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 Jack of all trades, master of...a few ;).
3 hours ago, toomuchbaloney said:
One of the people arrested for participation in the insurrection at the Capitol is an RN from Georgia. I wonder if she was working with covid patients? It's nice that she had the day off work.
Because it was a high profile event and they're all about appearances. Her arrest I think or I hope will be dropped down or completely once the smoke clears, then they can pay her unemployment.
Unfortunately, your complaints need to be taken up with management if you are concerned about it as it has nothing to do with the nurses who took LOA and frankly, that is really none of your business as frustrating as the situation may be.
Specializes in NICU, PICU, Transport, L&D, Hospice.
3 hours ago, mom_e_bizcut said:
Because it was a high profile event and they're all about appearances. Her arrest I think or I hope will be dropped down or completely once the smoke clears, then they can pay her unemployment.
I guess that remains to be seen. The woman I mentioned attended the insurrection with her son, who was carrying limb restraints. That certainly is the appearance of intent to do more than sight see.
Specializes in Psych, Addictions, SOL (Student of Life).
On 1/15/2021 at 1:52 PM, mom_e_bizcut said:
Its HIGHLY unlikely that they ALL did so for legitimate reasons! Meaning that many of them did it for selfish reasons.
I take issue with this statement you opinion is irrelevant to my life and situation. Back in April of 2020 I was set to go on a personal leave to travel with my son for a month through Italy, France and the UK and Ireland. Covid hits and that plan sure got smashed. I canceled our flights which are not refundable due to a corporate loop hole. I saddled up and went to work with enthusiasm. Our facility (Acute In-patient Psych) was initially considered low risk, then moderate and now high risk. I have a long history of anxiety and depression which is something I don't care to discuss with my co-workers Around June I felt myself slipping into that dark hole and knew I have to do something so I put in for a month in February. It is not a medical LOA because I am simply practicing good self care. Some one at work asked me why I was leaving the hospital for a month when there was short staffing. " I told them that the dog was going into Hospice care and the whole family would be sitting vigil to be with her up the end. I got a few strange looks but no-one wanted to argue further.
I do not consider it selfish to want to take care of ourselves and I don't think it's selfish to take LOA when we may be worried about catching Covid, or bringing it home to a loved one. IF some like the OP were to have the gall to question why I went on LOA I would probably say something like do you always ask rude and intrusive questions about mine or any other person's private lives.
For the record I have severe auto immune disfunction in the form of fibromyalgia, Inflammatory Bowel Disease and Diabetes. I'm almost 60 and hardly ever take vacation time. The time has been approved and I am going to enjoy every minute of it and return to work with renewed spirit.
Specializes in Mental health, substance abuse, geriatrics, PCU.
1 hour ago, hppygr8ful said:
I take issue with this statement you opinion is irrelevant to my life and situation. Back in April of 2020 I was set to go on a personal leave to trvel with my son for a month through Italy, France and the UK and Ireland. Covid hits and that plan sure got smashed. I canceled our flights which are not refundable due to a corporate loop hole. I saddled up and went to work with enthusiasm. Our facility (Acute In-patient Psych) was initially considered low risk, then moderate and now high risk. I have a long history of anxiety and depression which is something I care to discuss with my co-workers Around June I felt myself slipping into that dark hole and new I have to do something so I put in for a month in February. It is not a medical LOA because I am simply practicing good self care. Some one at work asked me why I was leaving the hospital for a month when there was short staffing. " I told them that the dog was going into Hospice care and the whole family would be sitting vigil to be with her up the end. I got a few strange looks but no-one wanted to argue further.
I do not considerit selfish to want to take care of ourselves and I don't think it's selfish to take LOA when we may be worried about catching Covid, or bringing it home to a loved one. IF some like the OP were to have the gall to question why I went on LOA I woould probably say something like do you always ask rude and intrusive questions about mine or any other person's private lives.
