At our home we currently have 0 COVID cases. But back last Spring, we had lots of cases among staff and residents, lots were dying on oxygen, hypodermoclysis, staffing shortages pretty much a headache all around. I remember working mostly doubles and 2 triple shifts.
Lots of staff who were never COVID positive went on a LOA these were full time staff they were gone for 2-5 months, and then came back. Staff who have been their for years and the ones who filled those spots were the new staff. When the old staff came back from their LOA the new staff either became casual, part -time or on - call.
I personally do not think its fair. You cannot just go "LOA" during a pandemic. One staff said they were going for "personal" reasons which I think was a load of bull *** because she worked short for 1 day, called in sick the next, and then the next day after that she had her LOA letter at the Director of Care desk.
One staff said, "I had pneumonia as I was coughing". I said so how come you worked during a respiratory outbreak, an enteric outbreak, and MRSA outbreak, but when COVID comes you go on LOA? To me it makes no sense. And this person was gone for 4 months which makes no sense. After 4 months the outbreak at our home was already controlled. She had no response.
I myself had Covid 19 back in April. I isolated for 14 days plus 2 to be safe, then went back to work in May. I have asthma but always have a puffer. I'm always involved in outbreaks, I feel like its part of the job. I mean as long as they have PPE and what not, and the workplace was offering a hotel at no cost.
Even the office job nurses in administration, were called to work in the front lines and they said they did not want too. To me its sounds like patient abandonment. If my grandparents were in a nursing home I would want someone taking care of them 24/hours making sure they are safe and cared for.
You can blame management but management has no control of people disappearing.
The new staff were mad that they lost their positions due to seniority as they were the ones who worked short long hours while the full time staff just disappeared.
Specializes in OR, Nursing Professional Development.
11 hours ago, DribbleKing97 said:
You cannot just go "LOA" during a pandemic.
Correct. In order to go on a leave of absence without quitting, one must have management approval. If these staff had management approval, which appears to be evidenced by the fact that they still have jobs, you have nothing to hold against the staff themselves. You also have no idea what went on behind closed doors and are not privy to private conversations held between the employee and management. It may have even been decided that the LOA was to the benefit of all. I had a teammate who was actually encouraged to take a LOA during the beginning of the COVID crisis because she would be having constant panic attacks, disappear when we were needed to assist with the donning and doffing that became part of the role of our little education team in the OR setting where airborne isolation until that point was maybe a once or twice a year deal, and was dragging down the morale of the team. Having said person out of the way was an improvement even though my remaining partner and I had to take up the slack.
Specializes in Geriatric Psych, Palliative Care, LTC.
I understand your frustration with working doubles / triples / short staffed. Going through that at my facility right now.
However, I am one of the nurses who “ran away” at the start of the pandemic- I had to go on a LOA due to a severe decline in my mental health and was unable to work. Was off for a month to get better and now I’m back at work better than ever.
I am a very private person who doesn’t share stuff like that , (except my “work wife” ahaha) so yeaa there’s a few people I work with that have been a bit salty.. but I probably wouldn’t be around right now if I didn’t get the help I needed. Don’t judge before you know someones story.
Specializes in Pediatrics, Pediatric Float, PICU, NICU.
This is once again none of your business and just not worth your energy. This is a reoccurring theme with your posts, I think you'd be a lot happier if you learned to just let things go that shouldn't occupy your brain space.
Specializes in ARNP, Family, Public Health/Tropical Medicine.
I was informed of that years ago. AIDS pandemic, AIDS unit, grossly understaffed. I stuck it out, learned to ask for help from my peers. So, unless you’re pregnant, have crappy immune system, or resp . Disorder. I think they can.
I get the impression that the OP has too much time on his hands.
Maybe ...but I remember one frequent topic-starter who had an "arrangement" to promote the site. I forget the exact words she used, and I forget her name altogether. Same sorts of threads, though. It does sometimes make me wonder. ?
I see your side. How fair is that people leave, those left behind work the long hard hours and then lose their hours when they return.
On the other, as was stated before management allowed them the time off and allowed them to come and you're not privy to that. Some may have had health issues and excuses from MDs or other issues that management supported.
Where I work, if you don't want to work covid and you don't have a medical reason (and several people do have doctor's notes), you either go to covid or quit. And several people did quit during the Summer surge here in Florida when their unit went covid. I can understand all of it.
Specializes in Pediatrics, Pediatric Float, PICU, NICU.
1 hour ago, Sour Lemon said:
Maybe ...but I remember one frequent topic-starter who had an "arrangement" to promote the site. I forget the exact words she used, and I forget her name altogether. Same sorts of threads, though. It does sometimes make me wonder. ?
Maybe ...but I remember one frequent topic-starter who had an "arrangement" to promote the site. I forget the exact words she used, and I forget her name altogether. Same sorts of threads, though. It does sometimes make me wonder. ?
Specializes in New Critical care NP, Critical care, Med-surg, LTC.
I can understand your frustration. We have had nurses throughout the hospital with LOAs, or medical exemptions to working conditions that have caused tension among the staff. One nurse has a MD note that she cannot take COVID assignments because she cannot wear a N95 for more than 20 minutes at a time. However, as peers, none if it is really our business. Whatever reason coworkers have to take time off, have accommodations made, etc. as long as it's approved by management, there's nothing you can do. So you're welcome to your annoyance, and it's not necessarily unfounded, but since nothing is going to change because you're annoyed, it's probably not worth your effort to maintain that aggravation.
Rose_Queen, BSN, MSN, RN
6 Articles; 12,051 Posts
Correct. In order to go on a leave of absence without quitting, one must have management approval. If these staff had management approval, which appears to be evidenced by the fact that they still have jobs, you have nothing to hold against the staff themselves. You also have no idea what went on behind closed doors and are not privy to private conversations held between the employee and management. It may have even been decided that the LOA was to the benefit of all. I had a teammate who was actually encouraged to take a LOA during the beginning of the COVID crisis because she would be having constant panic attacks, disappear when we were needed to assist with the donning and doffing that became part of the role of our little education team in the OR setting where airborne isolation until that point was maybe a once or twice a year deal, and was dragging down the morale of the team. Having said person out of the way was an improvement even though my remaining partner and I had to take up the slack.