Fired from longtime job, too much LOA r/t cancer, deaths in family. Not Fair.....

Music in My Heart · Oct 4, 2007

I disagree, I know people in other profession like teaching that suffered terrible health problems and were treated very well. Matter of fact, most the time they are treated very well. Occasionally I have heard horror stories of a school board that mistreated a teacher with a health problem but it is rare. In nursing the opposite is true, you are much more likely in nursing to be shafted than in any other job that calls itself a profession. There is a deep well of nastiness in healthcare administration that may pop out anytime. I truely would not recommend the profession to anyone. I have offered encouragement to people that felt they had a calling and were determined to become a nurse because I don't like raining on anyones parade. But I refuse to beat the drum and try to recruit anyone into the profession.

I'll have to respectfully disagree. From what I've seen working in various high-tech firms, you'd be out the door in a heartbeat...unless, that is, you're one of the non-exempt folks working under a collective bargaining agreement.

Most teachers that I know (and I'm related to eleven of them) are unionized and hence protected from the "Oh. Well don't bother coming back." For what it's worth, not only are most teachers unionized, so are most cops, firefighters, airline pilots, and government employees. No wonder that they're treated better -- they've got professionals negotiating their contracts.

It's unconscionable how some companies will treat their people. The stories related above are horrifying. I don't know why we as a society tolerate such behavior. I guess we all think it won't happen to us.

Nursebarebari · Oct 4, 2007

I hate nursing. I just found out that a lady I know in town was fired from her longtime job at one of our nursing homes. She and I got out of nursing school around the same time, she's in her early 60s now. She was a resident care coordinator for a long time, and I heard great things about her through the grapevine. She has gone through a couple of bouts with breast cancer, and of course needed time off for that. Then, last April her adult son was killed in an industrial accident. She was naturally devastated and needed a LOA. She now had only one living child out of 3.
I found out today that she was fired after this last LOA because she had missed too much work. I hate nursing. We are expected to give our last ounce of blood, and who takes care of us? No one.

Does your friend know about the family medical leave?

She should not be fired for the reasons you said. I think you should advise her to read the family medical leave act.

Wish her goodluck

Jo Dirt · Oct 4, 2007

I hate nursing. I just found out that a lady I know in town was fired from her longtime job at one of our nursing homes. She and I got out of nursing school around the same time, she's in her early 60s now. She was a resident care coordinator for a long time, and I heard great things about her through the grapevine. She has gone through a couple of bouts with breast cancer, and of course needed time off for that. Then, last April her adult son was killed in an industrial accident. She was naturally devastated and needed a LOA. She now had only one living child out of 3.
I found out today that she was fired after this last LOA because she had missed too much work. I hate nursing. We are expected to give our last ounce of blood, and who takes care of us? No one.

It's a cold hard fact and an evil one (still, don't expect it to change) but we can't forget that The Company hires us and keeps us in a job to suit their needs, not ours. They use you up then spit you out when you don't suit them anymore.

But this isn't special to nursing only, any for profit place will be the same. About the only way you can expect job security is when you employ yourself. For example, we are going to have some trees cut on our property (selective cutting, not clear cutting!) and the guy who came to look at our trees was talking about how he went into the business for himself because all his family would get if he got killed logging from the company he worked for would be a piddly social security check. He wanted finanical security like we all do so he took matters into his own hands. This man has a fourth grade education but he hasn't let it hold him back and last year working by himself made $130,000. That ain't chump change. And his business is growing.

I've vowed to get out of working for the man as soon as I can. I want to be The Man. If I were actually a man it would be easier (I think of all the ways to make money then I realize these are man's jobs...I can't run a carpet cleaning business or chainsaw or carpentry business). On top of that I'm stifled with a houseful of kids and an invalid husband. I can see success I just can't touch it. So, here I sit hunched over a keyboard taking online classes to try to get somewhere in life and even though it's like one of those dreams where you try and try but you never get anywhere I will still keep trying and trying.

That is my advice. If you're young enough find an opportunity to work for yourself because no company is going to be loyal to you no matter how much of your life you have given to them, as you can see by how your friend was treated. She is almost retirement age, but if she is in good shape she can still go out for herself. If I could ever get away from kids I would try to do something like a cleaning business, a service type business people need (not throwing lingerie parties or selling Home Inferior...that's fine if you want to do it but it seems more like a hobby job). Yes, business for yourself. You can't expect anything but hard times when you've given your life to an institution and they decide they are finished with you.

Jo Dirt · Oct 4, 2007

I have offered encouragement to people that felt they had a calling and were determined to become a nurse because I don't like raining on anyones parade. But I refuse to beat the drum and try to recruit anyone into the profession.

I love the way you put that and I feel exactly the same way.

I've heard nursing is a sucker's job and it must be because I feel like a big one. But it's kind of hard to go out and find yourself again when you've got a family to support and bills to pay. I say nursing can be a good stepping stone to something else but please don't go into nursing with the ambition to do shift work in a hospital or a nursing home all your working years or your life will end up like that song 16 Tons. Or that one that goes work your fingers to the bone what do you get...

