Should I disclose my needs in the interview or wait for the job offer?

[RNdancer]

Hello allnurses community. I'm looking for some insight on my situation. I did a search but did not find a thread similar to my situation.

I'm an RN working in LTC and looking to go back to a more acute setting. I have submitted applications to inpatient acute care jobs and even some outpatient clinics in hospital settings.

I have a 5 month old baby and I absolutely need this new job to be compatible with continuing to breastfeed my child. My current job supplies me with a private room to pump, although I have difficulties making the time to do so as I get behind in my work. I'm not sure if I should bring up my need for breaks and a private room during my interview, or if I should only disclose this need once the job is offered to me.

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 requires employers of 50 people or more to provide breaks and a private area to pump, but I honestly don't think most employers are aware of this. I think I may find some managers who will tell me I may have trouble working pumping into my day.

What are your thoughts?

[dirtyhippiegirl, BSN, RN]

I work at a large teaching hospital. The private pumping room is a good fifteen minute walk from our unit. Not feasible so the women on our unit - and there can be two or three on a shift - pump in the staff bathroom. Our charge nurse usually covers while they go.Although unless you're planning on doing extended breast feeding...by the time you get applications submitted and a job interview, the pumping probably won't be an issue. It's a tough economy out there.

[BrnEyedGirl, BSN, MSN, RN, APRN]

I work in a large Level I Trauma ED. We have had several nurses who take breaks to pump. The only time it becomes an issue is when someone takes advantage and spends 45 min plus to pump every three hours! The majority of the new Mom's sneak off for 15 minutes and we cover for them, not a problem at all! Best of luck to you!

[dah doh, BSN, RN]

Afterwards. Our facility has a "pump" room but its a long walk to it. Most of the nurses who need to pump just do it on their breaks and find an empty office or use the staff bathroom.

[casi, ASN, RN]

The idea of pumping in the staff bathroom icks me out. I can't imagine I would be comfortable enough for my body to have a proper let down.

[usernamern]

The majority of hospitals I've worked in will say they cheerfully accommodate/support your need to pump. The sad truth is that it's very difficult to leave your "post" long enough to get to the designated site (usually the mother-baby unit), do your thing, safely store your milk, and return to your work area. For those who suggest pumping in the bathroom, obviously this would not be for milk meant to keep, but rather for immediate waste. If it comes to that, you're just pumping to prevent engorgement and maintain milk production. Let-down in that situation wasn't a problem for me, as I was missing my baby and so sad to be throwing out his milk that it flowed easily while I cried. The only time I've seen nurses successfully pump at work was if they worked within the mother-baby areas.

[Nurse ABC]

I would disclose it only when you get the job offer. When they call (thinking positively here!) and offer it you can say yes but you need to make sure there will be accommodations for you to be able to pump since you are currently breastfeeding. They can't refuse and you can judge by their response how supportive they may be. Like the others have said, it really depends on the area you're hired into how smoothly this will go for you-being able to just find the time to get away can be very hard on certain units. Good luck!

[Genista, BSN, RN]

I would wait till the job offer. Just wanted to offer encouragement to you...I pumped while working acute care. I made the time to pump once in a shift (maybe twice if I was lucky, that was rare). I tried to pump right before the shift & then nurse baby right after shift when I got home. I pumped in some crazy places...break room, empty patient room, supply rooms, but never the bathroom. I usually pumped on my meal break mid shift. It was too hard to find extra time to pump otherwise. Coworkers were mostly accepting & some were supportive. Good luck with the job & with continuing to breastfeed your baby!

[Ginger's Mom, MSN, RN]

I agree wait for the job offer,it will work out.

[RNdancer]

Thank you all for your input. I agree with many posters, that I will never pump in a bathroom as I wouldn't eat my own lunch there. I'm glad we now have a federal law that protecting a mothers need to pump in the workplace until the child is 12 months of age. If I had to rely on state law, I would only have that protection if I were a state employee.