how to get time off for an elective surgery?

Nurses General Nursing

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Specializes in Med-Surg/Telemetry.

Hi folks, I've been an RN for over 4 years, working in hospital. I consider myself to be a healthy individual. Never been on medical leave. So I don't know how to go about this dilemma. I know this is a silly question, but I figure I should ask here first before approaching my department manager. I want to request time off for an elective surgery, but not sure how to go about it. Recovery time of 2 to 3 weeks. Should I just schedule it, or talk to my manager first for this elective procedure. I think it is medically necessary, but it's nothing something that needs to be done right away because I can still function and work as a nurse. But I would rather get it done.

A general surgeon doctor whom my primary doctor referred me to recommended watchful waiting for minimally symptomatic or asymptomatic for a recently diagnosed problem I have. Or I could schedule an elective surgery to get it fixed. I can still do my work normally, but after standing for 9 out of the 12 hours which nurses do, and repositioning patients, turning them, this problem causes slight pressure and discomfort. I have decided I want to get the surgery done while I'm still young and healthy and not wait for this problem to cause any incarceration or strangulation. good news is that my doctor said it's small, but I dont want to wait and see for it to get worse because the job is physically demanding.

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

Put in a request for short term medical leave.

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Schedule the surgery and let your manager know that you have a medical procedure scheduled and will be out from x-date to y-date. Ask HR what you need to do to get the short-term disability paperwork started. It's not their business what you're having done or why. The short-term disability should kick in after your PTO has been exhausted.

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At our work place elective medical procedures have to be discussed with the manager before scheduling. for instance a co-worker needed bunion surgery and they had her wait until after summer to have it done.

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.

Frankly it is NONE of their business WHAT the surgery is...just when you need to be off. You could word it like this....I need to have a surgery done in the very near future what would be the BEST time for the unit.

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Specializes in Critical Care, Education.

Follow your organization's policy & procedure for personal (health related) FMLA. This usually involves submitting paperwork for the request. If physician documentation is required as part of the justification (to ensure payment of 'sick time' or short term disability), the information is sent to a third party who administers that benefit time. Prior to returning to work, you will undoubtedly have to provide HR with a 'return to work' form signed off by your doctor, but it will not contain any specific information... just an attestation that you have been cleared to return to work.

Be sure that you completely understand the FMLA process - sometimes they are pretty convoluted - including contact information for the HR person who handles these claims. Keep a copy of everything as well as a record of the dates/times of all conversations with HR or benefits coordinators. Can you tell that I have had some experience with this?? :sarcastic:

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Specializes in retired LTC.

Word of advice - get it done ASAP. You never know; it COULD worsen or something else may happen to jeopardize your insurance coverage (if you carry your own).

I don't know your medical problem but if it could be worsened while you're duty (as in work-related injury), could there be a conflict with denial of workman's comp? I don't know that I'd want to get pulled down into something like that.

I was thinking of that nurse coworker of PP Rnis (with the bunion). What if she were working and tripped on a IV pump cord. Bunion pain could affect her stepping down and if she twisted her ankle (or worse)... Would her employer claim some pre-existing condition bally-hoo?

Just get it done and DON'T let them hurry you to come back too soon before you've healed completely!!!

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Specializes in Inpatient Oncology/Public Health.

I need to have minor foot surgery that will put me out for 2 weeks. I asked my manager when would be best staffing wise and she wants me to wait til September. I have some discomfort but can accommodate it. I doubt they'll give you an issue? I have several other coworkers having surgery so I have to coordinate around them.

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From how you make it sound, it sounds like something that effects your daily living and comfort and not something silly like a nose job or tummy tuck

Depending on how urgent you are to get it done and how long it would take to schedule, (and your relationship with your management) it might even be worth mentioning to your superiors that you want to get it done and dont want to screw them.

Like I know staffing issues can be relatively difficult from june, july august, and some of september. But then it improves greatly late sept/october.

So if it were me I might say something like oh I needed to have surgery for something, and wasnt gonna schedule it until september/october since I know the summers crazy.

If its something you need sooner obviously your health comes first though

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Be sure that you completely understand the FMLA process - sometimes they are pretty convoluted - including contact information for the HR person who handles these claims. Keep a copy of everything as well as a record of the dates/times of all conversations with HR or benefits coordinators. Can you tell that I have had some experience with this?? :sarcastic:

As an occupational health nurse, I deal with FMLA daily. Just a reminder that you have to have worked about one full year, full time, to have the hours to qualify. Another misconception I run into is employees confusing FMLA with short term disability (STD...not the syphillis kind! :cheeky:)

FMLA is a federal program that ensures you don't get fired or demoted for taking time off...but it does NOT PAY a dime!!

STD can be a benefit chosen along with health and dental during open enrollment, or it can be paid for by the employer. (If it is the former and you don't pick it and pay for it, your time off will likely be without any pay). STD tends to cover 50-60% of base pay (not differential, weekends, etc.)

Finally, I would schedule it for my convenience (giving some notice, so it is in four or six weeks, not next week!) and tell my boss I am having surgery.

"What is it for, Nurse?"

"A medical issue that needs to be addressed; I should be out three to four weeks."

"Yes, but what is wrong? What are you having done?"

"As I said, a medical concern that my doctor and I share."

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