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 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. QUOTE]

I hate to say this, but the rest of the staff should not have to make up for the fact that you have children. In the last year I have been the one that covers for my co-worker that has children (I am single) every time there is a hurricane alert, someone at home is ill, there is a school play or wants to spend time with the kids during school break. I realize that family is importent, but during my father's recent illness was able to commute 240 miles on my days off to help take care of him and still cover all my shifts and on call time. The only time I took off was for his funeral (first time in the 5 years that have been here that took time off without months notice) and got all sorts of abuse from her when got back as she missed a basketball game for her son. Considering that I cover for her 1-2/week and was stuck at the hospital for the last 2 hurricanes I thought this was unfair. So I told her that would no longer be available to cover for her and would have to schedule these events around her work schedule. She spent most of friday afternoon in my bosses office and then her directors office and am expecting the worst on monday.

Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.
I haven't called out on account of child care in 4 years! I'd say thats a pretty good track record for being a single mom. .

If you read my post again, you may notice that I specifically said that you sounded like the type of employee who did NOT abuse the call-in option and that you sounded like a responsible person. I specifically made the effort to show that I was NOT accusing you of being irresponsible towards your employer.

My post was intended to point out to those people who only have 1 or 2 possibilities to choose from that they need to do more planning. I've worked with many people who have no back-up plans and call-in every time some little glitch happens. It's irresponsible people like that who force hospitals into a corner and make it more difficult than it should be for everyone else. If such people had not acted irresponsibly in the past, you would not be in your current difficult situation. THEY are the people you should be most angry at -- not me.

I'm sorry you mis-interpreted my post ... but I stand by my intended point.

llg

MackRN, you deserve to be treated better from someone you have helped in your time of distress. I am sorry and I hope she does not cause you further problems on the job, but if they do not check the record and see just how dependable you are, then it's their loss, you will be able to get another job.

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. QUOTE]

I hate to say this, but the rest of the staff should not have to make up for the fact that you have children. In the last year I have been the one that covers for my co-worker that has children (I am single) every time there is a hurricane alert, someone at home is ill, there is a school play or wants to spend time with the kids during school break. I realize that family is importent, but during my father's recent illness was able to commute 240 miles on my days off to help take care of him and still cover all my shifts and on call time. The only time I took off was for his funeral (first time in the 5 years that have been here that took time off without months notice) and got all sorts of abuse from her when got back as she missed a basketball game for her son. Considering that I cover for her 1-2/week and was stuck at the hospital for the last 2 hurricanes I thought this was unfair. So I told her that would no longer be available to cover for her and would have to schedule these events around her work schedule. She spent most of friday afternoon in my bosses office and then her directors office and am expecting the worst on monday.

Specializes in Geriatric/LTC, Rehab, Home Hhealth.
If you read my post again, you may notice that I specifically said that you sounded like the type of employee who did NOT abuse the call-in option and that you sounded like a responsible person. I specifically made the effort to show that I was NOT accusing you of being irresponsible towards your employer.

My post was intended to point out to those people who only have 1 or 2 possibilities to choose from that they need to do more planning. I've worked with many people who have no back-up plans and call-in every time some little glitch happens. It's irresponsible people like that who force hospitals into a corner and make it more difficult than it should be for everyone else. If such people had not acted irresponsibly in the past, you would not be in your current difficult situation. THEY are the people you should be most angry at -- not me.

I'm sorry you mis-interpreted my post ... but I stand by my intended point.

llg

I re-read your post. I'm sorry, I did misunderstand what you were saying and agree with your comments :)

Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.
I re-read your post. I'm sorry, I did misunderstand what you were saying and agree with your comments :)

Thank you for being so gracious ... and so willing to go back and re-read my post. I know you are under terrible stress right now and that openness to reconsider what I had written once again demonstrates that you are a reasonable, responsible person willing to meet somebody half-way.

I sincerely hope that this all works out in a way that is best for you and your family. You sound like a very conscientious employee and a great mother. The world needs more of both!

Take care -- and let us know how it all works out.

llg

Specializes in Geriatric/LTC, Rehab, Home Hhealth.

Just an update for you all...I called at 4am it had already started sleeting...its been going ever since. Anyway, when I called, the call-in nurse said whe was told not to accept any call-ins. I tol her I had already talked with the DON and Administrator the day before and just to write on the schedule that I am not coming in. The DON called me back and asked me what was going on and I told her I still wasn't able to find anyone for the kids...she said its not doing anything outside. I told her that it was at my house and they were still calling for the storm with potential for mass power outages and I was sorry but couldn't leave my kids with that. So, I was fired. I did remind her that I worked in every other ice/snowstorm in the past 4 years but I guess that didn't matter since she would be covering my shift...she said "don't plan on coming back". Thank you to everybody that shared your experiences an encouragement AND also to those with differing opinions for your honesty and sharing your perspective.

