CAN I GET FIRED???

lilgecko · Apr 19, 2009

I am not sure what dept you work in, but you do need to let them know. Concealing that type of injury not only puts yourself at risk for further complications, but also your patient (transfers.. etc). Most facilities do understand injuries will happen.

Ruby Vee, BSN · Apr 19, 2009

get long term disability. get it now.

April, RN, BSN, RN · Apr 19, 2009

What kind of facility do you work in? Can you ask for a transfer to another department where there is no heavy lifting? For example, doing some kind of office nursing for a bit?

wonderbee, BSN, RN · Apr 19, 2009

Why would they fire you? That's what ST disability is for. The minute you present your restrictions you will not be able to work. Be prepared for that. Your management would appreciate a phone call in advance to let them know so they can staff adequately. They will be irritated if you wait. I know from experience.

It would be foolish to work like that when ST disability is an option. You could ruin your back for life and that's the ballgame.

roser13, ASN, RN · Apr 19, 2009

"get long term disability. get it now"

ltd purchased at this point would be useless for the poster's current problem. look at it this way....if your house is already on fire, you can't exactly go out and purchase homeowner's insurance with fire protection.

you have job protection under the family medical leave act, provided that your employer has at least 50 employees. you are entitled to up to 12 weeks' unpaid leave with your position (or a similar position) available to you on your return. but you must invoke fmla....you must state to your supervisor in writing that you are requesting fmla. once you request it, you are covered.

fuzzywuzzy, CNA · Apr 19, 2009

In the long term it would be worse if you continued to work, wrecked your back even more, and they found out you knowingly put yourself at risk like that.

Neveranurseagain, RN · Apr 19, 2009

Is your doc 100% sure that it is not a workman comp? Being a nurse involves years of lifting, moving pts, bending and squatting that can slowly build up to an injury, even though you can can't trace it back to one particular event. I would get a second opinion on that.

Apply for FMLA-but you have to of worked for your emplyer for a year and have some many hours in. But it only protects you for 90 days, then they can fire you.

Good luck and I hope you heal fast.

BabyLady, BSN, RN · Apr 19, 2009

I am not sure what dept you work in, but you do need to let them know. Concealing that type of injury not only puts yourself at risk for further complications, but also your patient (transfers.. etc). Most facilities do understand injuries will happen.

Not only that, if you are seriously injured at work, you will not be eligible for workman's comp because the hospital can make the argument that you aggrevated your own condition and put yourself at risk by not informing them.

roser13, ASN, RN · Apr 19, 2009

"but it only protects you for 90 days, then they can fire you."

fmla protects you for up to 12 weeks; 16 in some cases with special circumstances.

swirlygirl · Apr 19, 2009

This exact same thing happened to me with my first pregnancy. I had a low placenta and had a lifting restriction over 5 pounds. I was off for about 9 months. For the first 12 weeks, I was covered by FMLA and then my nurse manager approved 2 subsequent personal 12 week leaves which included my maternity leave. You need to let them know! If your leave is covered under short term disability or FMLA, they cannot fire you. Sorry that you have to go through this! Good luck!

roser13, ASN, RN · Apr 19, 2009

i don't mean to beat a dead horse here, but there seems to be alot of misconception regarding std/ltd/fmla.

fmla must be invoked in order for you to be covered by its protections. filing for std will not protect your job. an employee can be fired while out on std or ltd if they have not applied for fmla. if you choose to go the std route, invoke fmla prior to filing a disability claim.