Assignments 120 miles round trip

[SteveNurse]

I am a Per Diem LPN for 25 years now, and I have an old 1997 Nissan Altima which does fine if I am only driving about 10 to 15 miles. Otherwise it begins to stall out and this has happened many times in the middle of a large highway!

For the past week my employer, a Hospice type company, has assigned me to work in outlying towns which would require about a 120 mile round trip.

I tried to explain to my boss that I don't feel safe traveling that far, and my car might break down. I did assure her that if she allowed me to work up to 156 miles away from my home I would be fine.

She said this is unacceptable and is going to fire me, although I have given 10 years faithful service to this company.

Also, I cannot afford to buy a new car, and I've already dumped almost $1000 in repairs to my car, so p[lease dont suggest to me to buy a NEW car, although I would love to have one, I cannot afford it.

Am I wrong to refuse the assignments that require a 120 mile round trip? Any suggestions for a solution?

[SteveNurse]

I am an LPN for 25 years now. I work in a Hospice type company Per Diem in Orlando, FL. and I have an old 1997 Nissan Altima which does fine if I am only driving about 10 to 15 miles. Otherwise it begins to stall out and this has happened many times in the middle of a large highway!

For the past week my employer, a Hospice type company, has assigned me to work in outlying towns which would require about a 120 mile round trip.

I tried to explain to my boss that I don't feel safe traveling that far, and my car might break down. I did assure her that if she allowed me to work within 15 miles away from my home I would be fine.

She said this is unacceptable and is going to fire me, although I have given 10 years faithful service to this company.

Also, I cannot afford to buy a new car, and I've already dumped almost $1000 in repairs to my car, so please dont suggest to me to buy a NEW car, although I would love to have one, I cannot afford it.

Am I wrong to refuse the assignments that require a 120 mile round trip? Any suggestions for a solution?

[caliotter3]

You are not wrong to refuse the assignments. Your boss is a jerk. When my car gave out on me, I no longer worked in hh. Employers did not sympathize. You should resign to protect yourself, although it sounds like she won't speak well of you anyway.

[Accolay]

What does your contract say? Also, do you get mileage compensated for these trips?

[SteveNurse]

UPDATE : Well, I met with my Supervisor AND her supervisor this morning (12/15/2017) and I got fired. But its just as well, because I think I'll be happier elsewhere, I called a nearby Nursing Home ( 1/2 mile away and got hired this afternoon. So....wish me luck and thank you for listening to my hard situation.

[caliotter3]

I have noticed that most home health job ads list "car in good working order" in the job requirements lately, along with "valid insurance" for said car. In home health, it is a given that the employee has a means to get to their assignment. However, the fact that the supervisors fired the OP goes to show that they had another nurse available to take the distant visits. They could have accommodated him had they desired to do so.

[Libby1987]

The 120 mile round trip is irrelevant. Home Health is a driving occupation and your car could only go 10-15 miles. You had unreliable transportation for even a reasonable 35 mile round trip. There's nothing more that needs to be said.

[Accolay]

Sounds good, hope it all works out. Good luck.

[cardiacfreak, ADN]

My company has a company car that can be used for such purposes, have you asked about a company car for work only?

[SteveNurse]

Thats wonderful! However my former employer isn't that good to its people. No insurance. No raise for 10 years. Not ebough shifts. And certainly NO company car! But don't worry about me, I will find a job closer to my home :)

[Silverdragon102, BSN]

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