Pregnant sole veterinary nurse

Re: Pregnant sole veterinary nurse

Claire Cameron — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 16:52:57 GMT

When my boss was pregnant at my last practice we looked into handling meds etc and handlng thyroid meds is a huge no no.

I hadn't even thought about thyroid meds, all we'd really thought about was steroids etc

Re: Pregnant sole veterinary nurse

Steph Phillips — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 16:33:47 GMT

Mmm just posted in another threat exactly the same! lol.. will copy and paste just incase!

Hi.. huge congrats to you!!!!

I'm currently 18wks pregnant - and have had a lot of bad luck in hte past so I'm taking things very carefully..

firstly - as someone mentioned - big no to xrays
Wear gloves when handling meds (esp the chalky steriod types)
wear gloves when handling cat litter
try not to lift anything over 10kg.. and bend your knees with back straight - if you have to lift, do it at YOUR PACE very gradually
Wear gloves if you have to apply creams like fuciderm
Also with anaethetics - I wear a mask if I HAVE to monitor (told them i'm not risking it though so I stay out) - seeing as your the sole nurse, I imagine your around gasses all the time so def wear a mask when your monitoring anaethetics - and when patients are in recovery!!!
Get your employer to do a risk assessment

They should think about getting another nurse in.. it's their obligation to look after you and your baby and with appointments like anti-natal or scans, your entitled to paid time off - so they'd need someone to cover you eventually - esp when you go on maternity! ...

Best of luck with everything xx

Re: Pregnant sole veterinary nurse

Gillian Mostyn — Sun, 03 Apr 2011 10:22:48 GMT

Don't forget that you have to tell your employer immediately.

Re: Pregnant sole veterinary nurse

Sal the 1st — Sat, 02 Apr 2011 23:09:05 GMT

you are actually more at risk from waste anaesthetic gases in the recovery area rather than in theatre (unless you have no scavenging and mask everything)- this is so often missed or disregarded

Re: Pregnant sole veterinary nurse

ginny — Sat, 02 Apr 2011 23:01:03 GMT

Your boss has to do a risk assessment for you as soon as you tell them you are pregnant. The risk assessment has to be specific to you and your job. When I was pregnant i was a HVN in a mixed practice but was 34 so considered by the medics as an older mum! I avoided any contact with sheep (toxoplasmosis). I avoided radiography and masking patients, wore gloves to clean kennels and avoided lifting anything - the lifting was on doctors instruction due to previous probs with cervix (sorry too much information there!) I came off nights and out of hours at about 22 weeks after a further risk assessment as developed a pelvic ligament disorder - so its important that the risk assessments are specific to you and don't just generalise for pregnancy. It might be worth getting some advise from your midwife on the subject of lifting. As far as i recall as long as there are no complications its more of a problem in later pregnancy but everyone is different.

A younger nurse is pregnant in my current practice. Due to the nature of our practice - rabbits, spinals, orthopedics - she spends a lot of time on reception now. She continued to lift patients including spinal cases until about 24 weeks then our boss considered it too much for her and she was taken off weekends and out of hours. Her risk assessment included making sure she double gloved when picking dandelions for our many rabbit inpatients! Although toxoplasmosis is a risk from cat faeces its old faeces that are the problem so picking stuff for rabbits was a big risk. On the topic of toxo be wary of any young dog off its legs and not in obvious pain as may have toxo or neospora. We nearly got caught out with one of these patients in Dec but we see a lot of neuro cases so it was ok. I know of a VN who did contract toxoplasmosis, believed to have been from a squitty kitten she adopted, fortunately her baby was fine but it was a very stressful time for her.

Provided you have active scavenging then helping with GA's should be ok but you need to take care/avoid isoflurane and nitrous otherwise. Check data sheet or VMD website or your practice's COSHH stuff. I wore gloves when handling medication, especially steroids but didnt handle any hormones or chemo stuff at all. If in doubt wear gloves!

Radiography is a tricky one and you should follow your Local Rules - but mostly keep out of the designated area when the light is on or exposure being made. I have worked with vets and nurses who have put lead on, helped position and then legged it out before the exposure is made. Depends on your Local Rules and what you feel comfortable with.

Basically do what you are comfortable doing after weighing up the risk. There are various webistes with advice - think the RCVS also does a fact sheet. I found our community midwife very helpful to discuss any concerns with.

Congratulations by the way!