Fellow nurses-some advice

claar

 I am a floor nurse on a acute cardiac floor of a local hospital, and am 11 weeks pregnant.  I work three twelve hour shifts (usually in a row, but am looking to change that, since last week I went to the doctor I was cramping so badly: everything turned out okay, I was having bad round ligament pain). Anyways, the nurses on my floor have been attempting to "baby" me...they won't let me move patients up in bed, they won't let me take patients on contact isolation, etc.  I find this to be really sweet, but I also just started working on this floor, and don't want to make a fuss, either.  However, I don't really know how much I am supposed to lift, how long I should really be on my feet, etc.  Our hospital policy is that we can take patients on that are on droplet or contact precautions, but not airborne precautions, so I have insisted on following this policy.  Any words of advice on how other nurses handled their pregnancies while working would be greatly appreciated!

MrsGo4Hockeychick

I was not a nurse, but a CNA on a busy cardiac ICU. I didn't change anything. I'd been doing my job for 6 years when I got pregnant with DD and while I was more tired, I was able to fully perform my duties. I did ask for more help than usual with heavy patients though, just to be safe, but I was one of the CNA's that didn't need more than one other person for a lift until a patient weighed over 300/350. 

I didn't go in airborne rooms either, but I typically did what I could to avoid TB patients before pregnancy because the N95 masks didn't fit me, and wearing the hood thingy was uncomfortable and scary for the patient. There were certain other diseases I avoided, even though they were just isolation precautions, but now I can't remember what they were.  

hleblanc86

I'm a nurse too. I work with newborns so i'm not in the same boat as you, but i'd say let them baby you and just remember to wear the right PPE and wash your hands like crazy and def. let them do all the heavy lifting! They sound like they are very understanding!!

Cilley

Can't take care of people with airborne precautions and during my 1st pregnancy at 1st I couldn't take care of people with shingles. After a while, they lifted that restriction and I wasn't limited in that way.

Just take it easy on lifting patients. Get help if you think you need it.  Early in pregnancy I don't think that it is as big of a deal as in later pregnancy. but if you do have RLP don't hesitate to ask for help. Your coworkers will understand. Have to take care of your body for you and your little one.

Yes, 12 hr shifts aren't the greatest, but they sure do beat being there 5 days a wk. I just started working 12s a few months ago. Works so much better with the baby, but makes for long days while pregnant.

GL and welcome to the bump...I see this is your 1st post! H&H 9 mos.

mrsseguin

::Butting in::

With both my pregnancies I was kinda 'babied' by my co-workers.  With my first pregnancy I worked on a cardiac step down unit and I now work in L&D.  Other nurses would move my pt's for me or if I was there to help, I would take the lighter tasks, like holding the legs of someone sliding over to another bed.  I appreciated it, and we do the same for all the other nurses or anyone working on our floor that is pregnant.  At the very least you should get extra help.  I was also never assigned any pt's in isolation, not because of hospital policy, but just out of the charge nurse being considerate.  Towards the end of your pregnancy you'll definitely appreciate being 'babied'.  Good luck with your pregnancy!

ashleyndaniel

I am also a nurse on an inpatient rehabilitation unit.  My OB put me on a 30 pound weight restriction, so I don't help lift patients that take two people to help get up.  I also am not allowed to have a patient who has shingles.  I still help pull patients up in bed and take patients in contact and droplet isolation.  I work three 12 hour shifts a week, although they are not always three in a row.  I also work a rotating shift so sometimes I work days and somtimes I work nights. 

lilac34

Im so glad you posted this..Im a nursing student (finish this june) and my clinicals are 3 days a week they move to two 10 hour days starting in March. I too work with isolation and contact precaution patients. No one is my class knows im pregnant except for my instructor. Who has been really good about making sure Im ok at all times. I have ms how do you guys deal with it while at the hospital. Yesterday I was good bc I was so busy I never had a moment to ralize I was sick..this morning Im feeling rather icky!!

xokell2

I work three 12 hr days on a cardiac step down unit. So far with this pregnancy and my last I didn't get any restrictions from my doc (except to not care for pt's with cmv in their stool, which we hardly ever test for anyways).

Luckily I usually have enough time in my day to sit down and drink lots of water. One of the girls at work in her second tri had her doc write her an order/script for 8 hr shifts only but that sucks because now she has to work 5 days a week which I would hate! gl.

BritMar18

Glad to see so many nurses in here. Im an LVN, luckily for me I do home healthcare so its usually just me and my clients. I think you should express to them how you feel as nicely as possible, and do as much as you feel comfortable doing

Francesca814

Hello fellow Nurses.  I work in the OR at a level 1 trauma center.  It has been quite the task trying to get through a "normal" day at work since being preggers.  I was working back to back 3 12's but my OB said no way.  I am now working Mon, Wed, Fri.  I can't do peds cases bc of the Anesthesia they use.  I can't do X-Ray cases.  I can't do total joints bc the cement is toxic.  Everyday I go in it is a new adventure on trying to get re-assigned somewhere that is safe for me and my baby.  We def have to lift pts, but the staff has been really helpful with that.  I always get the feet:)  We do however have to pull our dirty carts a significant distance which can sometimes be heavy with all of the intruments inside.  I just try and lay low under the radar, but in this environment it makes it really tough.  My OB said do what makes you feel comfortable.  That's what I'm trying to stick with.  Here's to a H&H 9 months to you all.

Ksis

I am an ER nurse. Worked full time while pregnant with DD. I did 2 twelve and 2 eight hour shifts.  It was, at times, difficult to know which patients to stay away from because sometimes I was in triage and saw everyone (and their diagnosis were unclear initially). I do remember having a shingles patient but no one knew they had shingles till I rolled the patient over and there it was all on one side of their back. The charge nurses were good at assigning me appropriate patients. So, I guess what I am saying is, let them baby you! It is nice of them to look out for you. I was new too, I had only been their 3 months before finding out I was pregnant. So, don't think, just because you are new, they shouldn't be looking out for you when pregnant. I think it is awesome that they have been so good to a "newbie" on their unit! I did do some lifting in 3rd try that I probably shouldn't have, but as you know, there wasn't a ton of staff at all times. I DID however, wait to transport patients throughout the hospital until I had one other staff member with me. Those stretchers and beds are a bear to move, even when you aren't pregnant!Listen to your body though, I went many times without lunch b/c the ER was busy. Take time for your lunch and go pee (which you'll be doing all the time!). I now work casual hours so I can be home with my DD more. Not many of them know about this pregnancy. But, I know they'll have my back when necessary! Happy pregnancy to you!