"But I'm pregnant . . ."

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Along the lines of the "But I have little kids . . . . " thread:

One of my co-workers announced her pregnancy this week, stating that she was no longer willing to work weekends or holidays because she's going to be a parent. She also has to have Christmas off because this is going to be her last child-free Christmas. Oh and by the way, she can't take care of anyone with VRE, MRSA, or any other type of isolation. "Yukky wounds" make her nauseous, so she can't take those patients -- in fact, wouldn't it be best to just have her do charge all the time?

We're a large unit and have 1 - 6 nurses pregnant at any given time. Plus there are those who can't travel to interventional radiology, take infected patients, etc. because they're TRYING to get pregnant.

The last nurse to have her baby had to sit in the chair her entire shift "because I'm pregnant," and had orientees to do everything for her. Not the role of I preceptor, I'm thinking!

What's the strangest/most irritating thing you've had a coworker demand because she's pregnant?

Specializes in Med-surg; OB/Well baby; pulmonology; RTS.
Originally posted by 3rdShiftGuy

Pregnant nurses should not be able to make up their own policies as they go along.

I couldn't agree more....

But is there any evidence that isolation patients cause birth defects?
If I am not mistaken there was a question asked on this BB not to long ago about whether it was possible that MRSA or VRE infections in patients could be linked to birth defects in patient care personnel...I have never seen a clear cut answer....

I know nursing staff take care of isolation patients day after day and have healthy babies...believe me do I know...But....oh well, what does it matter...sad-smiley-068.gif

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I'm guessing 100 % of pregnant nurses are working out of need--

and

not out of choice.

Been there, done that. Male nurses need not respond....until you've done 12 -14 hours with a baby in your belly.

Personally, in the spirit off sisterhood, and certainly wanting to share in the experience of a happy healthy birth, I volunteer to

assist the pregnant nurses.....cheerfully volunteer.

Whats an extra lift or two in a 12 hour shift for me ?

I've seen 6 and 7 month fetuses with a cord wrapped around the neck. dead fetuses.

When all moms stayed home---- back in the last century ===about this time,

in 1903, they were told not to lift anything heavy during pregnancy...it has to do with the movement of the uterus, the motion of the amniotic fluid, and the consequent motion of the cord.

I empathize with my sisters in waiting and will help all I can.

I cannot imagine anyone who has been there.....complaining and whining about helping.

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Originally posted by Ruby Vee

Along the lines of the "But I have little kids . . . . " thread:

One of my co-workers announced her pregnancy this week,...

I was just wondering, what did your manager respond to these demands? Is the nurse going to get away with them?

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thank you passing through

your words express my thoughts on this

"I empathize with my sisters in waiting and will help all I can."

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I worked full time in oncology throughout my pregnancy(currently on mat. leave). I always took a normal assignment and if chemo needed to be given, another nurse would do it. While she was helping me, I would help her patients, like give a bath or something. I still did all the lifting and transferring of patients but I would ask for help more often than I normally would. As far as nausea goes, I puked in lots of garbage cans and patient bathrooms. I took care of all isolation patients except for an active TB. As far as needing weekend and holidays off, well that is just ridiculous. We have a very young staff and most are more than happy to help the pregnant girls. I think that it is all in the approach. I never refused to do anything, and in return I got lots of OFFERS of help. kim

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Specializes in Med-Surg.
Originally posted by passing thru

I'm guessing 100 % of pregnant nurses are working out of need--

and

not out of choice.

Been there, done that. Male nurses need not respond....until you've done 12 -14 hours with a baby in your belly.

Personally, in the spirit off sisterhood, and certainly wanting to share in the experience of a happy healthy birth, I volunteer to

assist the pregnant nurses.....cheerfully volunteer.

Whats an extra lift or two in a 12 hour shift for me ?

I've seen 6 and 7 month fetuses with a cord wrapped around the neck. dead fetuses.

When all moms stayed home---- back in the last century ===about this time,

in 1903, they were told not to lift anything heavy during pregnancy...it has to do with the movement of the uterus, the motion of the amniotic fluid, and the consequent motion of the cord.

I empathize with my sisters in waiting and will help all I can.

I cannot imagine anyone who has been there.....complaining and whining about helping.

