Fired for being sick.

Nursing Students CNA/MA

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I'm brand new, so I wasn't sure where to post this. If it needs to be moved, please do.

I'm a newish CNA, certified last July. I got a job with Duke University Hospital on the Medical Oncology unit as a Nursing Assistant ( NA.) I went through the orientation, and halfway through my training, I became super sick with tonsillitis. I am not sure if it was something I picked up from starting to work in a hospital, or if it was something I got from my husband ( who works in a school system) or my daughter ( in daycare.) Either way, I was really sick, and I felt HORRIBLE. I was pretty sure I had strep initially, I woke up with white patches all over my throat, unable to swallow, super swollen glands and a 102.3 temp. Obviously, I called in sick. I called in at around 3am, 4 hours before my shift was to begin at 7am. I spoke with the charge nurse, and she told me to absolutely NOT come in, especially on an Oncology floor. I then emailed the unit nurse manager just to be safe. I went to the doctor that very morning, and my rapid strep was negative, so she made the tonsillitis diagnosis. She told me to stay out of work for 5 days, wrote a note, gave me some hydrocodone because I couldn't swallow at all, not even fluids, and sent me home. I called the Unit manager and explained what was going on, and she was super rude to me. I found that strange, but brushed it off as maybe her day had just been stressful.

When I returned to work on my next scheduled shift the next week ( on a Monday) I was doing ok for most of the morning up until around 10am. I started to feel dizzy, sweaty and my heart was racing. I couldn't figure out what was going on, so I told my preceptor I needed to have a seat for a few minutes and I would be right back. On my way to the break room, I passed out. The charge nurse had me sit up and they took my BP, which was 84/52 and my HR was 115. It was agreed that I was probably dehydrated, and they sent my downstairs to the ER. I had hardly eaten in the past week, and I had not really had much fluids because it was so painful to swallow. They kept me overnight and gave me some bags of fluids. I consumed some Boost, and then ate a few light meals/snacks and got some rest. I felt totally back to normal the next day. I dropped off the information/note to the front desk on the unit and I was scheduled the next morning. I came in and felt great, totally recovered.

The Unit manager came and got me from the computer and had me come sit down in her office with the unit education nurse. She told me I had violated the new hire attendance policy and that I wasn't allowed to miss ANY days whatsoever in my first 3 months of employment. I already knew that, but both circumstances were wayyyyy out of my control. I didn't call up God and ask him to become sick my first month on my brand new job at Duke. It happened, I am a human being. I am not immune to germs. She told me that she didn't think I would be successful there, and that I could either resign or be terminated. I chose to resign.

I could understand that if I had been an overall poor employee, that they would have wanted to get rid of me and used that as an excuse. However, I had stellar weekly preceptor reviews, and all of the day and night nurses loved me. The unit educator had given me fantastic orientation marks. I was an excellent employee and the patients and other staff really liked me. I asked if I had done something else, and they didn't say. Just that I had violated the attendance policy. I had literally done nothing else wrong other than get sick at a really bad time. What was I supposed to do? Come in sick as a dog and extremely contagious to spread it to some of the most vulnerable patients in that hospital? This was my first ever CNA job, so forgive me if I am unaware that it's ok to do that.

Is that common practice in the medical field? The spent all of this money hiring, training and developing my skills and then they fired me for getting sick? I'm so confused.

I now have another job I have been at for several months that I like enough, and I'm doing really well. I just recently had my gallbladder removed and was out for a bit, and they didn't fire me. They sent my flowers and worked with me. Idk. Maybe it was just Duke? I'm so bothered by this. Any input? Thank you!

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Well - that is the way it goes at a lot of places.

It is great that you found a nice place.

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You might want to re-think identfying your previous employer, there might never be any repercussions, but the nursing world is smaller than you think, sometimes past managers get hired at current workplaces and it can be awkward.

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Specializes in EMT since 92, Paramedic since 97, RN and PHRN 2021.

While it sounds like a horrible thing to do to somebody they knew was ill, if you live in an at-will state, meaning your employment is at your will and their will, there's not much you can do.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Ortho, ASC.

A nursing forum is a strange place to post this.

Not sure why you're asking nurses to respond to this issue.

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Where did I ask specifically for " nurses " to respond to this..and how in the world is asking a question about whether or not something is a common practice in the healthcare profession ( that I am new to) strange? I think I mentioned that I was a CNA, so maybe it would have applied more to the nursing assistants, and not the nurses. In that case, you didn't need to respond at all. To be honest, I've seen much stranger topics throughout this forum than what I just posted. If you don't like it, don't bother responding.

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Specializes in Emergency Nursing, Pediatrics.

Why are you still bothered by this several months later?

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Specializes in Medsurg/ICU, Mental Health, Home Health.
You might want to re-think identfying your previous employer, there might never be any repercussions, but the nursing world is smaller than you think, sometimes past managers get hired at current workplaces and it can be awkward.

This.

(Hopefully I won't dream about it this time ;) )

I think the OP may no longer have access to that username as it appears she is posting under a new one, but if she asks the mods, I'm sure they can fix that.

The thing is...most places have what is known as a probationary period - I've NEVER seen it not be 90 days, and unfortunately I have had to call out during that period but not been let go. Management CAN terminate someone for this during the probationary period, but as far as I know they don't HAVE to do this. I think OP got a crappy manager this time around...trust me, it happens. If the manager thinks an employee is going to call out frequently, he or she might rather do it(the termination) during the probationary period when it's quite easy (paperwork and red tape-wise) rather than wait until the employee goes beyond the max callouts later.

As for still being PO'd about this, I am still fed up with how a manager treated me in 2014...so I think that's okay. :)

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It is standard in my area to have a no call out in the first 90 days policy. Having worked as a manager I think it can be hard for staff to see your side. If I have someone that I think is going to be an attendance risk for ANY reason, I'll get rid of them. I have to cover your shifts if you have strep or a hangover. Also, staff who pass out at work and have to be sent to the ER etc. is just a no go as well. It may not be fair but losing staff mid shift sucks for everyone.

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Haha, thanks for the understanding :D I don't have access to it anymore, and I tried to edit it, but that was a no go, too. It's ok, though. I'm not too worried about someone seeing it, and if they do, I don't care.

I'm not still upset about it really. It just came up again recently when the staff and labor relations department ( they did an investigation) told me that I was eligible for rehire because I had resigned, but I just couldn't figure out how when I was threatened with termination lol. It just didn't make any sense.

Anyway, since I have left, I have found out that particular place isn't really a very good employer and has awful policies. The turnover is terrible and the general consensus is that they crap on everyone. They underpay their people, too. It was a blessing in disguise, I assume.

:D

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Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.

Two absences (you were out, came bsck and passed out on your next shift) during orientation is grounds to be let go. It was likely exacerbated by coming back to work on orientation and passing out requiring medical attention and further time off. You appeared to be a high risk employee regardless if avoidable or not. This is not an uncommon policy during pro apron/orientation. Granted you can't go to work with a high fever especially in oncology but things happen and you just need to learn and move on.

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Specializes in 15 years in ICU, 22 years in PACU.
Where did I ask specifically for " nurses " to respond to this..and how in the world is asking a question about whether or not something is a common practice in the healthcare profession ( that I am new to) strange? I think I mentioned that I was a CNA, so maybe it would have applied more to the nursing assistants, and not the nurses. In that case, you didn't need to respond at all. To be honest, I've seen much stranger topics throughout this forum than what I just posted. If you don't like it, don't bother responding.

If you respond like this to a new employer, I can see why you might get terminated.

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