When to let client and agency know you're pregnant

ventmommy · Apr 18, 2011

We had a nurse go on maternity leave. She was our 4-day/week day nurse and was loved and adored by all who met her. She made sure to schedule all her appointments on her weekday off from us. She told us she was pregnant when she was 6 weeks along. By around 5 months, I was doing all the lifting for her. By 7 months, I had rearranged some stuff in my son's room because she was very short with a very big baby in there and couldn't reach some things! She worked up until 6 days before she had her baby. Around 6 months of her pregnancy, the agency started sending us new nurses to interview. I chose two and they had her do a fabulous orientation for 2 days with each of them. Then the agency was sending them every other week for a shift for the last month of her pregnancy so she could stay on top of my son's needs. I was adamant with the agency that this nurse would be returning to her pre-pregnancy schedule and she did. She came back when her baby was 7 weeks old.

BA.LVN · Apr 21, 2011

I actually went through this myself! My baby is 6 months old now. But I had just started the case and found out I was pregnant that very same week...lol. I didn't tell the family until I was 3 months along. By that time, we had all developed a very good working relationship and they expressed that they wanted me back when I was ready. They were very adamant that at whatever agency I ended up with, they STILL wanted me. The lifting got to be tough towards the end, so I had to take leave a month before I had wanted to (at 8 months or so). But they were very happy for me when I told them I was pregnant. Of course they were worried about getting a good nurse to replace me as well. They went through at least 2-3 nurses before settling on 2. I still speak with the mother on occasion and they STILL want me back after being gone 6 months :) I'm trying to find some childcare arrangement so i can go back.

caliotter3 · Apr 21, 2011

If it were my agency, they would be looking for your permanent replacement before you were out the door after informing them, or the phone receiver reached the cradle. While I would not wait until the last moment, I would not be in a hurry either. I would probably give the agency at least three weeks to find a new person. Do not expect to get the case back. If they are a good agency, they will give you the case back and find a new case for your replacement. But I have found that this is a courtesy extended to certain employees and not others. The family may guess your circumstances if they notice the changes in your appearance. You probably will be in a position to make things official once the subject comes up with them. Best wishes on a safe delivery and hope you are able to go through this experience with smooth sailing.

ArwenEvenstar · Apr 21, 2011

We had a nurse go on maternity leave. She was our 4-day/week day nurse and was loved and adored by all who met her. She made sure to schedule all her appointments on her weekday off from us. She told us she was pregnant when she was 6 weeks along. By around 5 months, I was doing all the lifting for her. By 7 months, I had rearranged some stuff in my son's room because she was very short with a very big baby in there and couldn't reach some things! She worked up until 6 days before she had her baby. Around 6 months of her pregnancy, the agency started sending us new nurses to interview. I chose two and they had her do a fabulous orientation for 2 days with each of them. Then the agency was sending them every other week for a shift for the last month of her pregnancy so she could stay on top of my son's needs. I was adamant with the agency that this nurse would be returning to her pre-pregnancy schedule and she did. She came back when her baby was 7 weeks old.

Maybe I'd still be doing private duty (and still be a nurse!) if I'd had an agency like this! How awesome they planned ahead, trained other staff, and took other measures to ensure you were properly staffed. They were concerned for staff, patient, and family alike! It sounds like a great agency, and you sound like a great parent/nurse!

I worked for Maxim (not afraid to say it)...they never planned ahead, did not care about training people, and were just grossly unorganized. Even with repeated reminders, they would wait until one day before or the very day that a nurse would be out to deal with it. In this case, Maxim would have waited to one day before or the very day maternity leave started, frantically made calls, and then sent any warm body out (if one could be found!) to the house. Or they would have somehow "forgotten" about maternity leave, and would call the nurse saying "why didn't you show up for work?" - Duh! Even though they were told multiple times about the maternity leave.

Yes, all this and more happened to me with Maxim...although not with maternity leave, but with needing time off for vacations, my schooling, etc.

A few months ago I ran into family of a patient I used to care for, and they had been without a nurse for over a month! Because of no planning and total dis-organization I am sure!

caliotter3 · Apr 21, 2011

I would have hoped the family without a nurse for over a month had started to look for an agency that could help them. That is how Maxim loses a lot of cases in my area.

BA.LVN · Apr 23, 2011

I too, worked for Maxim, but ended up changing agencies....on to a smaller, family-owned agency that was much better to work for. They were on top of it when I went on maternity leave as well.