Pregnant Vet Nurse- how to help them

RE: Pregnant Vet Nurse- how to help them

Jen — Tue, 21 Feb 2017 17:59:32 GMT

Thank you for that.

I am keen to continue doing as much as I can but we do gas either by mask or by box regularly in the prep area for certain things so I was hoping to leave whilst they do and be able to go back in maybe two hours after they finish but I am guessing that's not sensible now.

Its difficult with no solid data.

Thank you again

RE: Pregnant Vet Nurse- how to help them

Stuart Ford-Fennah — Tue, 21 Feb 2017 12:26:05 GMT

Hi Jen,

Any exposure should be kept to a minimum for any halogenated anaesthetic agent (iso or servo). We carry out environmental monitoring which proves our levels are well below the occupational exposure levels your employer should be performing these tests to comply with H&S legislation. If you use un cuffed tubes in cats you should be aware you will not get as good a seal and some leaking may occur although with good ventilation you would hope the real exposure should be minimal...

There is little data to support anaesthetic gasses (halogenated or nitrous oxide) causing issues and it is assumed, although there are some papers showing an increase in issues in hospital workers, the data in these studies has unfortunately not taken account for other factors; smoking or alcohol consumption. Unless anyone else knows of some data accounting for these factors?

So my advice, avoid exposure, don't make patients or chamber patients as this will increase peak exposure levels despite creating a low mean (hourly exposure rate over 8hr shift). Ultimately you will not be able to eliminate exposure n your job but limiting it and know ing the control measures (active scavenging, ventilation, training, induction techniques) in place are working is important.

hope this helps a bit?

Stu

RE: Pregnant Vet Nurse- how to help them

Heather Hockey — Mon, 20 Feb 2017 15:20:32 GMT

Speaking from personal experience as currently on maternity leave with my first baby you can feel quite vulnerable. I felt this mainly from a job point of view, it's a massive life change and I saw being pregnant as having to give up the job I loved and that made me feel vulnerable. Life was never going to be the same. This can be really stressful as well as all the body changes, hormones and comments from other people!!

Personally I did not have a supportive manager through pregnancy but all I wanted was for people to listen, understand and try and help when needed. From a work point of view I really didn't want many changes implemented for me from the start but just the odd change eg. A stool for monitoring anaesthetics, less time stood scrubbed in (I had low BP throughout pregnancy so I fainted a few times!), more time for snacking on food and regular breaks. I was excruciatingly tired for the first 16weeks as well which was really hard.

Just talk to your employee and see what they feel they need as they progress and make it possible for them to discuss things with you without them feeling like a hindrance. You can still manage alot whilst pregnant but just listen to your employees needs. :)

RE: Pregnant Vet Nurse- how to help them

Jen — Sun, 19 Feb 2017 19:47:52 GMT

Hiya.

Can I ask what you recommend in terms of safety with Isoflo.

Most things I read say you are generally fine with a decent scavenging system to do anaesthetics if the animal is suitably tubed and cuffed.

Mask and box gas inductions they say to stay away from but no where can I find how long for.

If they had an animal in the prep area how long before you think it is safe to come back into the room? We have decent extractors throughout the surgery and they are turned on all day.

Please let me know your thoughts.

Thanks so much!!

RE: Pregnant Vet Nurse- how to help them

lesley Aylett — Sat, 18 Feb 2017 12:37:58 GMT

As a 33 week pregnant nurse, what I have found really helpful is people looking out to make sure that I sit down more and drink enough. So when I do anaesthetics I have a stool and if there are any boring paperwork type jobs I get given them.

Getting down and up from low down kennels is hard as is dealing with big dogs, so my clinic has made sure that I am never the only nurse on any shift, there is always someone else that can assist them if I cant.

As I have got to the end of my pregnancy I have been put on reception a bit which has helped again.

Like you say, all pregnancies are different as our the mothers to be. Just knowing there is someone there keeping a little eye on me and ready to listen if I am having a hard day has helped greatly.

RE: Pregnant Vet Nurse- how to help them

melanie lavender — Wed, 15 Feb 2017 17:34:31 GMT

Hi there

I have never had a child but have worked with many pregnanat nurses.

I have found that as the pregnancy progresses they will do less due to the size of bump and for health and safety reasons.

But what i have known is just having regular conversations/meetings with them to make sure that all is well with the working shift and work in general is the main thing. That way they can let you know if something is getting too much for them.

You will also get a feeling before the pregnant person comes to you with a problem that way you can put measures whether they be shift changes or duty changes in place before hand.

Just be open and honest with them and they will be open and honest with you, I would hope!

I unfortunately can not have children so watching and helping pregnant nurses around me helps me!

RE: Pregnant Vet Nurse- how to help them

Rachel Brown — Sat, 04 Feb 2017 20:40:57 GMT

Thanks for the replies.

Good tip about keeping her in the team

Rachel

RE: Pregnant Vet Nurse- how to help them

Stuart Ford-Fennah — Thu, 02 Feb 2017 21:46:57 GMT

Hi Rachel, I am speaking as a manager here as we have had number of nurses become pregnant (we currently employ 38), and as you would expect the bigger the team the probability increases. It's a fab time for these ladies and i feel offering a very supportive environment is really important, this should ensuring they can wrk as long as they are able and as you've pointed out this can mean changing the duties which they perform. I personally find that ladies need more changes around 22-25 weeks as things start to be come more difficult to work as a nurse performing all the duties (but everyone is different and there are certainly individuals who need to make changes such sooner). One issue we have had at this point is ladies feel less part of the team as they are doing less and good support here is essential and inclusion into daily activities Things which we look toward planning to do is to remove from on call and weekend rota usually around 20 weeks (some times sooner some time later), allow for adjusted hours- for us this means working a preferred shift time and area - wards is an area which becomes more difficult earlier on than monitoring a GA where they can sit down. The good thing about all the above is I aim to run this along side the H&S side so you are able to maintain a good H&S audit trial as you move towards full term and pick up any significant changes which ay affect the wellbeing of mother and child. As a general rule we will take off rota towards the very end usually the last 6-8 weeks to enable more rest breaks and for them to be able to get away if needed. But as you say everyone is different and as such should be treated that way Hope this helps a bit Stu

RE: Pregnant Vet Nurse- how to help them

les punton — Thu, 02 Feb 2017 21:09:40 GMT

I'm just back from maternity with twins. I worked 4weeks before my due date and within the last couple of months I found cleaning kennels and ops room walls difficult (up and down movement) I would try and clean instruments etc instead of the more physical duties. Then I put myself on reception only near the end as my body just ached.

Everyone is different and its maybe best your guided by her but also opportunity for more breaks even just for a pee!