I am responding as a male nurse, no I can't relate. But you're off track. We aren't talking a lift or two here. The original poster says

"One of my co-workers announced her pregnancy this week, stating that she was no longer willing to work weekends or holidays because she's going to be a parent. She also has to have Christmas off because this is going to be her last child-free Christmas. Oh and by the way, she can't take care of anyone with VRE, MRSA, or any other type of isolation. "Yukky wounds" make her nauseous, so she can't take those patients -- in fact, wouldn't it be best to just have her do charge all the time? "

How accommondating would you be in this case? Would you work all the weekends for her, take all the heavy and iso patients.

No one is saying one can't help a "sister" out.

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Specializes in Med-Surg.
Originally posted by ?burntout

I couldn't agree more....

If I am not mistaken there was a question asked on this BB not to long ago about whether it was possible that MRSA or VRE infections in patients could be linked to birth defects in patient care personnel...I have never seen a clear cut answer....

I know nursing staff take care of isolation patients day after day and have healthy babies...believe me do I know...But....oh well, what does it matter...sad-smiley-068.gif

I know without that clear cut answer there are going to be staff that say "just in case, I'm not going to endanger my baby". Let me say that as a charge nurse making assignments, I 100% of the time honor their request. I'm not going to be the one to force her to work an assignment she feels unsafe in. But I did have a coworker tell me her MD said it was o.k. to take care of certain ISO patients and I can't remember which ones, but TB patients were one of the one's she couldn't take care. Contact ISO patients like MRSA patients she did take care of.

I know this is a difficult topic.

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Specializes in Med-Surg.
Originally posted by passing thru

Male nurses need not respond....until you've done 12 -14 hours with a baby in your belly.

This is bull. Sorry, but I'm a coworker and a charge nurse. Pregnant nurses is an issue I deal with and I will choose to respond to. Doesn't matter that I don't have a uterus and will never be pregant. Elistist "sisterhood" isn't the point.

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Specializes in Community Health Nurse.
Originally posted by Ruby Vee

..................What's the strangest/most irritating thing you've had a coworker demand because she's pregnant?

I've never heard a pregnant nurse complain while working, but I would NOT work while pregnant if I didn't have to. The GERMS!!! Yuck!!! I wouldn't want to expose myself or my unborn child to the crappy nastiness that I see in today's patients. THAT alone would gross me out! So, if they complain, I don't blame them. I'm not even pregnant and I don't like being exposed to the "unknown bacteria and viral crap" that we nurses don't always know exist in our patients until AFTER the fact. :rolleyes:

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Specializes in Community Health Nurse.
Originally posted by RNmomma

For some reason I am not being allowed to edit my post............:rolleyes:

Hi RN momma :)

Nice to hear that I'm not the ONLY one "not allowed to edit my post". What happened to that option? Anyone know? :confused:

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.
Originally posted by 3rdShiftGuy

I am responding as a male nurse, no I can't relate. But you're off track. We aren't talking a lift or two here. The original poster says

"One of my co-workers announced her pregnancy this week, stating that she was no longer willing to work weekends or holidays because she's going to be a parent. She also has to have Christmas off because this is going to be her last child-free Christmas. Oh and by the way, she can't take care of anyone with VRE, MRSA, or any other type of isolation. "Yukky wounds" make her nauseous, so she can't take those patients -- in fact, wouldn't it be best to just have her do charge all the time? "

How accommondating would you be in this case? Would you work all the weekends for her, take all the heavy and iso patients.

No one is saying one can't help a "sister" out.

Bloody well right, Tweets. this is a woman using her condition to make gains that are not rightfully hers. I agree Our so-called "Sisters in waiting" can pull their weight, within reason, by NOT refusing to work the same days/shifts as everyone else. Why should they be allowed to inconvenience others for a choice THEY made? I say, they should not. Get a doctor's note if you have restrictions, otherwise PULL YOUR WEIGHT......we don't have the luxury to accomodate ridiculous requests.

----yes I have "been there and done that" too, so I know what I am saying here, as well. When I could not work and had to restrict my hours, I went about it the fair/right way. Got a doctor's note and gave my manager the opportunity to make other arrangements ahead of time. It's only fair.

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What would one do if all the staff on the floor were pregnant at the same time and all making the same demands, who takes care of the patients then?

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