[hotomalis]

Originally Posted by ICU_floater

damn! So help me understand, to teach my coworkers and self....

yes, you should have paid for short term disability, 20/20 sucks... try to add it on, once hired, it's impossible. then you had family medical leave act, which only covers you for 30 missed days, not allot with what you're dealing with. My understanding was that after that 30 days, the hospital was not required to hold your specific unit and shift for you, but would retain you as a full time employee to return to any comparable position upon returning.... and they chose not to do this and terminated you???

Well, without health, we've nothing, so you're right to put that first, recover and see how you are later able to return.... disability sucks like 2/3 of pay, but maxed out after a certain pay off...

look, I'm recently sick myself with chest pain and GI stuff... the co-pays for all the labs, docs and tests is pulling us under, with me only taking 2 weeks off and working sick... I can't imagine those bills with the loss of pay

If we can do anything to help, aside from well wishes and prayers, let us know.. thinking about you and wishing you a speedy recovery to full health..... I hope this is a small bump in the road of life for you which makes you stronger.

thanks for sharing, and please help those of us not in your shoes understand a bit more so we can take any protections available to us.

wish you the best

I actually had no income at all for 71 days after the last day I worked. I got one more paycheck which included all my holiday time, vacation time, sick time and because it was the beginning of the year (jan 6th was my last day), I didn't have much accrued. They didn't offer any short term disability otherwise I would have taken it like I took long term dis.
In regards to the employment, I think the law varies from state to state. I am in CT and as far as the attorneys have told me, what they did was immoral but completely legal. The ineptitude of this hospital is beyond my understanding. All they had to do is pay for my benefits for two more months, and it would have saved them 6 months of training another nurse. A lot more $$. They talk about saving money but did they really?
Anyway, I'm not going back to that hospital. My only interest was to have stability and that dream was shot to h%$#@ll
Thanks a lot.

[dorie43rn]

I'm hoping almost two months from your post, you and the family are doing well. I have to shake my head at how the hospital treated you. My husband has just gone through the same thing. He is in IT(computers) for the same hospital group I work for, and just had a liver transplant in April, one week before his one year anniversary. Well, they posted his job 30 days into his recovery. HR said there is nothing for him right now, so just take the 6 months STD. Now, he is in a depression about this. I am ready to go to the media. Its all about the money with these institutions, not the people. If it dosen't make money, you or it is gone. Our OB unit is moving out of our local hospital because not enough babies are born to make a profit!

Stay strong!

Dorie

[beth66335]

Actually I am surprised ! I worked at a hospital in Tennessee for 4 years as a CNA and one of the other CNAs came out of our break room one afternoon and told us quietly that she had just felt a lump under her arm. One of the nurses told her she better get it checked the next day, so she did. It was CA and she had to have a double mass and chemo and radiation. She didn't work with us for a whole year! They put her on leave of absence so she could keep her benefits and she was single with no kids so she moved in with her folks and lived off her savings. As soon as she was medically released to return to work she came back to us. It is terrible that all hospitals don't care for their own this way! They certianly should! where would a hospital be w/o nurses and aides!? you are in my thoughts and prayers as well!

Originally Posted by zozzy777

I too am so sorry for what you have been through. I wish I could say I am surprised about what the hospital did, sadly I am not. I have worked for many, many hospitals in my 11 years of nursing and I can't think of one who would not have done what yours did. In my humble opinion, nowadays, hospitals don't give a crap about their employees. They only care about who shows up to work. If it's a warm body, that's all that matters. I will pray for you and don't stop the faith! Sometimes we go through things in life that are horrible, but God is always with us, good and bad!! Hang in there and keep your spirits up!!!

[deeDawntee]

Oh My God Hotomalis!! I can't believe what an incredibly strong, resilient and courageous woman you are. I have just now found this thread, I don't know how I missed it. I don't know how you and your family survived everything you went through, it is truly incredible and an inspiration. How are you feeling now? Are you still traveling? I am stunned by your ability to stand up and take action against that BULLY of a hospital. I hope there is at least one or two people in administration who are having trouble sleeping over this one, how incredibly absurd!!! Are they truly affiliated with the Catholic Church? Maybe you could let the Bishop or somebody in charge of the Catholic Church in your area know about it. (I'm not Catholic, so I'm not sure how that works.)

My prayers are with you. Keep trusting God. I do believe in perfect justice, one way or another.

[MSBYRD0915]

Some Places Think Of You As A Body Only To Fill A Spot, I'm Really Sorry For You

[angelique777]

I wanted to PM you but it did not let me. I only read your post quickly cause I am at work and no patients to prep but noticed your in Conn. I live in New York. Firstly so sorry for all that your have been through and I pray you get some needed relief with all my heart I pray that may be the case.

I noticed you say your still working but doing traveling. How come you dont commute to NY They pay well and as a nurse you should not be suffering financially. If your a CCU nurse you should have a strong cardiac background and hopefully that should open doors.

If you want to leave Bedside Visiting Nurse of NewYork in the Bronx has opening for Case Managers that pay in the 70,000-80,000 a year . If your looking for CCU Presb Columbia in NY (hospital President Clinton gets treated at pays high salaries to CCU nurses.

Post your resume on Career Builders and you will get lots of offers and learn more about how marketable you are through agency work. I did that and found a great perdiem job in the Bronx as a walkin triage nurse that I love. Never thought I would say that about a nursing job since so many times we get treated mean at our jobs. At This perdiem position every one is nice all the time. From patients to staff my whole 11hr shift. I thought I was dreaming.

I know maybe I read to quickly through your post and maybe I missed something but just thought you should not give up. Nursing still has lots of options.

I even got offers from pharmaceutical companies that were paying really well and from insurance companies both of these where desk jobs. So I hope you post your resume and maybe you find something that will meet your needs , time schedule and appropriate location.

I wish something I said helps but I know after all you have been through I am a lost for words other than to say may the Lord open a door, may you not loose hope

Take care sweety.

With my heart Angela

[bluesky]

Please let me know if there is anything I can do to be of assistance. Do you have a site where I can make a donation to help with your past bills? I am so glad that things are finally getting better for your now.

I hope that reporter follows through and exposes that pathetic excuse for a hospital!

You know this is pretty random but when I worked at a catholic hospital there were nuns and fathers on the board of directors. I wonder if that is the case with your hospital. If so, you may want to contact one of them and let them know what is happening.

Like all the other amazing folks here, I share your anger and tears and send you many hugs.

Take care,

Lexi

[Tolos]

Hi Hotomails, How are you and your family doing now, and the press and Attorney General, I am dying to hear the outcome. I am praying for justice for you and all of us nurses that have experienced similar injustice. Are still traveling? Continue to be strong and brave.