Quit or be fired?

Nurses General Nursing

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I have been with the same company for 4 years and have NEVER called out b/c of snow/ice storms. This weekend my two kids ages 16 and 12 will have to be alone while I'm at work and its a pretty sure thing I'll be snowed in for the whole weekend. My work is a 45 minute drive and I just feel like it's dangerous to leave them alone. I'm a single mom and usually I have a back-up plan and a second back-up plan but these have fallen through. I called and talked to my DON (the staffing nurse was fired - no warning :uhoh21: ) and she insists I have to come in no matter what. Again, I have NEVER called out on account of the weather...this is more of a child-care issue. We used to be able to bring our kids to work but that is now against the rules. In fact, besides people coming in to work not knowing they'd been fired there have been a lot of other things going on with this new administration I don't like. My question is, do I quit without giving a notice or do I let them fire me? I've been with them for 4 years and that is a large chunk of my work history. :crying2:

I agree take your kids in if it is that serious that you come in. What can they say take your kids home.

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I agree take your kids in if it is that serious that you come in. What can they say take your kids home.

Hey..that's one way of making them send you home! :chuckle

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.
Hello neighbour! I noticed you're from Toronto. Fun weather huh? :chuckle Warm, cold, rain, sleet. Growing up with this weather, I was taught along with all my classmates and friends how to deal with bad weather and actually...get this..take care of our parents and younger siblings should anything happen to them. At the age of 15. Police officers would come into the classroom with the fire department and give little lectures if you will on basic survival skills should we ever need to take care of ourselves.Stuff like cell phone use (in case of power outage), what not to do...what to expect...you get the idea. And I dont live in the Great White North ...well not THAT North..lol) We never thought for a moment that we were being neglected or anything. We were being treated as responsible people. Our parents never wanted to leave us but sometimes it was necessary. That doesnt make them bad parents. I dont get why so many are shocked. Shocking would be leaving a 10 year old with an 8 year old. If I were to go to the Sahara..I'm sure there would be a 12 year old that could teach me a thing or two about surviving a sand storm. Maybe its really all about where you live. :)

I also feel as personal opinion only..that we as parents project our fear or what we fear..onto our children..sometimes...... and assume they feel the same way, when in truth,,they surprise us in the end with their bravery.

But thats just me.

I hope the OP is getting on ok.

God bless.

Z

Yep basic survival skills are essential. putting kids in the position when you have a choice is not, however. And it can be illegal in some states. dont' know about Canada, however. :)

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Yep basic survival skills are essential. putting kids in the position when you have a choice is not, however. And it can be illegal in some states. dont' know about Canada, however. :)

Yes..I know but it seems to me that people's bosses are telling them they have no choice. Yeah sure they have the choice to quit their job but wow...what a choice! I think we'll just have to agree to disagree. :)

I will look into how illegal it is though. Here its legal for 14 year olds to babysit. At least I hope so since I've ben babysittig since i was 13. (with the babysitting course or not) Ice storm or no ice storm.

Please remember it isnt about who's right or who isn't. Just different ways of doing things. :)

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Your children come first! I totally agree that you did the right thing for your children. I would not have left my children at home alone during an ice/snow storm. If my employer could not understand my situation then I don't think I would want to work for them anyway. You proved yourself for 4 years as a good and dependable employee, that speaks volumes in itself. In the future, I think it's better to lie and say that you're sick. I used to be totally honest about call-ins but found that sometimes it's better to be not so honest.

As for being stuck and having to work for those nurses who didn't show up. I've done that many times and have always gotten over it. The hospital appreciated it, the patients certainly appreciated it and when all was said and done, I got plenty of sleep and the ones who didn't show up, when they could have, were the ones ultimately not promoted or got very low percentage pay raises. Bad weather and working over is just part of our chosen profession. .

I am one of the nurses that gets stuck when my co-worker has a family emergency and has to stay home with her daughters. We looked it up on the schedules over the last 2 years have had to come in, stay late or change my schedule 41 times to accomodate her family needs. I had one and that was for my fathers funeral earlier this year. She complained that she missed a basketball game so told her would not change schedule, stay late or cover for her anymore. She has since given notice.

As for affecting promotions, never have seen it affect promotions or pay raises.

My question is, should we only hire single nurses without dependants so can decrease the excuses of not covering in times of need? I am sure damn tired of being the single nurse that is supposed to cover for the mother that has to stay home with their children.

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I am one of the nurses that gets stuck when my co-worker has a family emergency and has to stay home with her daughters. We looked it up on the schedules over the last 2 years have had to come in, stay late or change my schedule 41 times to accomodate her family needs. I had one and that was for my fathers funeral earlier this year. She complained that she missed a basketball game so told her would not change schedule, stay late or cover for her anymore. She has since given notice.

As for affecting promotions, never have seen it affect promotions or pay raises.

My question is, should we only hire single nurses without dependants so can decrease the excuses of not covering in times of need? I am sure damn tired of being the single nurse that is supposed to cover for the mother that has to stay home with their children.

Hiring nurses without dependents would be a dream for most employers but not realistic I'm guessing. :chuckle

Whole slew of lawsuits waiting to happen concerning that one.