Just an update for you all...I called at 4am it had already started sleeting...its been going ever since. Anyway, when I called, the call-in nurse said whe was told not to accept any call-ins. I tol her I had already talked with the DON and Administrator the day before and just to write on the schedule that I am not coming in. The DON called me back and asked me what was going on and I told her I still wasn't able to find anyone for the kids...she said its not doing anything outside. I told her that it was at my house and they were still calling for the storm with potential for mass power outages and I was sorry but couldn't leave my kids with that. So, I was fired. I did remind her that I worked in every other ice/snowstorm in the past 4 years but I guess that didn't matter since she would be covering my shift...she said "don't plan on coming back". Thank you to everybody that shared your experiences an encouragement AND also to those with differing opinions for your honesty and sharing your perspective.

I"m sorry to hear about this Wendy. I still think you did the right thing.

From some of your earlier posts about others getting fired so easily, it sounds like they're cleaning house, so it was probably a matter of time anyway. I've seen places do this before.

To me, this choice was a no-brainer. You'll have several jobs in your life, but your family will always be there. They have to come first. If they don't understand that at your job, then too bad for them. Sounds like you were a great asset to them that they just tossed out like yesterdays garbage.

Look at it this way, there's a nursing shortage! I doubt you'll have a hard time finding another job. I've seen nurses our LTC facility has fired for constant med errors, absences, lying on incident reports. ALL Of them end up getting another job within days. So don't worry about it. You'll probably be better off without this place anyway.

Specializes in Med-Surg, Trauma, Ortho, Neuro, Cardiac.

I'm sorry to hear that you got fired.

I understand both perspectives, they have to enforce their policies in order to assure that patients are safely to be taken care of. We had the same types of problems during the hurricanes.

You have to do what you have to do for the safety of your family. You wouldn't have been able to live with yourself if something happened, or they needed you and you weren't there.

Good luck finding someone to keep them in emergencies.

Just an update for you all...I called at 4am it had already started sleeting...its been going ever since. Anyway, when I called, the call-in nurse said whe was told not to accept any call-ins. I tol her I had already talked with the DON and Administrator the day before and just to write on the schedule that I am not coming in. The DON called me back and asked me what was going on and I told her I still wasn't able to find anyone for the kids...she said its not doing anything outside. I told her that it was at my house and they were still calling for the storm with potential for mass power outages and I was sorry but couldn't leave my kids with that. So, I was fired. I did remind her that I worked in every other ice/snowstorm in the past 4 years but I guess that didn't matter since she would be covering my shift...she said "don't plan on coming back". Thank you to everybody that shared your experiences an encouragement AND also to those with differing opinions for your honesty and sharing your perspective.

How can they not "accept any call-ins"? Are they stupid or what? Hello, I'm having an MI, I won't be in this afternoon, .......oh, so sorry, we can't accept any call-ins. Hello, I'm calling in, I will not be in this afternoon, whether you accept it or not.

Southern states are just wonderful.

I'm sure you'll get plenty of work with the agency.

I'm sure the driving conditions were appalling.

Good luck.

Did the power cut out yet?

Good luck with everything

Z

I think Tweety is right in that you have to have policies . . .however I do think that if you have a track record of not calling in sick, always showing up on time, and being a great employee . . . your place of business should be able to cut you a tad bit of slack.

steph

Specializes in Pediatrics.

after being on both sides of the fence at the same time (staff and management), i too am torn. first off, i'm sorry you were fired. i can't beleive that they would do such a thing (i mean i can, as i'm sure you can, as you were expecting it). but fired??? that's a bit harsh. they were willing to lose an experienced nurse with a spotless record because of this??? (and now they have to pay you unemployment).

i was supervising last weekend at one job (during the nyc blizzard), while hearing about my fellow staff nurses at my other job. the staff nurses at my other job (where i am staff) were told they needed to come in, no if's and's or butt's. well, my two friends (who live 45 min away) came in 6 hrs early, to ensure they would be there on time, before the snow got really bad. well, they were the only 2 (out of 5) to show up on the unit. there was no extra administration in house, and conveniently, none of them could be reached by phone. so what happened to the other 3 nurses? one did show up -after the staff called her to see if she was coming. she said it would take her too long to get there, the staff said "well leave now", so she made it in. the other two "couldn't make it in". their reward- a paid day (go figure). it made me very angry that they did not have a back up plan in place, or any plan for that matter.

i do believe that calling out for the weather is generally unacceptable (the hospital or ltc can not close, and you can only mandate people for so many hours). but in your case it had little to do with the weather. you had a child care issue that you unfortunately couldn't resolve- weather or not. you gave them ample time/warning. true, you knew about this conflict early enough as well, but i assume you did your best to find alternative plans for your kids. couldn't they assist you in possibly switching with someone who lived closer. or letting your kids come in with you. we're not talking about my four year old, who needs to be tended to, your kids could occupy themselves (tv, books, computer, homework).

if there's one thing i've learned from all this, it's nobody cares about you (not you, but all of us), and administration needs to plan for these things, and not just tell people to come in , and maybe offer incentives, and at the very least, a thank you.

as far as your facility's management (or lackk of), their problem goes way beyond the weather. this is a blessing in disguise, i'm sure. :)

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