Work situation, am I handling this right?

I rotate through an area of my department, I have had to fight hard to do this. It is an area that I enjoy and I have expressed an interest time and time again in taking the role further if possible.

A large part of the job involves giving injections. I am not trained to cannulate and therefore I cannot give these injections. This means that when I'm working in the area I often feel useless and I can't do large parts of examinations. It also means I constantly need to have a 'trained' member of staff with me to do examinations that apart from not being able to cannulate I am more than capable of doing on my own.

3 years ago I identified the need to being able to cannulate as being high priority at my appraisal, and every year since it has been identified BUT for various (and often valid reasons) it hasn't been able to be addressed despite me constantly asking.

At the beginning of this year I was finally put forward for the cannulation course along with 3 other members of staff. The course involves a days training and then you have to get your 'numbers' up in the department before being assessed and (hopefully) signed off as competent.

When I told my manager I was pregnant it was suggested that I withdrew from the course as I would struggle to get the numbers required for competency before going on maternity leave. Rather stupidly I agreed to this. 

Sadly at 20 weeks my baby died, I had 4 weeks off sick then returned to work. As soon as I returned I requested to go back on the cannulation course, things haven't happened and then I was told it would be difficult over the summer holidays due to staffing. I work part time and have said that I will come in on one of my days off to combat this. This was agreed to.

I am pregnant again (yes, it was a total bloomin shock) and today again I have been told that I won't be able to go on the course as I will struggle to get my numbers before going onto maternity (yawn...yes that old chestnut) now I am fuming about this as 

1) I have found out that there isn't a time limit on getting your numbers and that I actually don't need to get them before going on maternity.

2) Even if you are signed off as competent before maternity leave you will be still expected to undergo a refresher period on returning after ML. 

So tomorrow, in a rather very unlike me brave moment,  I have requested a meeting with the managers of the specific area and the manager of the whole of the department. I have asked the union rep to attend with me [gulp] 

My argument is going to be that I feel that they are discriminating against me because I am pregnant.

I feel (from the gist of a conversation that I had with the manager of the area)  that they are saying that because I will be going on maternity leave they are unwilling to allow me to train because my 'numbers' could be used to get one of the others (who isn't going on maternity) closer to their competency and being qualified.

That if I am allowed to do the course and can therefore at least START getting some numbers then that is beneficial to me and is recognising an identified high priority in my continuous professional development. It will also be beneficial to the the team. 

Just because I am pregnant it doesn't mean my training needs are in any way less important than someone's who isn't pregnant. 

Now oh hitched-wise-people, firstly thank you for reading all of this. Secondly I am doing the right thing aren't I? I don't want to get a reputation as a trouble maker *but* it is something that has made me really upset. Thirdly is there anything else that anyone can add that might strengthen my arguement. 

I can absolutely understand your frustration.You'd be even more frustrated if I told you I never did The Course in cannulation (drs don't) - we "see one, do one, teach one" - and I could teach you to do it in an afternoon. But, nursing and radiography being so protocol driven, and "sorry I can't do it cos I haven't got the certificate" minded, that you're stuck in this ridiculous catch 22.

You are definitely doing the right thing, especially if there is no time limit in getting signed off once you do the course. I would point out to them that not allowing you professional development because you are pregnant could well amount to sex discrimination. You shouldn't be treated any differently due to your pregnancy. You could always speak to your union for further advise. Are you in Unison? They're very good.

Thats the funniest thing Rache, when I say I 'can't' cannulate it isn't actually true. Mr woo (a surgeon)  has shown me how to do it, I've done it several times on him and on another friend at home....it was practise for when I went on the initial course, honest and not my idea of a fun night in

I just don't have the piece of paper saying that a nurse practitioner has 'shown me the correct technique' 

CBear:

You are definitely doing the right thing, especially if there is no time limit in getting signed off once you do the course. I would point out to them that not allowing you professional development because you are pregnant could well amount to sex discrimination. You shouldn't be treated any differently due to your pregnancy.

Completely agree and getting the union rep in is a good call. In my opinion this sounds dangerously close to sex discrimination. Let us know how you get on, won't you ?

Rache:

I can absolutely understand your frustration.You'd be even more frustrated if I told you I never did The Course in cannulation (drs don't) - we "see one, do one, teach one" - and I could teach you to do it in an afternoon. But, nursing and radiography being so protocol driven, and "sorry I can't do it cos I haven't got the certificate" minded, that you're stuck in this ridiculous catch 22.

Which is why I upset the A&E doctor last week when he couldn't cannulate me and I said, "Get me a glass of water and a nurse." He left a very nasty bruise where he dug around under the skin trying to find a vein. The nurse did it first time with no problem.

Wodger_woo, I think you're doing the right thing. They can't put you on the back burner just because you are pregnant again (congrats btw and I hope all goes well this time )

Ladelley - that's why you should never attend hospital in the first week of August when all the new baby docs turn up.....

Anyone else have to google 'canulate' ?!

I've had a few of those - the ones in my hands hurt like bloody hell.  Trying to turn round in bed with a mile long needle stuck in your hand (slight exaggeration there!) is no mean feat.

Anyhoo .. from a lay-man's perspective it does appear you're being discriminated against WW.  Good luck with your meeting.  And even more good luck with your pregnancy.

Rache:

Ladelley - that's why you should never attend hospital in the first week of August when all the new baby docs turn up.....

I'll try time any excessive bleeding better in future.

There was one today in the EPAU who knocked on the door asking if he could take patient histories. The nurse told him he could look at notes but wouldn't let him actually speak to any patients (good thing too, considering why everyone's there).