduate (Aug 6th), and I was offered a job at a large Family Practice near my home as an RN. I interviewed while pregnant (37 wks) and I hadn't graduated yet. But she called me the next day after checking references and offered me the job. Anyway, I plan to go start when my baby is 6 weeks and I am exclusively breastfeeding. I didn't even think to ask about how this will work while I'm at work. I have a double electric pump that I started using a few days after i got home and I have a nice supply in the freezer already.

Do any of you pump at work whether it be at the hospital, doctor's office, school, etc? How do you do it, how often, where, and is your employer supportive of this? I'm worried it could be an issue :(

Specializes in 1 PACU,11 ICU, 9 ER.
Legally, the employer may have to accommodate you, but don't be surprised if there are issues with other staff.

I was a floor nurse, and was floated into a 4 bed unit, with another RN. I was not familiar with the unit, and not particularly comfortable working there. The other RN went into a room, closed the door, and pumped for a lengthy period of time while I was stuck being responsible for her patients as well as mine.

I do not have positive feelings toward people pumping at work, or anything else for that matter. I think people should come to work to work.

And you are a nurse?? Wow, what happened to being caring and supportive towards coworkers?

Maybe you will be a new Mum breastfeeding one day...

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Specializes in 1 PACU,11 ICU, 9 ER.
Legally, the employer may have to accommodate you, but don't be surprised if there are issues with other staff.

I was a floor nurse, and was floated into a 4 bed unit, with another RN. I was not familiar with the unit, and not particularly comfortable working there. The other RN went into a room, closed the door, and pumped for a lengthy period of time while I was stuck being responsible for her patients as well as mine.

I do not have positive feelings toward people pumping at work, or anything else for that matter. I think people should come to work to work.

Wow..and you are a nurse? What happened to being caring and supportive towards coworkers? I hope you never need to breastfeed....

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Specializes in 1 PACU,11 ICU, 9 ER.

breastfeed...

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Wow! That's kind of harsh. You work and get breaks, utilize that break, go somewhere you feel comfortable, and let it all out! People who are smokers get to have a break. Yes you should come to work, and work, but you are not a slave, and if you work a 12 hour shift, you should be allotted a 30 min, and 2 fifteen minute breaks! Use them!:yeah:Breastfeeding was the best thing I did for my girl!

Harsh? What one does one the lunch break is one thing, but taking a lunch break and then a pumping break on top of it while someone else is doing your work?

I think not.

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Specializes in Community, OB, Nursery.

I worked and pumped in a doctor's office/community health center for 7 months before I switched to a hospital setting and pumped there for 3ish months. By that time my son was a year and would only nurse in the morning and at night, so I no longer needed to pump at work.

While working at the doctor's office, I pumped in an empty patient room, once on a morning break, once at lunch, and once in an afternoon break. Occasionally I'd have to miss one pump break but that was rare. My immediate coworkers (i.e., other staff nurses) were great about covering for me, and all I'd have to do was tell them where I was going and they were GREAT. We had rooms with little 'flags' outside them (pt ready for doc, pt needs labs, pt needs vaccines, etc.), each was a different color. My coworkers new that if ALL the flags were pointing out, that I was in there milking.

My supervisor tolerated it (I think because she knew she had to legally) but wasn't exactly supportive. The medical director (a bachelor, no kids, and not exactly interested in OB/Gyn stuff) wasn't exactly down with it but never said anything directly to me.

Funny story: I always pumped with my back to the door so in case someone had to come get me they wouldn't get a show. Anyway, the medical director above had a habit of not knocking before he walked into patient rooms to see a patient. He sees this door closed, assumes there is a patient in there (I guess) and opens to see me, back turned with my pump in there making the sounds that pumps make. I say, "Uh, hi." He says, "Elvish.....what the HELL are you doing?" Me: (thinking to myself, uh, how best do I answer this?) "Pumping my breasts?" I might as well have said I was shoving bamboo under my fingernails.

He looked at me like I had ten heads and slammed the door. I thought it was hysterical, I don't think he had the same opinion.

Anyway.....best of luck to you. I do hope your coworkers and supervisors are supportive of you. And, congratulations on your baby!!! :redbeathe

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Specializes in Corrections, Cardiac, Hospice.

I have worked with many women who pumped at work. They would just come and say, can ya cover me for a few? No problem what so ever! Love my kiddos and know that other mommys want to do what is best for their babies. Usually there is a break room or something somewhere to pump. The nurse at my currant place got the social worker to give her an extra set of keys to her office and pumped in there.

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Specializes in 1 PACU,11 ICU, 9 ER.

sorry error with page did not mean to post 4 times..:(

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Specializes in adult ICU.
Harsh? What one does one the lunch break is one thing, but taking a lunch break and then a pumping break on top of it while someone else is doing your work?

I think not.

Employment LAWS state that in an 8 hour workday, employees are entitled to two 15 minute breaks and a 30 minute unpaid lunch break.

If you think that her asking someone to cover her while she goes on a "pumping break" is unacceptable, you must not think it's ok for anyone else to take their scheduled breaks either. :down:

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Employment LAWS state that in an 8 hour workday, employees are entitled to two 15 minute breaks and a 30 minute unpaid lunch break.

If you think that her asking someone to cover her while she goes on a "pumping break" is unacceptable, you must not think it's ok for anyone else to take their scheduled breaks either. :down:

Laws vary from state to state. Not everyone is entitled to two 15 minute breaks.

Taking an entitled lunch break is one thing, taking a "pumping" break on top of that while expecting someone else to do your work is not.

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Legally, the employer may have to accommodate you, but don't be surprised if there are issues with other staff.

I was a floor nurse, and was floated into a 4 bed unit, with another RN. I was not familiar with the unit, and not particularly comfortable working there. The other RN went into a room, closed the door, and pumped for a lengthy period of time while I was stuck being responsible for her patients as well as mine.

I do not have positive feelings toward people pumping at work, or anything else for that matter. I think people should come to work to work.

For a four bed unit? Surely you can hold the forte for her?

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For a four bed unit? Surely you can hold the forte for her?

Four bed, critical patients, no, why should I?

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Four bed, critical patients, no, why should I?

It's your call- you shouldn't have to... doesn't mean you can't offer to.

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