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You know your children and your situation better than anyone. Go with your first mind is my motto. Call off within the time as outlined in your policy.If you get written up oh well. I you get fired you will most likely be able to appeal and win.(unemployment usually rules in favor of the employee) If you don't call off you'll probably live with regrets or guilties, because you'll later feel it( the job) wasn't worth it.

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

]Yes..I know but it seems to me that people's bosses are telling them they have no choice. Yeah sure they have the choice to quit their job but wow...what a choice! I think we'll just have to agree to disagree. :)

I will look into how illegal it is though. Here its legal for 14 year olds to babysit. At least I hope so since I've ben babysittig since i was 13. (with the babysitting course or not) Ice storm or no ice storm.

Please remember it isnt about who's right or who isn't. Just different ways of doing things. :

I am not slamming you. I know you disagree. Yes, we disagree, that is ok. Just remember, leaving kids for what could be 1 or 2 DAYS in bad weather is NOT the same as babysitting. I babysat from age 11 on, but I know I would not have been ready to take charge of younger kids in a dangerous storm w/potential utility outages for what 2 or 3 days with no adult resource to turn to at an age younger than 17. Kids should not have to fend for themselves, when parents have a choice. And there was a choice in this example, albeit NOT easy for her to make.

And yes, under 16, you might want to check provincial law on this.....I know you would not want to break the law and/or endanger your family in any way. ON that, I am sure you and I would definately agree. And to me it would not be a choice. If they threatened me this way, the dayum job would have to GO. Kids first. Easy? No, but crystal clear to me.

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.
I am one of the nurses that gets stuck when my co-worker has a family emergency and has to stay home with her daughters. We looked it up on the schedules over the last 2 years have had to come in, stay late or change my schedule 41 times to accomodate her family needs. I had one and that was for my fathers funeral earlier this year. She complained that she missed a basketball game so told her would not change schedule, stay late or cover for her anymore. She has since given notice.

As for affecting promotions, never have seen it affect promotions or pay raises.

My question is, should we only hire single nurses without dependants so can decrease the excuses of not covering in times of need? I am sure damn tired of being the single nurse that is supposed to cover for the mother that has to stay home with their children.

reminds me of that Walgreens commercial about living in "Perfect World, USA" :rotfl:

yes in your perfect world, none of us would have kids and our "excuses" to get in your way. But sadly, we do. Sorry bout that. I try to keep my excuses to a minimum, but in this specific case, would have called off w/o compunction or guilt. My kids could not be left alone for 24 hours or more in a dangerous weather situation. No can do.

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]Yes..I know but it seems to me that people's bosses are telling them they have no choice. Yeah sure they have the choice to quit their job but wow...what a choice! I think we'll just have to agree to disagree. :)

I will look into how illegal it is though. Here its legal for 14 year olds to babysit. At least I hope so since I've ben babysittig since i was 13. (with the babysitting course or not) Ice storm or no ice storm.

Please remember it isnt about who's right or who isn't. Just different ways of doing things. :

I am not slamming you. I know you disagree. Yes, we disagree, that is ok. Just remember, leaving kids for what could be 1 or 2 DAYS in bad weather is NOT the same as babysitting. I babysat from age 11 on, but I know I would not have been ready to take charge of younger kids in a dangerous storm w/potential utility outages for what 2 or 3 days with no adult resource to turn to at an age younger than 17. Kids should not have to fend for themselves, when parents have a choice. And there was a choice in this example, albeit NOT easy for her to make.

And yes, under 16, you might want to check provincial law on this.....I know you would not want to break the law and/or endanger your family in any way. ON that, I am sure you and I would definately agree. And to me it would not be a choice. If they threatened me this way, the dayum job would have to GO. Kids first. Easy? No, but crystal clear to me.

Sorry..I should have clarified. I babysat for extended periods of time like 2 days but parents had cell phones and I was very capable. Overly qualified for my age but it was all good. The money at my age was awesome. :D At 16.

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Specializes in Geriatric/LTC, Rehab, Home Hhealth.
Wendy there is a principle called greater need. It is one of the few things a nurse can claim if she must leave a patient care area understaffed. You might consider filing a complaint against your facility for wrongful discharge. You can file with the Equal Employement Opportunity Commission. If you need to apply for unemployment benefits they are the ones to talk to about this situation. EEOC will assess if you had a legitimate need to remain where you were, with your kids. Sounds like you meet the standard for greater need.

I have thought about this..I'll let you know.

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Specializes in Geriatric/LTC, Rehab, Home Hhealth.
I am one of the nurses that gets stuck when my co-worker has a family emergency and has to stay home with her daughters. We looked it up on the schedules over the last 2 years have had to come in, stay late or change my schedule 41 times to accomodate her family needs. I had one and that was for my fathers funeral earlier this year. She complained that she missed a basketball game so told her would not change schedule, stay late or cover for her anymore. She has since given notice.

As for affecting promotions, never have seen it affect promotions or pay raises.

My question is, should we only hire single nurses without dependants so can decrease the excuses of not covering in times of need? I am sure damn tired of being the single nurse that is supposed to cover for the mother that has to stay home with their children.

I would be tired of it, too. Please try not to lump all single parents together. To answer your question about hiring nurses without dependants - I think that's illegal. I don't think its legal for them to force you personally to cover this person 41 times in 2 years...is this being addressed at your work now?

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