Management and modified duty

[TXcatcher]

Last month I was injured while transferring a patient. I hurt my back and have been on modified duty for over a month now.

At first, my manager was "nice" about offering me light duty assignments. I have been essentially acting as a free charge nurse, which my unit does not (but should) have. As the weeks have passed, my manager, though she has never particularly been friendly to me, seems to abhor the ground I walk on. She gives me the stink eye every time she sees me, and rolls her eyes when I bring in my new modified duty paperwork. Today she said "I took you off the holiday because there's no reason for you to sit around on a holiday," without even looking at me.

I do not "sit around." I try to stay up and active as much as possible because sitting hurts for one, and two, I want to be of service to my unit. I am often advocating for our staff and patients when the manager is mute on the subject. I am limited by the amount of weight I can bear and how much I can bend over, but I still try to be there for my coworkers where I can.

Recently, I was bullied (per usual) by a coworker. She has a history of being awful to me, as well as others, but she seems particularly keen on making my life hell. (Side story, even a patient and other hospital staff have recognized her being awful to me!) On this day, she and my manager both yelled at me for something that is not anything I had anything to do with. She also was rude about making me do her entire admission, which I did not do - I finally told her she needed to ask nicely after several hours of her berating me for being useless. Then later in the day, I was floated to another floor to be a telemetry technician. I have spoken with my manager and the nursing supervisors about my limitations, which include not sitting for several hours at a time (ie - reading tele monitors). I personally feel this was retribution for standing up for myself to this bully nurse.

My sister says it's a shame my boss doesn't like me, and I should try to get on her good side. Just a few months ago, however, my manager was the reason for a mass exodus of nurses from our floor. She does not respect the talented nurses on the floor, and we have lost some great nurses because of it.

Aside from the bully nurse and two or three lazy nurses, my unit has an awesome team of nurses and nursing assistants. We are all about teamwork and being there for each other. I do not know what to do about my relationship with my manager. I am in my early 30s, and I've been a nurse for three years. I am single, and without a backup plan. I do not want to return to full duty and hurt myself permanently, but at the same time, I am losing my self esteem because my boss makes me feel so useless and like I am a burden. Any advice?

[TXcatcher]

You wouldn't be protected at my facility at all. You can be fired without cause here. I wonder why you didn't get workman's comp. to start with? That said, you can still stand up and stretch, walk around, etc., when watching tele monitors. I do it all the time; they have alarms, you know.

That's scary! Texas is a "right to work" state, but they can't fire you for a workplace injury. Though, if I needed to, I could easily get a job down the street at another facility...making at least $5 more an hour... I'd just be miserable and unhappy.

On most floors, if you take two steps, you're too far from the monitors and can be written up for abandoning your post. I've agreed to do them on my floor where we have an actual room, so moving around is easier. But imagine a small cubby desk, like at the library, and that's what most floors have tucked away in a corner somewhere... Not all changes make alarms, and of course, most alarms are false...oh the joys of telemetry!

The whole point of not doing tele is that it causes so much more pain, and doesn't aide in my recovery. We have an actual need for a free charge on our floor, and the nurses love having someone handy. My manager even hired someone for this position, but allows the supervisors to count her and put her on the floor...so that's pointless. So we (the nurses) are taking full advantage of having me around while we can.

[nurseprnRN, BSN, RN]

I filed a report with occupational health, and have been seeing their assigned doctor. I was only given three PT sessions, but continue to do the exercises. The doctor doesn't really give me any recommendations for recovery, just asks if I still have pain and that's it. My restrictions do give the amount of time I can be doing certain activities. "Sitting for up to 50% of time or as needed." To me, fifty percent is too much. Even at home, I'm rarely sitting.

You need much more than three PT sessions (though good on you for continuing to do the exercises-- twice a day, every day!) and should be regularly monitored by a physician who specializes in rehab (physiatrist), preferably one who does mostly back rehab and can help you move out of this rut. In most states nobody can say you can't see your treating physician of choice. Find one-- and go to a different PT session if the one you got sent to is part of your hospital.

These should be covered by your work comp claim. Do you have a claim number? If not, you must file for one stat! Not occ health, but HR can help you. If they refuse (unlikely, but they might try to stonewall you some), call your state division for work comp.

[MunoRN, RN]

You need much more than three PT sessions (though good on you for continuing to do the exercises-- twice a day, every day!) and should be regularly monitored by a physician who specializes in rehab (physiatrist), preferably one who does mostly back rehab and can help you move out of this rut. In most states nobody can say you can't see your treating physician of choice. Find one-- and go to a different PT session if the one you got sent to is part of your hospital.

These should be covered by your work comp claim. Do you have a claim number? If not, you must file for one stat! Not occ health, but HR can help you. If they refuse (unlikely, but they might try to stonewall you some), call your state division for work comp.

I don't know how often it actually happens, but in Texas carrying workers comp insurance is voluntary so it's possible there is no workers comp claim to be made.