fired for cancelling shifts d/t health issues?

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first-time poster; I apologize if this isn't the right subforum. basically I'm paranoid about being fired. I've been at my job for two years, and it's my first job since I graduated from nursing school. No complaints about my work, although I do have some health issues and it scares me when I have to call out or cancel a shift (I'm PRN) because I'm afraid my boss will just get sick of my **** and stop scheduling me in favor of other PRNs who don't have these problems.

I can't get anything official as far as accommodations, because I don't have a diagnosis yet. My main symptom (at least as far as affecting my work is concerned!) is that I simply pass out a lot. I would like to take some time off of work until we figure out what exactly is causing this and ideally start treating it. I don't want to quit though! I like my job and want to start picking up shifts again when I know I can stay upright and conscious for a whole shift. I'm already scheduled for shifts through October, and I'm afraid if I cancel those shifts then I'll just get fired or no one will want to schedule me when I try to start working again because they'll think of me as unreliable. Any advice would be appreciated!

Specializes in Pediatric Critical Care.

Speak to your manager! Do it face to face. Let them know how much you value your position there and that you are working hard to get your health issues under control. Doing this will help make you a real person who they want to be sympathetic wit, rather than just a nameless PRN employee who calls in a lot.

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edited

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Speak to your manager! Do it face to face. Let them know how much you value your position there and that you are working hard to get your health issues under control. Doing this will help make you a real person who they want to be sympathetic wit, rather than just a nameless PRN employee who calls in a lot.

Thanks :) I sent him an email yesterday asking if we could set up a meeting to discuss my work performance/concerns.

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If I were you, I wouldn't schedule my self anymore until you are able to return to work. Try and cover your shifts you have right now.

I'm scheduled for shifts through the end of December already. If I hadn't signed up for all that, I would just take some time off until everything was sorted out health-wise.

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Specializes in Critical Care, Med-Surg, Psych, Geri, LTC, Tele,.
Aren't there requirements for the FMLA?

"Employees are eligible for leave if they have worked for their employer at least 12 months, at least 1,250 hours over the past 12 months, and work at a location where the company employs 50 or more employees within 75 miles. Whether an employee has worked the minimum 1,250 hours of service is determined according to FLSA principles for determining compensable hours or work."

U.S. Department of Labor - Find It By Topic - Leave Benefits - FMLA

Yes there are requirements to be able to qualify for FMLA. If one does qualify, because they've worked sufficient hours, it's imperative that the person files for it. It's a job protection that people earn, by working.

But if FMLA doesn't cover a person, short term disability might at least provide them with an income.

This is assuming that the person has a medical problem that is causing the work issue.

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update: blood test results came back and i've got mono. i'm actually really relieved - i'm not happy about having mono, but i'm grateful to have a diagnosis so people won't give me a hard time. even in this topic someone on the other page said something like "have you even actually been to a doctor?" and i feel like that's what everyone at work would think - she's just trying to get out of work. tbh I'm actually relieved about the diagnosis as well; i had been going crazy thinking of all the worst-case diagnoses and this really isn't that bad if i take the proper precautions and follow dr's orders!

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Hope you start to feel better!

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Awesome! Not that you have mono but a diagnosis :) And I think actually better than what I was thinking (pots) because you should, given proper rest and nutrition, recover from mono!

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