I need a bit of advice from anyone that can help lead me in the right direction. This may be a bit long, so please bear with me.
I work at a fairly small LTC. My father in PA is actively dying, in ICU, and probably won't make this week. I requested time off, granted, on short notice, early last week, i believe it was Tuesday. I was off until Fri, which would be a double shift for me, Saturday which was a single, and Sunday which was another double. I was granted off until this coming Monday at three pm and planned on returning for that 3-11 shift.
Thursday past, i called work to again make sure that I was off the schedule for this weekend. At that time I was told that I was on the schedule for this coming Monday at three. I said great, I would return to FL Sunday sometime, not yet having booked my return flight.
Today I got a phone call at home, after having just gotten in the door and was told that I was seen in FL by a co-worker while I was supposed to be in PA, and I was needed at work this afternoon for a double shift, 3-11 and 11-7. I expalined to my supervisor that I had JUST walked in the door, and was not in FL this week, but my s/o was using my vehicle, which may have been seen by someone, and that NO I couldn't come in to work until Monday, as I haven't slept since Friday on the plane to PA, and a half hour nap on Saturday. This has been a bad week for me, as the s/o and myself drove to PA last tuesday after I heard that I had off until next Monday, and I only returned to bring the s/o home to go to work, and double check that I was indeed off the schedule for this weekend, before flying back and sitting at my father's bedside while he was in the dying process.
Long story short, I don't feel as if I'm in any any shape to work after not sleeping, and that I can't pass meds and give insulins while in this condition. Also, i WAS given off until Monday, but due to THEIR mistake, was put on shcedule for a double shift today.
I was told that if I didn't show, I was fired. I told them fine, I'm fired, I can't be in. Any one have any words of encouragement or advice at this point? Thanks in advance everyone.
Wow, what a bunch of jerks. People wonder why there is a nursing shortage. I wish I had some advice, but I don't, so I will offer support. I am sorry you are going through the sad loss of a loved one and are also being bombarded with threats over a job loss.
I am just sitting here shaking my head in disbelief for you. (((Hugs)))
I'm just offering support and no other advice than what these other posters have provided, but remember--family and people always first, job second, and this should apply to every single day of our lives. I'm sorry for the already stressful situation you are in and that it is unnecessarily compounded by these vultures. When your life has settled, will you consider a new job? People like this do not have your interests in mind at all.
John, they're not going to fire you. They're trying to intimidate you into coming in because they're a bunch of idiots.
Call Monday early and ask if you should report to work as scheduled. I'm betting that the answer is yes.
And find yourself another job STAT. These heartless, cruel people don't deserve you.
I'm really sorry about your father, and the rest of this nonsense on top of it.
{{{john}}}
JohnB - I am so very sorry to hear about your father and his health. That by itself is very difficult to have to go through. It sounds like you are overdue for some rest, pphysically, emotionally, and spiritually. I will keep you and your family in my prayers.
I am sorry that your ... well, I was going to call them your "work family", but, boy would I be wrong!! Family doesn't do that to each other, kicking another instead of supporting the other while you are down. From what you have said, and the responses of the other posters, it sounds to me like they were using empty threats in attempting to get you to work those hours, after you had faithfully checked and rechecked to cover your bases. I think I would also go in Monday with paperwork in hand, anything you would have from the airlines, baggage stuff, anything you may have. The ONLY thing it sounds like they were worried about - covering their shift. Maybe someone else called in for 1 shift, and they just thought they would try to bully you into it. And, as far as the co worker who allegedly saw you, that is not someone that I would want to work with unless I had to.It really makes for a difficult job when you work as hard as we do and you have to worry about your co workers stabbing you in the back, so to speak.
IMO, you aren't the one who did anything wrong, you should not be penalized for being a good daughter. Good luck to you!!!
Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.
I am so sorry that this happened. This is a reduction of human dignity to have to be threatened to lose your job when your father is actively dying. Talk about getting someone that is not able to defend themselves properly at this time. Bastards! :icon_hug: to you, down the tubes for them! And, I wish you the very best!
You have a plane ticket, baggage claim whatever, I would go up there and put it in their face and ask them if they have any further questions? Ask for the snitch to tell you to your face they saw you in town during the week.
It's way too easy for them to shrug you off on the phone, I'd do it in person. You have nothing to hide.
You might check on the nurse practice act to see what is said about an impaired (from lack of sleep) nurse working. If there is something there, it can give you more leverage as it would be dangerous for them to try to force you to work when you cannot function properly and would be going against state regs.
It doesn't seem that this job is worth fighting for. What kind of people are they? Cold, rude, just plain MEAN!!. When you wake up from your sleep, get the Sunday paper and pick out 2 or 3 possibilities. Even if they don't seem perfect. Remember, when one door closes, another door opens. I can appreciate your financial situation, though. So go ahead and try to work 2 wks notice while going on interviews. Also, my thoughts and prayers are with you during this difficult time.
You have a plane ticket, baggage claim whatever, I would go up there and put it in their face and ask them if they have any further questions? Ask for the snitch to tell you to your face they saw you in town during the week.
It's way too easy for them to shrug you off on the phone, I'd do it in person. You have nothing to hide.
Binkie - If it was me, that would be what I wanted too. To have their "informant" to come tell you to your face they actually saw you and where.
John, I know you said you work for a small LTC. However, is it possible you still qualify for FMLA?? Is your facility part of a "bigger family"? If you do qualify for FMLA, fill out the paperwork STAT. By law they cannot retaliate. If FMLA is not an option- I agree with the others. Find another job, they are not worth your time. Personally, I would not want people working for me that put their jobs before their family. This speaks very ill of the culture of your facility. Thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
This sure does not look good for facility. It shows how careless they are by wanting a nurse to come in that cannot give quality care. You were way too sleep deprived. I don't see how they could possibly fire you over this. How pathetic! I am so sorry about you father.
Same as the OP have alread posted re: ticket, etc. You might also keep some sort of diary - informal or other - re: what you said, who you said it to and when. Keeping track of facts such as "I informed the supervisor I was impaired from lack of sleep due to my father's illness, I was not scheduled to be there and someone was in error when they said they saw me" yada yada yada, could come in useful later. Dates/times speak volumes, especially if you have them and they don't. You might not need them. But if you do, you'll be prepared.
And do start looking for a different job anyway. Any employer who can not show compassion to it's own staff does not deserve to have any staff of it's own.
So sorry re: the pending loss of your father. Our prayers will be with you.
pinksugar
243 Posts
Wow, what a bunch of jerks. People wonder why there is a nursing shortage. I wish I had some advice, but I don't, so I will offer support. I am sorry you are going through the sad loss of a loved one and are also being bombarded with threats over a job loss.
I am just sitting here shaking my head in disbelief for you. (((Hugs)))