I normally work PRN. For the past month, I've been working full time plus overtime covering a nurse who went out on FMLA. So, I picked up a whole bunch of extra hours at the last minute since there was nobody else who could do it.
I felt sick Tuesday and Wednesday (not Covid). So, on Tuesday, I worked through it but called out for Wednesday. Also went to the doctor's on Wednesday and submitted the doctor's note. They prescribed medications with some not-so-fun side effects, so pretty much slept all day Wednesday and Thursday. My supervisor emailed me on my personal email and said that calling out Wednesday violated their attendance policy and is an unexcused absence.
I said if that's the case, I don't want to keep working full time hours plus overtime and risk accumulating unexcused absences every time I get sick (I do have a long-standing health issue that doesn't usually result in absences, but occasionally it does). I didn't hear anything back until my next scheduled shift, which was on Friday.
When I went in Friday, I had a note from my supervisor on my work email saying that she was unclear if I was still planning to come in Friday. We can't access our work email when we aren't at work. Unless you're a supervisor, it can only be done through the work computers. I heard from coworkers that the supervisor was asking THEM on Wednesday if I planned to be in Friday.
Supervisor never tried to contact me at any point on Wednesday or Thursday through my phone or personal email to clarify if I'd be in Friday. She has contacted me through both phone/text and personal email before, so she does have my contact information. I have a meeting with my supervisor Monday at 8:15 AM. I'm seriously thinking of leaving and letting them (fail to) handle their own (self-inflicted) staffing woes. What should I do?
A couple of things. If you are PRN you don't suddenly become Full time because you picked up a heap of extra shifts. Did they suddenly pay you benefits? I'm going to answer my own question with, I don't think so. So by extension the Full time policy doesn't suddenly apply to you, your usual Part time one does. The only exception would be if you signed some sort of bonus contract which stipulated extra money was tied to not calling out sick, which I think you would have mentioned.
No, definitely not. I'm still PRN. The supervisor said that the same attendance policy applies to PRN nurses as full-time nurses.
And extra money tied to not calling out sick? You mean like an incentive? No, my hospital is punitive gossip and petty passive-aggressiveness all the way.
Update! Supervisor said she didn't realize that the note she sent me attempting to clarify Friday did not go to my personal email. Whatever. I took myself down to twice a week (to minimize risk of further call-outs, of course), so just working Mondays and Tuesdays. This means I will be off on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Darn it!
Uh, just double check your commitment obligations. I doubt I knew any facility that DID NOT require at least 1 major BIG holiday. Even a minimal as you are. Double check - be safe.
The supervisor said it's a violation since I agreed to cover the full-timer on FMLA and this would have been one of her shifts if she were here. But then again, my supervisor sometimes tells... Interesting stories. But yeah probably, since I was already scheduled for this shift
So no one has the right to call off sick now? Any time any one takes a sick day it will be unexcused because of covid? That is ridiculous! I'd be tempted to give my notice.
Uh, just double check your commitment obligations. I doubt I knew any facility that DID NOT require at least 1 major BIG holiday. Even a minimal as you are. Double check - be safe.
I did. I even got a signed note from the supervisor saying the holiday coverage requirement starts next year and doesn't apply this year. (They've been in the process of changing the policy).
I feel your pain. What to do, oh what to do.....hmmm go in and let her do the talking...she plans on attacking..... .youve got your answer, you cant be made to work sick because of chronic short staffing, that is not a declared emergency. If you stay inform her nicely that you will call out if and when you are ill,she already has your MD note for the other day.If she wants to fire you ,think in your private thoughts ....go ahead, stay home and collect.
The supervisor said it's a violation since I agreed to cover the full-timer on FMLA and this would have been one of her shifts if she were here. But then again, my supervisor sometimes tells... Interesting stories. But yeah probably, since I was already scheduled for this shift
Interesting stories is a nice way of putting it. So FMLA could be up to 12 weeks in some cases. You were kind enough to bust your butt and then some and got sick….What did she think you had when you signed up to cover her shifts-a magic crystal ball that would know if you would get sick for one occurrence during that time period? Good grief, you had a doctors note. She sounds like a gem. Gotta love the passive-aggressive attitude too-contacts you on your person devices for some things while you are out sick and then magically uses the work email instead for that one?
Interesting stories is a nice way of putting it. So FMLA could be up to 12 weeks in some cases. You were kind enough to bust your butt and then some and got sick….What did she think you had when you signed up to cover her shifts-a magic crystal ball that would know if you would get sick for one occurrence during that time period? Good grief, you had a doctors note. She sounds like a gem. Gotta love the passive-aggressive attitude too-contacts you on your person devices for some things while you are out sick and then magically uses the work email instead for that one?
Passive-aggressiveness (and incompetence) is the company culture. So tired of this job, even though I'm just working Mondays and Tuesdays now. I'm always coming on to a mess. When I have more time, I'll post the story about the patient with the double-reverse-secret code status.
I am PRN too and agreed to 1-2 days per week. I have been working 3-4 as we are so short staffed. I asked for January to go down to 1-2, as a friend was recently hired FT so we have another nurse. The response from the new nurse manager that started last week, was she cannot guarantee that I can be accommodated! WOW!? I am ready to tell her to stick my job where the sun don’t shine. So much passive aggression in nursing, I am ready to leave it all together. So sick of the bullying and BS.
I asked for January to go down to 1-2, as a friend was recently hired FT so we have another nurse. The response from the new nurse manager that started last week, was she cannot guarantee that I can be accommodated!
You said it wrong.
"Starting in January I will have 2 days availability per week." If she isn't sure about that let her know that's what you agreed to and that you can't accommodate 3 days per week. Do this pleasantly but straightforwardly. It really cuts down on the attempts at bullying.
I asked for January to go down to 1-2, as a friend was recently hired FT so we have another nurse. The response from the new nurse manager that started last week, was she cannot guarantee that I can be accommodated!
That's insane! You originally agreed to 1-2 days. You did them a favor by increasing to 3-4 days. You were never meant to do that forever. Is your company going to start providing health insurance for you, seeing as they expect you to work these full time hours?
10 hours ago, JKL33 said:
You said it wrong.
"Starting in January I will have 2 days availability per week." If she isn't sure about that let her know that's what you agreed to and that you can't accommodate 3 days per week. Do this pleasantly but straightforwardly. It really cuts down on the attempts at bullying.
I am PRN too and agreed to 1-2 days per week. I have been working 3-4 as we are so short staffed. I asked for January to go down to 1-2, as a friend was recently hired FT so we have another nurse. The response from the new nurse manager that started last week, was she cannot guarantee that I can be accommodated! WOW!? I am ready to tell her to stick my job where the sun don’t shine. So much passive aggression in nursing, I am ready to leave it all together. So sick of the bullying and BS.
sideshowstarlet, BSN, RN
297 Posts
No, definitely not. I'm still PRN. The supervisor said that the same attendance policy applies to PRN nurses as full-time nurses.
And extra money tied to not calling out sick? You mean like an incentive? No, my hospital is punitive gossip and petty passive-aggressiveness all the way.