Speaking of pregnant nurses...

heart queen · Feb 5, 2004

we don't allow pregnant nurses who do no have a titer or inoculation to the "chicken pox" or "shingles" virus to care foro that pt. population.

all others with appropriate precautions are said to be ok.

mittels · Feb 5, 2004

TB pt's are probably OK if your mask test fitted, but I'd stay out.

No pt's who have had a adeno-thalium stress test stay away for at least 3 days.

MRSA is probably ok if your sure you are using contact or resp. isolation, where ever it is coming from.

Diffenetly (sp) no shingles esp if you have never had the chicken pox and the vaccine doesnt count.

Of course there are the MMR but those are far and few between.

These are all I can think of.

AuroraRN · Feb 5, 2004

The only patients I know that you should avoid are those receiving chemotherapy or who have recently received chemotherapy. This can be toxic to both you and your baby. Pregnant nurses should not work on an oncology unit for this reason. Just be careful because some of these patients can end up on various floors--some chemotherapy agents are passed by bodily secretions, i.e. urine for quite some time after the last dose. That is all I know and I only know that because I've worked on an oncology unit who encouraged those of us who were of child-bearing age and attempting to become pregnant to consider transferring to another department because of these safety issues.

Hope your pregnancy goes well!!!

heart queen · Feb 5, 2004

Don't want to stray off topic, but the vaccine doesn't count?? Even if you draw a positive titer?

looks like our employee health need to have a re-write.

can you elaborate?

thanks

oh, sorry If I provided incorrect info. just assuming our protocols were accurate:imbar

mittels · Feb 5, 2004

Originally posted by heart queen
Don't want to stray off topic, but the vaccine doesn't count?? Even if you draw a positive titer?

looks like our employee health need to have a re-write.

can you elaborate?

thanks

oh, sorry If I provided incorrect info. just assuming our protocols were accurate:imbar

Did you see my post abov? Your not incorrect.

NeuroICURN · Feb 5, 2004

Definately someone with chicken pox or shingles should be avoided....as well as measels. Exposure to measels at certain times can cause birth defects.

I have to say that this is one thing that my dept. is very good about....protecting the pregnant nurse! When I was, I also did not have to take any isolation rooms, no matter what they were isolated for....just to be on the safe side!!

What matters most is your's and your baby's health! Good luck and take care. Best wishes to you and your family! :)

RNforLongTime · Feb 5, 2004

I'm 28 weeks along and have refused to care for pt's in MRSA, VRE or other precautions. While there are no rules that say I cannot care for those pt's, when I asked my OB, he said "why would you want to risk anything". My unit is pretty good at NOT assigning us pregnant RN's (and there are 3 of us right now) pt's in isolation precautions. It's a common courtesy thing. It was the same at the other two hospitals that I worked at as well.

Personally, I wouldn't want to take any unnecessary risks.

Gompers, BSN, RN · Feb 5, 2004

In addition to the conditions mentioned above, on my unit (NICU) pregnant nurses do not care for patients suspected to have CMV - extremely dangerous for a newborn.

NICU_Nurse, BSN, RN · Feb 5, 2004

Ditto on the CMV- stay away. :)

gwenith, BSN, RN · Feb 5, 2004

There is some information on this site

http://www.health.gov.au/pubhlth/strateg/communic/review/draft.htm

louloubell1 · Feb 5, 2004

Originally posted by AuroraRN
The only patients I know that you should avoid are those receiving chemotherapy or who have recently received chemotherapy. This can be toxic to both you and your baby. Pregnant nurses should not work on an oncology unit for this reason. Just be careful because some of these patients can end up on various floors--some chemotherapy agents are passed by bodily secretions, i.e. urine for quite some time after the last dose. That is all I know and I only know that because I've worked on an oncology unit who encouraged those of us who were of child-bearing age and attempting to become pregnant to consider transferring to another department because of these safety issues.

Hope your pregnancy goes well!!!

Along those lines, be careful if you have transplant patients as some of the antirejection meds can cause birth defects and should not be handled by pregnant women. When I was pregnant and working and had patients with these meds my coworkers would either trade assignments with me or would handle my med pass for those particular drugs.