Stressed and Pregnant New Grad

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Hi all,

Just seeking some advice on my situation. I am currently a new grad RN working as a MS/Tele float pool RN at a hospital. I recently found out I am pregnant (in June) and am so excited for this new journey, however I am now in my second trimester and am experiencing some awful symptoms (frequent migraines that result in nausea and vomiting). I just had a shift last week that was horrible. I experienced a migraine attack and was vomiting almost every 30 min-hour, which of course, impeded my ability to work continue the shift. I told my charge how I was feeling and she tried to see if someone could take over my patient load so I could go home early, but of course, no one could. She just offered me Zofran and said nothing else. And of course, after telling her how I felt, I still got a new admission. I tried to push through the pain and nausea, however, it got to the point where I could hardly stand straight. They finally had the resource nurse take over my patients so I could go home. (Still had to stay and finish charting for 2 hours though bc the shift was so incredibly busy).

Luckily, I was off the next day, however, I spent the whole day in bed due to still experiencing a migraine. I also had a mild fever, which made me call out of work the next day.

That being said, I am not sure how much longer I can last working bedside at the moment. I am experiencing these migraines more often (along with stress) and am worried that it will impede the care I provide. Thankfully, I can afford to quit (my husband has a decent job), but part of me does not want to because I only have 5 months of bedside experience. 

Please advise. Thank you for reading my long submission and any input is appreciated. 

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Specializes in Vents, Telemetry, Home Care, Home infusion.

Call your OBGYN tomorrow and follow their advice. Job can wait.

 

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Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.

Unfortunately, with only 5 months of employment you do not qualify for FMLA. Does your state offer its own protected medical leave? Call your employer's HR/benefits/leave department and ask what your options are for intermittent leave. You may have to quit your job. Working while vomiting every 30-60 minutes is not sustainable.

I'm sorry you're having a hard time. The fact that you developed a fever suggests that you actually had an illness, rather than just vomiting due to migraines due to pregnancy. So it's possible that as this illness passes, so too will the migraines and N/V.

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Specializes in Psych, Addictions, SOL (Student of Life).

You have received some great advice and I would stress the same. What you are trying to do is not sustainable, nor is it good for you or your baby. I had what my husband, Doctor and myself called morning noon and night sickness. It was occuring all through my 1st and 2nd trimesters. Go to your OBGYN and explain what you have told us here. The job is just a job and the goal is to have a healthy baby. There are some very low-key herbal things (With your OBGYN's blessings.)to help with the migrains and sickness. Please feel free to contact me on the PN page. 

I would not recomend what I did to anyone because I had horrible nausea, vomiting, headachs and more I was in Nursing school at the time and was 5 CM dilated when I took my finals. My son had 9 seizures after he was born and that resolved independently. The funny thing is my son(22) has the most amazing stress tolerance of anyone I know. 

Bottom line - take care of yourself and your baby. I highly recommend the book "What to expect when you'r expecting.

Hppy

Hppygr8ful.

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