Pregnant nurses

Re: Pregnant nurses

John Rimmer — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 18:34:28 GMT

[quote user="plantagenet"]

I do look after them................. no gassing,

[/quote]

Does it hurt to let her have a little natter now and then? (tee hee)

Re: Pregnant nurses

Bob Russell — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 18:13:09 GMT

[quote user="Neal Palk"]

'...I can't do a **** about it because she'd pregnant.....'

I hope that's your perception, not any advice you have received. If it is advice received, change your source as it's not correct...........

[/quote]

True in law but in reality the employer has to be very, very careful. If the pregnant member of staff cries foul it will be the employer who has to justify their situation and 'prove' any actions were not related to pregnancy!

Rightly or not the boot is very much on the foot of the pregnant member of staff (in some ways quite rightly too). Pregnancy is very inconvenient for a business especially a small one and it can create havoc!

With co-operation things can be fairly easy , without give and take it can be a nightmare and there can be a lot of friction.

If in doubt you can get free advice from the BVA legal helpline or your practice insurance helpline.

Good luck!

Re: Pregnant nurses

Gillian Mostyn — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 17:29:47 GMT

My nurses have, in general, carried on regardless but with no lifting, extra care with drugs and not handling big or boistrous dogs. They continued working in theatre (their choice) but didn't assist with masking down. And obviously no radiography. I did have one nurse who wore latex gloves pretty much continuously - we went through boxes of them!

It was the same with the vets.

Like I said, talk to her. You never know, it might be enlightening.

Re: Pregnant nurses

plantagenet — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 17:18:34 GMT

I would be interested in what you employers or pregnant staff find in acceptable to do. I managed one pregnant nurse with no problem - this has just been a shock to the system and, as always, my health (and that of the business and with it my other staff's jobs) comes below the 'rights' of one person.

Re: Pregnant nurses

Gillian Mostyn — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 16:53:50 GMT

[quote user="plantagenet"]and now is telling my staff that she should be doing less and no lifting[/quote]

Beware chinese whispers and gossip. Sit her down, do a proper documented risk assessment (there is no such thing as a template - every person and every pregnancy is different), agree on what tasks she is happy with and which ones she isn't, and come to an agreement on what is expected of her. This should leave a bit less leeway for laziness.

Re: Pregnant nurses

Neal Palk — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 16:48:23 GMT

'...I can't do a **** about it because she'd pregnant.....'

I hope that's your perception, not any advice you have received. If it is advice received, change your source as it's not correct...........

Re: Pregnant nurses

plantagenet — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 16:39:08 GMT

My business is too small to give her desk duties only. I am only wanting her to do normal vet nurse duties minus heavy lifting, exposure to drugs/xrays/iso - just like my other pregnant nurse. My nurses also clean and do reception but I may have only one of them here at a time. The problem is all this IS an excuse for laziness and I can't do a **** about it because she'd pregnant. Just got off phone to a legal helpline and will soon talk to an H+S helpline who should be able to give me some black and white guidelines for what's acceptable.

Re: Pregnant nurses

argyro koukouseli — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 15:19:24 GMT

i ve been pregnant twice,and worked the hole nine months,had a pregnant nurse also who couldnt.Surely every person and pregnancy is different.So to avoid her siting around doing nothing,create things for her to do,such as prescriptions,in charge for supplies,lab tests,lab cleaning,web site,handout sheets in reception,checking on hospitalised patiens....I believe you get my point.....

Re: Pregnant nurses

Dagmar Steele — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 12:24:01 GMT

Quote yourselves lucky that they are still there and working to a certain extend. In Germany you would have to send them home the very moment they tell you they're pregnant. Or you'd have to make sure they're only on the telephone and never in the same room with a dog or any other potentially dangerous or infectious animal (impossible to do in most practices). Fully paid. You can insure against the cost, but employing new temporary staff and getting them where the old one was is a nightmare. And you'll have to keep the job vacant for the old one for three years.

I have worked through two pregnancies and will never really get this system.

Re: Pregnant nurses

Gillian Mostyn — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 12:12:46 GMT

I'm afraid as far as pregnancy goes, mum has everything on her side. If she says no, then I give up - the consequences of me enforcing anything and then her having a problem (even though it is likely to be unrelated) are just too dire to think about. Just be grateful that at least it only lasts 9 months.....

I have had staff members who have done everything possible to book appointments when they are off, so as not to disrupt things, and I have had others who have booked them at busy times and then taken 3 hours for a simple midwife check. I have had 2 pregnancies myself - I know how long these things take!!

Having said all that, a good member of staff is worth a bit of inconvenience and it doesn't last long. If they are a bad member of staff then you don't need to accommodate their requests in future! What goes around usually comes around.

Re: Pregnant nurses

Neal Palk — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 11:07:33 GMT

[quote user="plantagenet"]

I have 2 pregnant nurses - one is about 25w and a real hard worked, she worked full time through 1st pregnancy and came back part time and is working hard through this, complete with toddler at home.

2nd nurse is about 16w and never worked hard and now is telling my staff that she should be doing less and no lifting. She works full time. I don't want drop her hours since I want a full time member of staff post pregnancy. Where can I get support that what I am asking her to do is ok.

I do look after them and minimize lifting to light things, let them sit as much as poss., no gassing, x-raying etc etc and I really don't want her or the baby to come to any harm, however I don't want to give in to laziness.

I am feeling a bit vulnerable over this, in case something does happen and I get the blame.

[/quote]

Pregnancy is always tricky in terms of what can/cannot be expected - plus no two individuals are the same (medically). No-once can advise as you haven't actually said what you're expecting her to do!!?

No oblique selling on here so I must respect that, but there are numerous consutancies 'out there' who provide such advisory services (to be honest mine is one of many, albeit with some pedigree in the veterinary business!) or you can refer to the ACAS website for some good advice on process.

This is most probably a medical consideration rather than an 'H.R.' one though.........

You're right to tread carefully as the consequences are potentially significant