Will my pregnancy hurt my chances at an externship?

WaitingonMyMoment · Jan 7, 2014

Happy New Year to you as well and CONGRATULATIONS!!! I don't have any experience with this first hand, but at my school pregnancy is not a problem as long as you are cleared through your doctor to perform the tasks at hand. Every month, pregnant students have to get a clearance form from their doctors in order to be able to participate in any clinical exercises or externships. I don't think they would put you or your unborn in harm's way. Check with an advisors and your school's handbook. Good luck and I hope this helps a tad bit.

Dollface4k6 · Jan 11, 2014

A woman in my nursing program was accepted into nursing school and found out she was pregnant a month later! She (I am not joking) had her baby on a wednesday in October and returned to classes 10 days later!!! It was incredible. It was not like she missed a beat, she even out performed a lot of people on our test the first week in November, having missed a week and a half of classes. She was able to participate in all aspects of clinical until her water broke, so I cannot see you being unable to complete an externship, unless of course you are not feeling well toward the end of your pregnancy. As Waitingonmymoment said, this woman was also to get continuous medical clearance from her physician, so that seems to be consistent and may be the extent of your difficulty. Congratulations and good luck! At least sleepless nights can be spent studying hahaha! Wonderful.

Julesmama28 · Jan 11, 2014

We've had two people in my class have babies mid semester. It's possible...if that is what you really want. You will have to return to class fairly quickly to avoid missing much, and little to no missed clinicals. The first year or so of your babies life is precious time you will never get back. Choose wisely! You do what you need to do, stay strong.

seconddegreebsn · Jan 12, 2014

I'm only five weeks now and I feel horrible, like I've come close to fainting/throwing up during a day of clinicals, so I'm starting to think this is a bad idea. Postponing school isn't an option, especially at this point, but postponing kids is and I'm wondering if I'm setting myself up for absolute misery trying to do both at the same time. Really scared and unhappy, especially in this job market I want to go to clinicals and shine/leave a great first impression, not be the person who had restrictions/got sick/couldn't keep up. The physical illness I anticipated, the mental spaciness and exhaustion I had no idea would be this bad--I can't get through the day without a long nap, sometimes two. I also worry that if I wait until right after I get a job (I graduate this fall), my potential employer would be angry about me getting pregnant so early during employment and use that as grounds for termination. Sort of in a no-win situation here...lots of hard decisions ahead

Dollface4k6 · Jan 18, 2014

I myself have never been pregnant, but there is a very good chance the morning sickness/exhaustion will wane after your first trimester. As a person with many nieces and nephews, as well as very good friends who have had children, their pregnancies all varied so greatly, one had no morning sickness at all, where another had morning sickness through the entire length of her pregnancy. In my program, absences need to be made up or you fail clinical; there is no exception to the rule. Stick it out as long as you can, only you can make this decision and I wish you so much luck in the future. Let us know what you decide! We are all rooting for you.

Jenngirl34RN · Jan 18, 2014

I'm only five weeks now and I feel horrible, like I've come close to fainting/throwing up during a day of clinicals, so I'm starting to think this is a bad idea. Postponing school isn't an option, especially at this point, but postponing kids is and I'm wondering if I'm setting myself up for absolute misery trying to do both at the same time. Really scared and unhappy, especially in this job market I want to go to clinicals and shine/leave a great first impression, not be the person who had restrictions/got sick/couldn't keep up. The physical illness I anticipated, the mental spaciness and exhaustion I had no idea would be this bad--I can't get through the day without a long nap, sometimes two. I also worry that if I wait until right after I get a job (I graduate this fall), my potential employer would be angry about me getting pregnant so early during employment and use that as grounds for termination. Sort of in a no-win situation here...lots of hard decisions ahead

Every pregnancy is a little different, but for me the fatigue and ditziness got MUCH better after the 1st trimester. Hang in there, and CONGRATULATIONS!

tryingtohaveitall · Jan 18, 2014

I'm only five weeks now and I feel horrible like I've come close to fainting/throwing up during a day of clinicals, so I'm starting to think this is a bad idea. Postponing school isn't an option, especially at this point, but postponing kids is and I'm wondering if I'm setting myself up for absolute misery trying to do both at the same time. Really scared and unhappy, especially in this job market I want to go to clinicals and shine/leave a great first impression, not be the person who had restrictions/got sick/couldn't keep up. The physical illness I anticipated, the mental spaciness and exhaustion I had no idea would be this bad--I can't get through the day without a long nap, sometimes two. I also worry that if I wait until right after I get a job (I graduate this fall), my potential employer would be angry about me getting pregnant so early during employment and use that as grounds for termination. Sort of in a no-win situation here...lots of hard decisions ahead [/quote']
You'd postpone the baby before school? School will always be there, but a baby is a miracle! I'm sorry you're feeling so ill. First trimester is hard but it (almost always) gets much better by 12-13 weeks. Hang in there. When you're not in clinicals, make rest your top priority.