question on travel nursing/working when pregnant

[saguaro13]

I have a unique situation. I just found out I'm pregnant, after 5 unsuccessful tries, and my husband's job is transferring us to another state. We so far have been unable to sell our house where we currently live and so we will have to maintain two homes with all expenses that go along with it until we sell the house we have now. I would love to work for a travel company, but am not sure if they would still hire me knowing I was pregant. Has anyone had any experience trying to find a new job early in a pregnancy? Whether for a hospital or for a travel company? I will be about 10 weeks when I start a new job. Any suggestions?

[EmmaG, RN]

http://www.eeoc.gov/facts/fs-preg.html

Go for it :)

[isithrade]

When you apply for any job, it is illegal for your prospective employer to ask you if you are pregnant, or for them to discriminate against you due to pregnancy status. You are not required, nor would I suggest, you disclose your pregnancy status at an interview. You have just as much right to the job as someone who isn't pregnant. Hope that helps.

[bagladyrn, RN]

Just a thought - though you have a right to a job no matter what your pregnancy status, travel nursing may add stress, particularly if you are away from home, your support system and your own physician. Travel company insurance may not kick in immediately (some do) and will end as soon as your contract does unless you cobra it (expensive). With a travel job you will not have any sick leave or leave days of any kind if you should find yourself feeling less than well at any time.

That said, congratulations on your pregnancy! All the rest will find a way of working out.

[RNontheroad]

You would have to be concerned about being able to fullfill your contract as well. Most are 13 weeks which is a long time for a pregnant person to plan. (Especially in the last trimester when anything can happen. Of course they cannot refuse to hire you based on the fact that you are pregnant, but I should think that being honest about it up front might be the best policy.

I would suggest that you may have better luck using a local agency and booking a week or so at a time, especially as your pregnancy progresses.

Best of luck!

[SICU Queen]

Congrats on the pregnancy! :monkeydance:

They can't ask you about your pregnancy status, nor is it their business. That being said, I think I'd stick with local agencies and book out a few weeks at a time. You don't know what your pregnancy's going to bring, and you will probably welcome the flexibility of a local agency, as opposed to being tied down for 13 weeks in a contract.

[saguaro13]

Thanks everyone for the info. I had suspected that there were laws in place but since what's a law isn't always in practice, I wanted to see what you all had seen in your experience. I had planned on working for a travel agency only in the town we are moving to so we could get a housing allowance. I am on his insurance so that's not a concern for me and getting maternity leave would just be a bonus. My major concern is just having the stability of having a job travel or at a facility as long as I am able to work since we'll have to maintain two households... Thanks again everyone, you really helped ease my worries!