EEEEEK! Please Help Me! Losing New Job????

Nurses General Nursing

Published

:o :angryfire

Hi Everyone, Happy Holidays!!!!

I wish I had thought to bring this problem here a few days ago! I signed on for something totally different, then thought DUH!!!!!:selfbonk: :banghead: :smackingf

I haven't been able to work for a few months due to various reasons. I was sick and unable to work; then my son ruined my car and I had no way to get to work. Finally, I applied at a LTCF 11/2 miles from my house and got the job! I haven't had health insurance and benefits for years and desperately need them! I've been working for WOW! 40 YEARS and haven't built up any retirement and if they base social security on recent years, I have ZIP!!!

I also recently obtained my ACLS CERTIFICATION and IV certification!

The salary they offered me was great! I was so happy and grateful that I dropped on my knees (I'm unable to do that without pain) and thanked God.

During the interview, I was completely honest with her about my meds that I must take for depression and pain! She assured me in no UNCERTAIN TERMS that this would NOT BE AN ISSUE AND I WAS FINE! They were very happy to have me! I was even more happy to get this position!

You have to understand something...I've been a nurse for 32 years! I have loads of experience and I am a good nurse! I still LOVE being a nurse (a little tired, but that's OK) :) These past few monthes I've been through hell! I've had a lot happen healthwise and have been on the verge of homelessness, I've been hungry, have had no money for even the basics! Been unable to pay my bills, will definitely not be able to have a Christmas celebration. I may not even get to church unless I can find a ride. I have no friends and family due being ill so long...I've isolated myself into complete lonliness. So I'm on my own. There's been no way to get help...I've had to swallow my pride and ask for help any way I could think of!

Ok, now the crux of the problem...I went through orientation Thursday and everything was great! Fri, I was supposed to work, but I wasn't sure which shift (more about that later), so I had to wait for a call for 3-11 or 11-7. I called 4-5 times, but the coordinator kept blowing me off. Finally, she told me to show up for 3-11 monday, but that I had to see the DON first!

I called the ADON immediately and asked her what was going on! You can imagine how I was feeling! I was desperate for this job! She had no idea and I'd have to wait til Mon. to find out! THREE DAYS WITH THIS ANXIETY!!!

Luckily this kind lady called me back around 5p and told me what the problem was. I FAILED MY DRUG SCREEN!!!:angryfire :angryfire We discussed this! I offered my Rx to prove I was under a doctor's care! AT MY INTERVIEW! And I offered it to the lab as well! My meds have been the same for 3 years and due to being a chronic pain pt., I am NOT impaired when I do take them and I don't usually take them before work!

SHE TOLD ME THERE WOULD BE NO PROBLEM...not to even worry about that! NOW, there's a problem!

Please help me. I'm absolutely TERRIFIED of not getting this job! My home situation was contingent on me starting working! I would have been paid before Christmas and would have been able to celebrate! I would be able to EAT!

I'm so sorry this is so long, but I really need some feedback.What if anything can I do? I have a few ideas but I still need guidance!

I was tempted to post this on Bipley's thread cuz everyone was waiting for her to respond and would have read this:rotfl: :rotfl:(just kidding!:chuckle :chuckle

Thanks so much for taking the time to read this and in advance for responding to it!

rnmom

I just got off the phone with the ADON. She got ANGRY with me!!! "I'VE TOLD YOU EVERYTHING I KNOW! Nothing has changed since Fri. You got me out of a meeting. You need to wait until you are contacted." Oh, and "we can't hire you until this happens" THEY HAD HIRED ME!

All I said (nicely and professionally) What do I need to do to expedite getting to work. I haven't heard from anyone blah blah. There is nothing new. You had ALL this info when you hired me.

I hung up, just sat and cried, then played a snowball fight with ELF til I felt better!

Now what!!! I also called my MD and asked for a letter!

I'm not letting go of this! They had no right treating me like this! I did nothing wrong or illegal! No secrets...nothing was kept from them!

OK, I know people out there know what to do about these kind of situations!

:angryfire

Sounds like they are just stringing you along with no intention of hiring you. I would cut my loses and move on. Especially if you need a job terribly bad. You will be wasting your time waiting on them. It sucks that they are treating you like that. But not every place is going to be like that. My suggestion is with the next job, bring all your medications with you to your drug screening. That way they can have all that written down.

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I just got off the phone with the ADON. She got ANGRY with me!!! "I'VE TOLD YOU EVERYTHING I KNOW! Nothing has changed since Fri. You got me out of a meeting. You need to wait until you are contacted." Oh, and "we can't hire you until this happens" THEY HAD HIRED ME!

All I said (nicely and professionally) What do I need to do to expedite getting to work. I haven't heard from anyone blah blah. There is nothing new. You had ALL this info when you hired me.

I hung up, just sat and cried, then played a snowball fight with ELF til I felt better!

Now what!!! I also called my MD and asked for a letter!

I'm not letting go of this! They had no right treating me like this! I did nothing wrong or illegal! No secrets...nothing was kept from them!

OK, I know people out there know what to do about these kind of situations!

:angryfire

On the drug screen form that YOU have a copy of, the medical officer's name and contact info will be on there. Call that person.

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Sounds like they are just stringing you along with no intention of hiring you. I would cut my loses and move on. Especially if you need a job terribly bad. You will be wasting your time waiting on them. It sucks that they are treating you like that. But not every place is going to be like that. My suggestion is with the next job, bring all your medications with you to your drug screening. That way they can have all that written down.

Not necessarily. Sometimes these issues can take a looooong time. I mean weeks. However in my gut I agree with you but typically these issues just take a bit of time.

If I were the OP I'd be looking for another job yet not burn bridges with the current potential employer.

