A woman in the perinatal clinic is upset that her impending childbirth will cause her to lose her job. What assessment question by the nurse would yield the most important information regarding this situation?

Question

A.
"After you give birth, you will probably want to quit your job anyway."
B.
"Can you make an appointment with human resources to discuss this?"
C.
"Where do you work and how long have you been there?"
D.
"Why do you think you will be fired after your baby is born?"

Answer 1

ANS: C
The Family Medical Leave Act of 1993 guarantees most women (and men) 12 weeks of unpaid family leave following the birth or adoption of a child. The employee has the right to return to the job without loss of seniority, pay, or benefits. This act applies to federal, state, or local government organizations and any other organization that has 50 or more employees working within 75 miles of the workplace. The employee must have worked at this job at least 12 months or for at least 1,250 hours in the previous year to be eligible. By asking the woman where she works and how long she has been there, the nurse is assessing if the workplace must adhere to this act. Telling the woman she will probably want to quit her job is dismissive of her concerns. Making an appointment with human resources might be a good suggestion, but only after the nurse has assessed the patient's eligibility for the Family Medical Leave Act. Asking "why" questions is considered a communication barrier, as many people become defensive when questions are worded this way.