OTJ injury is stressing me out

xtxrn, ASN, RN · Oct 4, 2011

i have had otj injuries years ago w/hospitalization, pt, etc. i had no issues with my employer re: workman's comp (which not all facilities have- but should have some sort of equivalent).

i do not like attorneys as the be-all-end-all solution to something unpleasant- but this sounds like a situation that could use some legal advice...

best wishes- and

don't sign anything :)

merlee · Oct 4, 2011

When I was injured on the job, I was forced to use sick time until worker's comp kicked in. Have you spoken to HR? Contact the Labor board in your area.

And, yes, there is an unreasonable amount of paranoia from the admins when someone gets injured, especially if it was not witnessed. Try to not take it too personally. It's their job.

Best wishes, and I hope you feel better soon.

brandy1017, ASN, RN · Oct 4, 2011

When I was a new employee a coworker was seriously injured. I was at HR one day and overheard admin dissing this person and basically saying she was making it up. Person needed mult surgeries and became totally disabled. Ironically many years later I recently ran into her and she was still in chronic pain, disabled and talking about the possibility of another surgery.

Over the years I've seen many coworkers injured and many more living with chronic neck and back pain from the job. When you are injured if you do not heal quickly, management usually wants to get rid of you, and then try getting a non-lift job. Even with job openings they seem to just want to get rid of you if you can't lift!

While you are on workers comp they are more than happy to provide you with a non-lift makeshift job, but that is not for your benefit, mostly to make sure you are working if you are getting workers comp. They don't want you just sitting home having a "vacation" lol when you're crippled in pain! Also these temporary comp jobs come out of a separate budget and so do not impact your hospital or unit manager's budget.

However, if you fail to heal quickly and need long term no lift environments the hospital is no longer willing to find you such a job and just wants you out and off their payroll!

Our job can be very dangerous. Be careful and advocate for lifting equipment and a no-lift environment, but be aware even with equipment freak things can happen.

I would get a good attorney to protect your rights!

wooh, BSN, RN · Oct 4, 2011

I've had a couple of minor work injuries. They were handled ok-ish. I was also a supervisor (at a non hospital job) that SAW an employee get injured and was flat out told not to ask him about it, because as long as he doesn't say anything, we can deny it if he has problems later.

Administration, no matter how good of an employee you've been, they are not your friend. They are not looking out for your interests. It doesn't matter how amazing you were yesterday, you're a liability today. And all they care about is today and tomorrow, when you're still a liability. What they want now? To get rid of the liability as cheap and fast as possible.

What I would do? I'd get one of those free consultations from an attorney you always see advertised. At least consult with one. At this point it's not of "get an attorney or don't get an attorney." It's "talk to an attorney and see if I need one."

Good luck, hope you're better soon without too much trouble.

Quickbeam, BSN, RN · Oct 4, 2011

I am a WC case manager. Half of all WC claims have a fraud component. If you work in this field and don't have some suspicion, you'll get run over. Every state has different WC law and your HR dept. should be able to fill in the details on that and what you can expect.

Do everything you are asked to do. Dot every i. Don't miss MD appts. make sure you tell your provider all of your symptoms and document the timeline accurately.

I've been on the other side. Once the lights were out in my hospital parking lot and I fell over a stone, hitting my head on a parked truck. The first thing the employee health RN said was "does your husband beat you?". Uh, no. It was a big ol truck!

Sanuk · Oct 4, 2011

Thanks everyone. I'm waiting to hear from the director of HR today about my sick leave. Depending on how that goes, I will determine whether I need to seek legal advice. I think a lot of my anxiety about this comes from being stuck at home with nothing to do but obsess :)

Isabelle49 · Oct 4, 2011

Wish you the best Sanuk. As a consolation, an attorney will probably take your case without a retainer.

annacnatorn · Oct 4, 2011

I've had one and only one OTJ injury. It's been almost 2 years now, I've had 3 surgeries to try to correct the injury. I've given up my Certification and my dreams. I had to seek an Attorney for help half way through this ordeal. I've had an MD/Ortho NOT do a specific procedure that He billed for and was paid for, which resulted in me having to undergo a third surgery. I've had Sub-Rosa following me around at every turn (I sure hope they caught the glass I dropped when my arm went numb and also the tears streaming down my face from the relentless pain I'm in).

I hear you, so loud and clear. My employer, when this first happened, was empathetic..always calling me to see how I was feeling, offered to pay my reg salary, then, When I had to see a specialist, all things stopped. I had to report my injury to WC company..I had to demand the information to do so. I could not walk around with my arm in a sling forever. The day of my first surgery, the company went out of business..or so they say. Leaving me with no job at all to return to in any fashion what so ever. I gave this company my life. Literally. I was the "go to gal for everything" I was on call all the time.

BUT...I will say this, once the ball got rolling with WC, I got all I needed, even back pay, yes it's at a fraction, but I did get some money. WC Case management was amazingly wonderful. I had a Overall case manager, and an RN case manager. The lines of communication were open..wide. The reason why I had to retain legal assistance was because I did not agree with the Orthopedic decision to return me to full duty with no restrictions. I know my job..and I know my limitations..I would not trust me to lift anyone at that point, unless they were like say 5 lbs.

Hugs...to ya along your journey and prayers for a speedy recovery. If your in the SOCAL area, I know great PT! amazingly awesome...

RNMA36 · Oct 4, 2011

Please seek legal advice, I'm going through a similar situation and i think its sad that the ones that do fraud the system make it bad for people like me who are really injured. I wish you the best of luck in ur situation...

Sanuk · Oct 4, 2011

I'm still waiting to find something out, but I just wanted to say something. I'm an empathetic person. I've always felt for people who went through things like this. However, now I know that I had no idea what they were going through. I "get it" now. I'm so stressed about how I will survive this financially, how I will heal physically, and just how I will manage my ADL's that I cry daily. My manager, as great as he is, doesn't understand why I can't just wait for someone in administration to decide what to do with me. I have a mortgage, car payment, tuition (I'm in graduate school) and bills to pay. The good news is, if I come back from this to the bedside again, I will be a better nurse for this experience. I want to thank everyone for their kind words.

annacnatorn · Oct 4, 2011

Sanuk,

God..an amazing person to talk to. He does not hold anything against you. He knows you. He loves you. Talk to Him, frequently, I do..and I must say that with out my faith and those people that I know praying for me, I would have endured much more.

one day at a time dear Sister, one day at a time. You will learn to cut back on those things not needed. analyze your stuff. I had to, all of us that are or have been in this situation have had to.

I look forward to hearing about your day to day stuff, it helps to vent, believe me. AND you can vent on here. ALL of us understand you and your stuff. Hugs!!