For the record I have severe auto immune disfunction in the form of fibromyalgia, Inflammatory Bowel Disease and Diabetes. I'm almost 60 and hardly ever take vacation time. The time has been approved and I am going to enjoy every minute of it and return to work with renewed spirit.
Hppy
I'm glad you're taking some time off, Hppy, you do good work.
Of course. But lots of these frontline workers went LOA during the worse time. When the cases started going up in our home the workers kept calling in "sick" and eventually went on LOA>
so why would they work during a regular outbreak then? if thats the case then they should go LOA every Winter/Spring when there is a flue outbreak.
Do you think this current pandemic is just like the regular flu seasons ? That the severity is the same ? There is a reason why covid is called a PANDEMIC
Sort of. In a way, their jobs should be given to people that actually WANT to work. Unless you absolutely had no other choice and had to leave your job because you needed to take care of family (kids, sick family members etc). Quitting for any other reason than what I listed above is unacceptable (in my opinion) and you shouldn’t automatically just get your job back.
Specializes in Psych, Addictions, SOL (Student of Life).
8 minutes ago, Crystal-Wings said:
Sort of. In a way, their jobs should be given to people that actually WANT to work. Unless you absolutely had no other choice and had to leave your job because you needed to take care of family (kids, sick family members etc). Quitting for any other reason than what I listed above is unacceptable (in my opinion) and you shouldn’t automatically just get your job back.
Going on leave of absence is different than quitting. LOA has job protection in much the same way as FMLA. I understand that my employer might not need me in the area I worked previouse to going on LOA but I work with psychiatrically ill adolescent's and it appears most of my co-workers would much rather have their eyeballs removed with a spoon than work with that population.
Sort of. In a way, their jobs should be given to people that actually WANT to work. Unless you absolutely had no other choice and had to leave your job because you needed to take care of family (kids, sick family members etc). Quitting for any other reason than what I listed above is unacceptable (in my opinion) and you shouldn’t automatically just get your job back.
As the OP just stated these nurses were on a leave of absence. They didn't just quit their job and then ask for it back. If other nurses lost their job I'm assuming they must have been working as temporary staff, agency, pool or travelers. Otherwise I don't understand how they could just be let go. That doesn't make sense to me. If an employer would actually hire them as permanent staff and mislead them that is on the integrity of the employer. As terrible as some places can be, I would still be shocked if that was the case!
I'm really tired of the nurses as angels and Florence Nightingale that it is our duty to sacrifice ourselves and how dare we decide to put ourselves or family first. The hospitals have been using this mentality to take advantage of nurses for years, perfectly OK with chronic, daily short staffing, yet nurses come back day after day working thru lunch mostly unpaid etc. We have the right to quit a job and believe me hospitals don't think twice about letting nurses go when it suits them!
If someone quit a job and decided to later on apply for a job that is their choice. Considering the chronic nursing shortage and the many travelers getting crisis pay, I don't see why an employer would turn down a competent nurse. If they did that would be their loss.
I quit my job of almost 30 years and have started my pension. At this point I don't see myself working as a nurse again. If I change my mind, I will cross that bridge then, but I have no plans on ever working as a hospital nurse again and definitely never work for my last employer!
Specializes in Psych, Addictions, SOL (Student of Life).
I might also add that taking an LOA for the sake of your own mental health actually benefits the employer. A nurse having severe fatique or other symptoms R/T mental health place the employer and their own license at risk if they continue to work and make a mistake because their attention is elseware. On the other hand a nurse that takes an LOA and returns with their normal nursing super powers intact only benefits the employer and their patients.
I too am a bit sick of the whole angels/martyrs idea. Nursing is job and a pretty good one when you consider that someone like myself with a ADN can make 6 figure income. For me it is a job and only that. The only thing I owe to my employer and society in general is to take really good care of myself so that when I am on duty I am fully capable of doing my job without putting patients at risk.
mom_e_bizcut, LPN
23 Posts
Because it was a high profile event and they're all about appearances. Her arrest I think or I hope will be dropped down or completely once the smoke clears, then they can pay her unemployment.