Afraid of getting terminated after calling in sick a lot?

[ARRR10]

Here is my issue. Back in august 09' I had an abscess on my hand that got infected and needed to be drained. I missed a week of work, because I was not allowed to work with a draining wound. The wound got reinfected back in January '10 and I had to get surgery recommended by the infection control specialist at my hospital and by my surgeon d/t the possibility of osteomyletis. As a result, I had to miss three weeks of work. Then in February 10' I got chosen to be part of the jury during the jury duty selection process and I had to miss another week of work. Then two days ago while I was getting up to start my three day work week, I collapsed on the floor while getting out of bed and started having severe nausea and vomiting. I was sweating profusely and my room kept on spinning around me. I wasn't able to walk, so my mom had to call 911 and I was diagnosed with severe vertigo and was told by my doctor not to work for 3 days. I am getting better, but I am still having trouble staying balance while walking. I'm just afraid that all these abscences that I haven't even done intentionally will result in me being terminated. I'm only eight months as a new nurse in my first nursing job and its just a pain that all these unpredicatble situations are coming up. I just need some advice.

[madwife2002, BSN, RN]

Talk to your boss/HR they will be the only one's able to advise. Read your work policy on absences.

[bill4745, RN]

Ask HR about how the Family Medical Leave Act applies to your situation.

[CathyLew]

I agree with the above posters. You need to contact HR. that is a lot of time to miss in such a short time on the job. Most places if you have doccumented excuses, they can't repremand you. But they may look for other ways to terminate you. If your hospital has an EAP type of plan, it doesn't hurt to reach out to them and voice your conserns also.

[Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN]

Also, if you live in an employment-at-will state, you can be let go at any time for any reason (as long as it's not an illegal reason). Your being absent so much--while valid absences--could be something that makes them consider letting you go.

I agree with everyone else--talk to your HR department.

[shiccy]

Yep look up FMLA's for chronic or reoccurring absences for either yourself or your family. You still have a limit of absences that you can accrue, but it's more than what hospitals let you have outright.

[Nascar nurse, ASN, RN]

To qualify for most FMLA you have to be employed at least one year first.

[Man In Black]

Make sure you bring your Doctors notes in to your supervisor....

Ask for help in navigating your way through the HR process.

Hospital infection control policies will probably protect you for the hand wound issues.

Jury duty in most states is legally protected. (Read your union contract/hr manual)