Need advice- Shingles?

[uRNmyway]

So I developed a rash over the weekend. Thought it was linked to my daughter just having symptoms similar to hand-foot-mouth disease (I didn't bring her to the pediatrician, but the on-call nurse said it sounded a LOT like HFM). This rash had been getting more and more itchy, and since yesterday was painful. So at work I asked colleagues what they thought it might be and what they thought could be put on it. Apparently they all secretly freaked out and told my nurse manager that they wanted me checked out in case it was contagious. Mind you, none of them said this to my face. So my NM then calls me to her office and insists that I need to see a doctor before I can go back to work. Diagnosed with Shingles, but allowed to return to work since it is only direct contact precautions, and I dont intend to let anyone touch the rashes,plus they are covered by my scrubs anyways.

My question is, are there any labor laws allowing her to do this? If so, since she insisted on it and I have no medical insurance yet (this is a fairly new job), can I request that they pay part of the cost of my visit to the doctor?

I guess I am just trying to figure out if I have any recourse to help me pay for anything since my funds are kind of low because this job pays an awful salary and they basically MADE me see a doc...

Any advice or information?

Thanks all.

[uRNmyway, ASN, RN]

You seem to think that all your tax money goes to health insurance. It's simply not true. At the end of the day, what matters is how much it costs in total, and the quality of the service (i.e., the value). You don't like paying for the Canadian social safety net? Fine. The bottom line is that Canadian healthcare, while not the standard of perfection in the world, is much less expensive per capita than American healthcare (though it's not as efficient as the systems in Europe), and it provides, on the average, better outcomes. And guess who pays for all those people who show up at the emergency room without insurance, as you will if you have an accident or an acute episode of an undiagnosed illness. Do you think you're invincible because you're young and healthy?

Yes, I know that people who have no insurance have to pay for their own care. Like I wrote in my previous post, I would rather get quick, efficient and quality healthcare and deal with bankruptcy repercussions for 7 years than have to wait a long time for appointments and risk it being too late to get necessary care. Again, I am not stupid. I also know other things are covered by those taxes. But guess what, government corruption leads to politicians deciding that hospital visits will now be paid for (with no decrease in taxes of course), cost of tuition will be increasing, sales taxes going up...you get my point.

Right, because there is zero probability that you'll have an acute attack of something, or that you'll have a serious accident, etc.

Again, yes, I know that. I am less likely to have this happen at my age, but I know it does occur. And if it does, I will take responsibility as an adult and figure out a way to pay for it. Or if out of my reach, then bankruptcy and start over. Either way, my/my family's health is more important than my credit score.

Is that expression misogynistic or homophobic? Or both? I don't wear panties.

Nope, it was meant to be neither. I don't look at everyone's profile before I speak to them. And because statistically more nurses are female, I just assumed. I do think you over-reacted to it though, because if you had thought it out, I am sure you could have figured it out. And wearing panties does not make you gay or a female by the way. Jus' sayin'. Now who's homophobic and misogynistic?

Lady, you brought up the topic.

Canadian insurance companies provide expat coverage. I don't know what it costs, but it's something to think about. Does your daughter have health insurance? If you get really sick, guess who pays, if your Canadian coverage is lapsed?

And thanks, I actually wasn't aware of that, although I did not look too much into detail into it. I have been looking into temporary healthcare for myself and my daughter, just need to figure it into my budget. And once again, since that comment seems stuck on on repeat in your posts. I am aware that if anything happens I will pay for it. I prefer that than paying for every tool with a medicare/medicaid card who uses the ER as a PCP or to enable their drug habits. And before you flame me, I KNOW that not everyone with one of those cards abuses it, but those are the ones our taxes pay for, so it will bother me no matter how many of them do it.

[sirI, MSN, APRN, NP]

Since this thread has obviously run its course, will close.

Hope your health issues are resolved soon, OP.