1st time Pregnant Nurse...how do you reveal to boss

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Specializes in Adult Care- Neuro ICU, Ortho, IRU, Pedi.

I work on a very physical unit (Rehabilitaion) with head injuries, post CVA's and some orthopedics. At orientation we were told that there were no "light duty" positions. I have been at this position for 6 months. I found out this week that I am pregnant (approx 6 weeks) so I'm not sure how to approach the subject with my boss. I understand the laws that prohibit discrimination with pregnancy but realistically I'm not sure that I can handle this type of position for my entire pregnancy. Does anyone have any ideas of what to say to my boss? Does HR need to know? When do I reveal pregnancy to the rest of my co-workers? I'm not really close to anyone so I don't really care to reveal anything until after my 1st trimester. Is that a bad idea? I work 7p-7a Thurs-Sat. I am also in school during the week getting my prereq's for my RN finished so I am overwhelmed but happy in the same breath. I was recently diagnosed with pseudotumor cerebri (essentially I make too much cerebral spinal fluid) and although after a few months of LP's and problems with my vision everything has cleared up but I must attend to my health closely and hormones can make the condition worse. Do I start hounding the Doc's now to push for disabilty/bedrest? I am not the type of nurse to turn my nose up to hard work and I don't want to mention possible short term disablility to my employer but I'm not sure what else to do? Do they have to offer me some type of "light duty" position? Any ideas or any prior experiences anyone can share, good or bad, would be helpful. Thank you in advance for any help you can give me.

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Specializes in Cardiac.

First off, Congrats!:balloons:

Now, for me, I wouldn't tell my work until after the 1st trimester either. But you have health issues that need to be addressed. I say you speak with your OB/GYN and ask him/her what they think. Tell they what a day in your typical workday is like.

Good luck!

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I am a new -grad nurse and I haven been trying to find a job for more than six months. Now I am pregnant... Just a couple of weeks. Finally, I received a call for a job. I will have a physical exam and of course they are going to find out that I am pregnant. Can I be disqualified for being pregnant?

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Specializes in Trauma/Surg, Home Care.

sorry guys, I am not a lawyer but I can't imagine you being disqualified for being pregnant, that is illegal!

I don't think there is any light duty in the unit you described. However, when I was pregnant I had some minor bleeding issues and I begged my OB for a note that I have to stay on bedrest from 36 weeks on. He gave it to me, and everything went great. I left the job after I delivered and went to Home Health. That was a mistake especially for the economy like now. Now I want to get back to the hospital, and no one wants me :saint:

Congrats on your pregnancies!

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Specializes in Neurology, Neurosurgerical & Trauma ICU.

I actually recommend telling your employer right away. Depending on the unit will depend on they handle it. On our unit, we don't make any of our pregnant nurses take ANY kind of isolation assignment. They could, but just as a courtesy, we don't make them do it. Also, we try to avoid giving pregnant women any combative or grossly overweight patients.

Now, that being said...let me get a gripe out too. Pregnancy is NOT a disability. I hate when women use the excuse that they're pregnant to sit on their butt and only do the absolute bare minimum! There's usually no reason that you can't continue to do almost everything that you did before you were pregnant. Therefore, if you were doing a physical job before and you have a normal pregnancy, then there's no reason that you shouldn't be able to continue to do that job. I've also worked with many nurses who worked up until they delivered, with no problems. Even work with one now who went off her birth control to have a hip replacement and got pregnant before the surgery and now she's back to work; pregnany and really bad hip....now that's a strong girl!

Now before anyone goes off and starts flaming...yes, I've been pregnant and yes, I continued everything that I did before...even competitive dancing early in the pregnancy and continuing to train till I delivered.

Ok...just my two cents....

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Specializes in Critical Care, Education.

Previous posters are correct.... first, stop by HR & get advice on benefits & FMLA because there is always paperwork involved. Then tell your manager. You will undoubtedly have to file your FMLA stuff and any Dr visits may be counted into that category.