Jo Dirt · Oct 4, 2007

I have a different outlook on the topic...
In response to the op, I think it IS fair to relieve an employee of their duties as a result of recurrent absenteeism.
I can't blame the facility for deciding to dismiss her. The circumstances are sensitive, and some flexibility is important in her situation, but unfortunately life has brought some difficult times.
The issues were obviously interfering with her job performance. It is difficult to rely on someone who is consistently absent, in any occupation, but especially health care.

Yes, I cannot be so naieve as to not realize that for profit means for profit and when you can't depend on a worker you can't depend on profit.

This is why I say, the only job security you can expect is the job security you can give yourself through your own business.

Rehabnurse I would like to contact you but I've been a bad girl and can't do it until I get out of the doghouse but be looking for a pm from me soon.

leslymill · Oct 5, 2007

I was called to this profession after I became a Christian at the age of sixteen. 15 of the 27 years I have had a license I told the Lord.

"You must have gotten the WRONG NUMBER!"

P_RN, ADN, RN · Oct 5, 2007

Add this little piggy to the nursing service cost control line. Your'e sick? Too bad-call in every day before 4 am oh and you can only have FMLA once in a 365 day term. Oh and we can have 3 new RNs for all the m o ney we paid you. Bye and have a **** life.

Music in My Heart · Oct 5, 2007

Add this little piggy to the nursing service cost control line. Your'e sick? Too bad-call in every day before 4 am oh and you can only have FMLA once in a 365 day term. Oh and we can have 3 new RNs for all the m o ney we paid you. Bye and have a **** life.

Yup, that sounds about right. Again, though, it's not at all unique to nursing.

Without collective bargaining contracts that implement protections for such cases, people in most professions get the same treatment.

This man has a fourth grade education but he hasn't let it hold him back and last year working by himself made $130,000.

Of course, when he's sick or injured, he doesn't get a dime. I essentially agree with you but I've known some guys running one-man shops and while it can be lucrative, it can also be very stressful and downright terrifying.

I had a buddy who was an electrician. He did pretty well for himself. He ended up hurting his back and tried for weeks to work with his back out. No work meant no money so he went for it. His back got worse and ultimately required surgery. Ended up unable to work for several months and was in a world of hurt financially. He finally got better and found a job working for "the man" because the stress of being a one-man show was just too much for him.

The business owners I'm friends with are some of the hardest working, most stressed out people that I know.

RN1989 · Oct 5, 2007

Why do we even bother? I'd almost rather live in a cardboard box under a bridge than have to deal with such horrible people just to make a living.

Music in My Heart · Oct 5, 2007

Why do we even bother? I'd almost rather live in a cardboard box under a bridge than have to deal with such horrible people just to make a living.

The question I ask is, "Why do we tolerate it?" We, the little people, are so busy scratching and fighting for the (relative) crumbs while the fat cats at the top of the food chain are laughing all the way to the bank.

Here's the really scary part: If it's like this for nurses (& from my experience, engineers), what's it like for the people at the bottom of the pile?

You know how they always talk about unemployment being so low? Do you realize that anybody who's been out of work for more than six months doesn't count as unemployed anymore?

leslymill · Oct 5, 2007

I have a different outlook on the topic...
In response to the op, I think it IS fair to relieve an employee of their duties as a result of recurrent absenteeism.
I can't blame the facility for deciding to dismiss her. The circumstances are sensitive, and some flexibility is important in her situation, but unfortunately life has brought some difficult times.
The issues were obviously interfering with her job performance. It is difficult to rely on someone who is consistently absent, in any occupation, but especially health care.

Your response is the single most total reason for the need for mandatory healthcare...period. I do blame the facility.

I refuse to call patients client anymore. Pt's have become demanding consumers not dying victims.

RN1121. I just wonder what your gonna think when you get sick and they fire your orifice.

Dollars are more valued than compassion. That is why there is a nurse shortage.

Jo Dirt · Oct 12, 2007

Of course, when he's sick or injured, he doesn't get a dime. I essentially agree with you but I've known some guys running one-man shops and while it can be lucrative, it can also be very stressful and downright terrifying.
I had a buddy who was an electrician. He did pretty well for himself. He ended up hurting his back and tried for weeks to work with his back out. No work meant no money so he went for it. His back got worse and ultimately required surgery. Ended up unable to work for several months and was in a world of hurt financially. He finally got better and found a job working for "the man" because the stress of being a one-man show was just too much for him.
The business owners I'm friends with are some of the hardest working, most stressed out people that I know.

It's a pain but it's the trade off for working for working for "the man."

Logging is very dangerous and I took care of a 43 y/o man in a nursing home who was paralyzed from a logging accident.

I know being "the man" can be a major pain. I also happen to know this auto mechanic who is having to scrap cars to keep his shop open because business is so bad.

Owning your own business isn't going to solve all your problems, but you don't answer to anyone but yourself.