Any pregnant nurses out there?

Question

So I work as a registered nurse in a busy ER in California. We seem to always be short staffed and therefore, don't get much help with lifting patients. Unfortunately, I feel that it is really looked down upon at my job to go on "light duty" while pregnant. So now I have no idea on what to do. Should I say something to my manager (who I've already told I'm pregnant), or just tough it out? My shifts are 12.5 hours (we are lucky if we get a half hour break). I am especially concerned because I've already had one shift where (10 hours into the shift) I started spotting. This happened after being on my feet all day and not getting much help with turning a patient.
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​Any other nurses out there feeling like they are endangering their unborn baby by working as a nurse?

Answer

I'm a medsurg nurse. I always ask someone to for help when turning a pt. And when I have to move a pt from a gurney to a bed, I have others do it. I used to do it all but I got a pain in my lower abd for about 2 weeks after pulling up someone in bed, and after that I realized I have to do what's best for my baby, bc nobody will care more than me. Everyone is understanding though when I ask. Let ur mngr know Take care of yourself and baby, you come first!

Answer

I'm an ICU nurse and our patients are very large on average and of course can do nothing on their own. My midwife said to listen to my body and if I was doing it before and I practice good ergonomics I should be okay. I also work 12.5 hour shifts and don't always get a break and we are horribly short staffed and I'm still hiding it from most of my coworkers. It makes it hard that's for sure! We don't have much help for turning out patients so I decided they won't get turned if I don't get help! I'm a good nurse but I won't hurt myself or my baby because we don't have help!!

Answer

I work in med/surg and I'm pregnant with my second while working as a nurse. I lift reasonable weight patients  until my belly gets too big. I think if you lifted patients before you were pregnant than you can (within reason) while your pregnant. Once I got a noticeable bump, all the other staff was really accommodating, even kicked me out of the way/room. If not, than talk to ur supervisor and/ or doctor

Answer

I worked in the PACU while fully blown pregnant, they actually had a pool going around about me going into labor while on shift, needless to say the patients are sedated & veryy heavy with a lot of intense care required. My shifts were about 10-12 hrs sometimes more bc they had call shifts which were terrible. Most were veryyyyyy understanding of me being pregnant & would do the "dangerous" activities for me or at least make it a "2 man team". As healthcare workers they of all people should be understanding of that. I would speak up nothing is worth the loss of ur baby! (I'm almost miscarried that pregnancy) I think we all just get so busy with our patient loads we don't realize what else is going on & I think if u reach out to ask for help they'll totally understand and maybe even realize that they weren't aware u were struggling so much bc they have a busy load too

Answer

And as far as lifting patients, I would talk to a couple of assistive personnel in the department and let them know u will be requiring their help to move ur patients every time. I feel if ur co-workers understand the need they should b able to help and u won't need to be put on "light duty".

Answer

I am a newly licensed RN and I'm actually looking for work while pregnant. I feel as if I can do almost anything I could do before, and I don't want to b on light duty. I'm ready to start nursing! However, u need to listen to ur body. If u feel the work is getting to hard for u to do then u should definitely talk to ur employer. Especially if u've been there a while They should b able to accommodate u go the (relatively) short duration of ur pregnancy. Have u discussed ur job and related activities with ur doc? What does he/she think? It's my understanding that we can continue with our normal routines (within reason!) since our bodies are already used to it. As long as ur not straining urself u should b ok, right? But it is really important that u take breaks which I know can b very hard to do in a busy ER. How about some of ur fellow nurses? Are u friendly enough with any of them to talk to them about helping watch ur patients while u take a break to eat or rest?

Any pregnant nurses out there?

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