Pregnancy is not a disability. Your employer will only need to make reasonable accomodations. However, there are very few types of exposures that are ONLY bad for pregnant women - so don't expect them to make any special arrangements for you. If you reach a point where you are not able to perform normal job duties, you will need to go on leave. Trust me - your manager will be OK with this. We have an 85% female workforce so I'm sure it isn't the first maternity leave that he/she has dealt with.

Definition of a bad workplace????? You're working with 4 (our of 6) pregnant nurses in an ICU - been there, done that :o. I was plumb worked to death!!!. But it was kinda funny.

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Specializes in HH, Med/surg- liver & kidney transplant, ortho, ++.

Congratulations about your pregnancy and good luck with school.

I just have a comment, it may sound harsh and kinda mean, please don't be offended. I am actually suprised nobody has mentioned it.

You are not a nurse, don't call yourself a nurse. I have worked as a medical assistant for 7 years and have corrected patients and other coworkers. We are not nurses we are medical assistance.

I have NEVER called myself a nurse, nor will I until I am finished with school. I am in my first year of nursing (3rd term) and have always said student nurse. One of the other students called himself a nurse to a pt (big mistake), our clinical instructor actually overheard him and scolded him for it. You can get kicked out of nursing school for things like that.

I am just saying people work hard for the title nurse. I hope that one day you get to the point where you can call yourself a nurse. In the meantime, please don't call yourself a nurse, you are misrepresenting yourself and taking credit for something you are not.

Sorry for my little soapbox, I kinda get a little defensive with the term nurse being used loosely.

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Hm? What do you mean she's not a nurse? Going to school for RN, yea... but she could be a LPN?

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Specializes in Pediatric/Adolescent, Med-Surg.
Hm? What do you mean she's not a nurse? Going to school for RN, yea... but she could be a LPN?

I assumed the open poster is an LPN as well, which, most assuredly, is a nurse.

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I actually had a concern, needed some advice.

I recently passed nursing board and I am now an RN. About 5 days after passing board, I received a job offer at a local hospital. During the interview I did not make mention that I was 5 months pregnant (I've not 'popped' yet and hav'nt gained that much weight, but the doctor assures me that my sons FHR and my uterine growth are WNL.)

I have my pre-employment physical in 2 days, I am TERRORFIED they are going to remove the offer from me due to the fact that I basically lied by NOT telling them that I am pregnant.

I know it sounds silly to lie, but I desperately need this position for my son. It is an OR position, I was a surgical technician prior to becoming an RN and from what I remeber, the RN's basically did prep, assessments, some med draw ups and charted mostly. Thats not to say thats ALL they did, its just all I saw. The OR is a clean enviroment, and even though it is surgery I can and will take the utmost precautions.

Do you think they will remove the offer from me (I know legally they can't but lets face it. There are umteen thousand reasons they can list other than "employee is pregnant"). I have supplemental insurance for my pregnancy so the hospital I work at won't be fitting the bill (I wouldn't even qualify for benefits prior to his birth neway, d/t my 90 probationary period).

can I use FMLA to secure my position if I am still within the 90 days of probation?

Should I just be upfront before I go to my exam and tell my supervisor that I am pregnant?

IDK what to do, I need this job and don't want my place of employeement to think I am a liar.

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Specializes in Adult Care- Neuro ICU, Ortho, IRU, Pedi.

Yes I am a nurse. I am an LVN with 15 years acute care experience. I now teach clinical for an LVN program. I understand your post because I wasn't clear on my title. I can't stand when CNA's/students or MA's call themselves nurses. That is a pet peeve of mine as well. Good luck in school. I have a healthy 3 year old and 1 year old now and everything went well during my pregnancies. I remained working overnights and took every assignment given. I tolerated a lot more than I thought I would be able to but glad to be out of the facility I was in during that time.

Thanks!

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