Tell them I'm pregnant?

Katie5 · Jan 26, 2011

What has your pregnancy state got to do with your intellect?You got an interview- I don't even believe that should come into play at all. It would be discrimination.

Nuring school can be hard for a person, pregnant or no.Please don't let that deter you.

nurse2033, MSN, RN · Jan 26, 2011

Do you think the program will be too hard with a baby? As a parent, those first few months are something else, especially with a first baby. That aside, it's none of their business. It's your decision to go to school. Don't tell them. Once you're accepted you might consider delaying your entry if that is allowed. Worry about getting in, then worry about how to manage your priorities. Best of luck!

BabyLady, BSN, RN · Jan 26, 2011

Hi,
I've just been selected to interview for nursing school. The interview will occur in a couple weeks at which point I'll be almost 6 months pregnant. I'm still hiding it pretty darn well, and with the right outfit I could probably be taken for not-pregnant. The nursing program I've applied to is very intense.
If I can still hide it at the time of the interview, should I tell the interviewers that I'm pregnant? I'm so afraid that they will think the program is absolutely too hard for someone with an infant. The baby will be 2 months old when I start school.
If you have any advice or experience with this sort of thing, please reply. I'd really appreciate the help!!!

Your instinct is correct...wear bigger clothes to hide it because once you are in, they are required to make reasonable accomodations b/c pregnancy has to be treated like any other short-term disability.

You are under NO legal obligation to tell them, nor can they ask you.

BettyBoop01 · Jan 26, 2011

I would not tell them, I'd try to hide it. You can always DEFER your enrollement once accepted should you choose if you decide you need a little more time off with the baby.

ashburns4ever · Jan 26, 2011

I wouldn't bring it up.... however you say the baby will be 2 months before you even start so it shouldn't be an issue at all.....if they bring it up just tell them exactly that..the baby will be two months by then. all they should care about is whether or not nursing is actually for you.

evolvingrn, BSN, RN · Jan 26, 2011

Hide it !!!

BabyLady, BSN, RN · Jan 26, 2011

I wouldn't bring it up.... however you say the baby will be 2 months before you even start so it shouldn't be an issue at all.....if they bring it up just tell them exactly that..the baby will be two months by then. all they should care about is whether or not nursing is actually for you.

The thing is...they won't.

In fact, she would have one heck of a lawsuit on her hands if they even mentioned it and she did not get in.

BeenThereDoneThat74, MSN, RN · Jan 27, 2011

News flash: you will not be the first pregnant nursing student. As someone who used to interview potential nursing students, it is not my business what your intentions are. We do, in a round about way, mention that the mire outside commitments you have, the more challenging it may be for you to succeed. Even before that discussion comes up, the majority of interviewees share their life stories, baggage and all Often times their experiences with being a parent are what inspires them to become nurses. And if it's not that, they are immediately asking

Questions related to schedules and child-care conflicts. Honestly, these are the candidates I worry about, depending on how they present themselves.

IMO, you shouldn't have to explain anything other than why you want to be a nurse, and any blemishes on your resume.

CCL RN, RN · Jan 27, 2011

Like everyone else, I say...don't mention it.

Congrats!

RNMom2010 · Jan 27, 2011

Yep I agree with not mentioning your pregnancy. It is none of their business. The majority of the women in my class were moms, some of us pregnant, others with brand new babies. It will be hard with a 2 month old, but it can be done! Drink lots of coffee!!

carolmaccas66, BSN, RN · Jan 27, 2011

Look I will tell you straight. I see a lot of threads on here about people trying to 'hide' their baby bumps and lying to employers. I used to work in nursing HR, granted it was over 20 years ago now (I was not a RN then), but there was nothing that made my boss more annoyed than people who lied about being pregnant, so much that she used to ask them directly, and they put the question on their employment form. She knew it was because they thought they would be discriminated against, but they need the info to work out staffing, for example, they are not going to roster you to a heavy ward if you will be big in a few months time. It's going to show, you will need different uniforms, you will obviously need time off, so how do you think you are going to hide it? This sort of thinking really fascinates and baffles me, because if you don't tell the employer you are not being open and honest, and they will see this as a black mark on your record.

Be honest and up front. Nobody likes a liar, and if you say no, there is nothing that will hinder you in your employment, you ARE straight out lying.

It used to drive my old boss crazy when nurses would admit they were pregnant after being hired.

How do you think they aren't going to find out?

ADD: Also what about if they want you to do shifts in radiology or with chemotherapy? You are going to have to tell them you are pregnant then.