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?
I came back...... I know I said I wasn't going to, but in a sense I saw a light.....
I debated starting a new thread but decided against it.
This thread starting out with an unreasonable coworker. I fully agree there. No one should get out of work. No one should get a special schedule because they are pregnant. No one should get holidays off. No one should use coworkers and make unreasonable demands....I guess I am fortunate in that in my unit, no one has even attempted to do that. We are often trying to get our pregnant coworkers to take it easy and let us do it for them.
It seemed as though all pregnant coworkers where a hassel at first. That was my original impression. That people weren't willing to exchange X for Y. That was really all I was trying to say.... while you lift, the pregnant person gives a pain med. That is what I meant by a team approach. And by reading your responses I realized that perhaps that is how you felt in the first place.
I think perhaps it got misconstrued because the original gal was certainly making unreasonable demands...
Personally, I havent even been pregnant. I don't even plan on it for another ten years or so. So I wasn't voicing it out of any personal gain.
I just personally view my role on my unit as being their for the patients. That is all the patients. I don't consider any patient "my patient" vs "Sally's patient". If a patient calls out and I can assist, I will do it. (Of course I say this within reason)
I do have some slacker coworkers who don't always pull their own load, and that does frustrate me. Fortunately none of them are pregnant :chuckle
I was very bothered at first because it really seemed that posters were saying they don't lend a hand to a pregnant coworker and the poor woman should be delivering in their patients room........
Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
I started the thread -- venting about the totally unreasonable attitudes and sense of entitlement of SOME of the pregnant women I work with (and some whom I've worked with in the past). In 25 years, I've worked with a lot of pregnant nurses. Some worked hard and pulled their fair share of weight. Others didn't. Of the ones who didn't, some of them started out with poor attitudes and a sense of entitlement, while others seemingly came out of the blue. (This most recent one was a surprise -- I hadn't expected it from her!)
While I'm always willing to help out a co-worker who is willing to do her share, I'm finding it increasingly hard to come up with the extra energy to do someone else's job for her because she's fortunate enough to be able to have a baby when she wants one.
If your patient needs to be lifted, call for help. None of us are expected to lift a patient on our own -- pregnant or not. If your patient needs back care or to be turned or cleaned up, I'm perfectly willing to hold him over while you stuff pillows or clean him up. I'm not willing to take care of him all by myself while you step out to call your best friend and tell her all about your latest visit to your OB -- which I've had some nurses ask.
I'm venting! We just had a nurse give birth who sat in a chair her entire pregnancy and had other folks fetching and carrying for her. Her patients didn't get turned or get back care unless someone else did it for her. And now she needs special favors because she has child care issues. I'm sorry -- I'm not willing to work extra weekends or holidays for her, to work her night shifts or to take an extra patient load. She can suck it up or find a new job.
Now let me just say that the majority of pregnant nurses I've worked with have been wonderful -- did their fair share and more. But the few I've worked with who haven't -- and there seems to be one every year -- get on my last nerve!
New CCU RN, that was a great post! I to say, I have way more trouble with slacker nonpregnant coworkers, male and female, than I do the pregnant ones. :chuckle
I worked with a float RN who thought everything and almost every patient wasn't "appropiate" when she was pregnant. I finally told her that we were her coworkers, not her friends, and if she couldn't do most of her job, she belonged at home.
I don't mind that they can't be exposed to the TORCH viruses and heavy lifting towards the end of their pregnancy's but sometimes enough!
I repeat I am not unsympathetic nor "anti pregnancy." I LOVE it when someone is expecting a new arrival.. . I go ga ga over the very idea. I have worked with many pregnant women and am often the one who stops them from doing something potentially harmful to themselves or the baby. I am often the one who encourages them to rest.
ON the other hand I do not appreciate being manipulated. Contrary to what some of you would like, you are not special because you are or may become pregnant.
Fortunately most women are adult and do not expect special privilege solely based on thier pregnancy. Asking for weekends and hollidays off because you might never get another one without a child present is abserd. Frankly I'd be looking forward to the weekend or holliday with my child not morning the fact I might not have one without my child. I do not respect you If you think you can sit on your tush without a better reason than just that you are preg. and expect me to do your work.
If that makes me hostile. Then consider me so. If that scares you then consider how you act around your co workers.
Be a decient adult that doesn't manipulate and I will respect you. Manipulate me and you are in for a big suprise.
I suppose if someone was always a slacker and then expected to be even more of a slacker when they became pregnant, that would be a different issue. But how can you not deny a hard working coworker a hand in a time of need. Yes pregnancy is a choice... people want to have children. Since when is nursing the type of profession where you can't have a family and be a nurse.... ?????????
Sigh...once again, we are talking about people who use their pregnancies to dump their work on their colleagues, not a hard-working nurse who needs a little help during her pregnancy. There is a big difference.
I'd be willing to bet a lot of the nurses who start ticking off a list a mile long of what they can't do while they are pregnant will be the same ones who expect their single, childless co-workers to work all the holidays, too.
I guess I admit, I do have a real problem defining pregnancy as a disability in some ways. But, If indeed it is, then PUHLEEZE, get a doctor's note and let us get someone to work (even if it is supplementary), who CAN do it then. (agency or PRN)..... You will be back and your position waiting when you choose to. But please, I get tired, just BONE tired, after 12-13 hours doing just my job alone, without absorbing other's heavywork all the time, too. If I have to do your lifting for you, ok. But remember, I have my job to do, also, and I would appreciate some reciprocation ....is that so unreasonable?
What is so morally bankrupt and vacant about THIS?
__________________
I don't know, Deb, but if you figure it out, let me know...I'd love to know the answer to that one.
I am a little surprised at the lack of empathy for on this board regarding pregnant coworkers.
While I agree that weekends and holidays should not be excused just because you are pregnant... that is utterly ridiculous....
I will still gladly lift, take isolation patients, and do woundcare on an especially smelly wound if it is going to make my coworker sick. (pregnant or not)
While part of nursing involves doing unpleasant things, if a fellow coworker needs a little slack, I will gladly help. I expect that one day when I decide to have a family they will do the same for me.
I feel like this board is almost anti-pregnancy with the negative things about people not working at all just because they may need help with lifting. What about someone on light duty? You don't give them a hand????
We nurses need to look out for eachother. I guess in my work environment we try to be team players and help out as much as possible. We had three nurses loose pregnancies in a quick amount of time and while I can't specifically blame it on the working conditions, it certainly opened our eyes....
It isn't just a pregnancy issue though... if someone is behind, we help them out too...whether it be getting some vitals, doing an assessment, giving some meds, catching them up on charting... whatever needs to be done.
Maybe some of the posters are frustrated because fellow coworkers take advantage of being pregnant, I don't know. I guess I just don't understand the negativity towards it.
I agree with this post, which, unfortunately, makes me glad I was never pregnant while working on the floors. Too many times I've seen the toll working the floors while pregnant takes on my coworkers (PTL) and it's just something I'd rather avoid if possible.
Working as a Nurse Educator has it's benefits I guess; among them having a not-so-physically demanding job.
SmilingBluEyes
20,964 Posts
I think I love you Tweety.
you rock.:kiss