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Specializes in Case Management.
I just got off the phone with the ADON. She got ANGRY with me!!! "I'VE TOLD YOU EVERYTHING I KNOW! Nothing has changed since Fri. You got me out of a meeting. You need to wait until you are contacted." Oh, and "we can't hire you until this happens" THEY HAD HIRED ME!

All I said (nicely and professionally) What do I need to do to expedite getting to work. I haven't heard from anyone blah blah. There is nothing new. You had ALL this info when you hired me.

I hung up, just sat and cried, then played a snowball fight with ELF til I felt better!

Now what!!! I also called my MD and asked for a letter!

I'm not letting go of this! They had no right treating me like this! I did nothing wrong or illegal! No secrets...nothing was kept from them!

OK, I know people out there know what to do about these kind of situations!

:angryfire

rnmom3153,

You are not alone. there are many nurses working out there with chronic pain who would not be able to do their job were it not for their meds. I have had fibromyalgia since I was 17 (31 years) It has been a long hard struggle, and I have only found relief since I started with a pain clinic 3 years ago. I take MS contin 30 mg tid, and elavil 50 at hs. I could not function with the level of pain that I have without the meds I take and I am never impaired, as you said yourself. When on chronic pain meds there is not a feeling of being doped up, your pain just goes away and you can function normally. I would not call that woman again, but maybe as some others have said try to reach someone in human resources in order to facilitate the paperwork needed to start working asap.

The letter from your doctor is a good idea. Maybe you could have the doctors office fax it to someone today.

Hang in there! :nurse:

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Specializes in Case Management, Home Health, UM.
Sounds like they are just stringing you along with no intention of hiring you. I would cut my loses and move on. Especially if you need a job terribly bad. You will be wasting your time waiting on them. It sucks that they are treating you like that. But not every place is going to be like that. My suggestion is with the next job, bring all your medications with you to your drug screening. That way they can have all that written down.

Yep. The handwriting's on the wall, all right. I may be in for the same trouble, when the results of my drug screen comes in later this week and is positive for Lortab, which I have been taking for over two years. Tell you what: If their CMO declares me unfit for the new job I am supposed to start after Christmas, then HE can sign my application for permanent Disability, okay? :angryfire

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Specializes in LTC, HOSPICE, HOME, PAIN MANAGEMENT, ETC.
On the drug screen form that YOU have a copy of, the medical officer's name and contact info will be on there. Call that person.

Bless you Bipley....I found it! I called and left a message. I was, however, unable to speak to a human!:angryfire :crying2:

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Specializes in ICU, ER, HH, NICU, now FNP.

It would seem there would be certain rights under the Americans with DIsabilites act.

Granted a blind person cannot be a truck driver, but they cannot deny you employment based on your medical condition if you are fit for duty!!

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Specializes in LTC, HOSPICE, HOME, PAIN MANAGEMENT, ETC.
Yep. The handwriting's on the wall, all right. I may be in for the same trouble, when the results of my drug screen comes in later this week and is positive for Lortab, which I have been taking for over two years. Tell you what: If their CMO declares me unfit for the new job I am supposed to start after Christmas, then HE can sign my application for permanent Disability, okay? :angryfire[/QUOte

You may very well be right...however, while I'm moving forward, I need to address this discrimination!

At htis point, I would not work here without a sincere apology! These people do not DESERVE ME! It truly is their loss! But what they have done to me at this time the week before Christmas and in view of everything else is unforgivable!

CseMgr, You have the right idea!:crying2:

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Specializes in LTC, HOSPICE, HOME, PAIN MANAGEMENT, ETC.
It would seem there would be certain rights under the Americans with DIsabilites act.

Granted a blind person cannot be a truck driver, but they cannot deny you employment based on your medical condition if you are fit for duty!!

I am more than fit! I can't seem to find any resources to contact. I'm not that great with the internet and just got totally confused trying to do a search!:smackingf :eek: :confused:

If anyone has any ideas or resources, please help!:thankya:

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I've been in your spot before, rnmom... and this is before the nursing level! I don't want to get your down, but this is really a tough situation. I think that you should cut your losses and try to find another job. I know that this is the job that you wanted, but they are really backpedaling on their original statements... do you really want to work at a place like that if they go back on their word at this stage?

Also, I just wanted to mention, there is a fine print clause that states (on most application forms) that you aren't officially "hired" until you complete the employment physical, which includes a tox screen. At any time they can rescind the offer of employment based on the company's physical exam.

I'm very sorry that this is happening to you, because it has happened to me. I wish you the very best, and hope that you will find something soon.

((hugs))

Kat

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Bless you Bipley....I found it! I called and left a message. I was, however, unable to speak to a human!:angryfire :crying2:

Darl'en, you just aren't persistant enough! You have to try doing it MY way. If you don't hear from this person in a day or so I'll even help you. Give me the name and contact info on that sheet and I will FIND a number with a live person. :chuckle

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Specializes in Case Management, Home Health, UM.
Yep. The handwriting's on the wall, all right. I may be in for the same trouble, when the results of my drug screen comes in later this week and is positive for Lortab, which I have been taking for over two years. Tell you what: If their CMO declares me unfit for the new job I am supposed to start after Christmas, then HE can sign my application for permanent Disability, okay? :angryfire[/QUOte

You may very well be right...however, while I'm moving forward, I need to address this discrimination!

At htis point, I would not work here without a sincere apology! These people do not DESERVE ME! It truly is their loss! But what they have done to me at this time the week before Christmas and in view of everything else is unforgivable!

CseMgr, You have the right idea!:crying2:

Here is a link to the DOL's website, which gives some helpful information on filing a complaint against an employer. I am going to bookmark it myself. Good luck to you!

http://www.dol.gov/odep/pubs/fact/rights.htm

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