Hey everyone.. I was recently let go from my new job in IR. I have about 5 years of experience (ICU and cardiac procedure care - pre/post/intra). Earlier this fall took a new job at another hospital. First week on the job, I experienced a pain I had never felt before - my upper shoulder and neck muscles began contracting out of the blue and continuously. It hurt bad…felt like a "charley horse" in my shoulder and neck that just wouldn’t stop. I was escorted to from my unit to the ED to get checked out. After the ED PA and MDs saw me, a CT of my neck was ordered right away, and it showed that I had a C5-C6 protrusion. I was given pain meds and a referral to ortho surgery. By the time I got out of the ED, my shift was over. I returned to work for my next scheduled shift.
I made an appointment as soon as I could with Ortho, on an off day. Ortho doc advised that I not do any sort of strenuous exercise (which was crushing... I am avid backpacker/hiker.. I bike, practice yoga, play tennis, weight lift, run, etc...) and now suddenly could not do anything but light stretching and walks, and was given an order to see PT 3x a week. Being new to the unit, I was transparent about the injury (not the details of the cause... just that it existed….as the cause of the injury was an assault that had happened a couple months back... by an angry family member who was not in their right state of mind… I shared that with the ED and the Ortho doc, but that feels a bit too sensitive to share with my new workplace people).
Moving forward, I stayed flexible with scheduling. I remained cautious and mindful about my neck while I worked. But I still worked. Per preceptor, I was a hard worker. Even though I was not permitted to exercise, my doc said it was fine that I still worked. So, I continued working per usual: including pushing beds, transferring, carrying / shifting weighty tech machinery around, repositioning patients, wearing lead during procedures, etc… After each shift and on my off days, I focused on self care. I rescheduled and put off PT to accommodate my new job ever changing schedule... so that I be consistent and work with my preceptor, follow her schedule.. and also that I could complete orientation in a timely matter despite the missed days.
Fast forward ~6 weeks I hurt my lower back at home… Annoying… something about not exercising for that long has made me clumsier I guess… but, NBD. There was a little bruising and a nagging sensation, otherwise felt that it was not that bad. Then the next day I worked ( on a particularly fast moving, short staffed, bustling & busy day ) I ended up hitting the exact same spot on my lower back (on patient bed rail). It hurt at first, but subsided. I shook it off and I kept working. Later that afternoon, I could feel the spot on my lower back swell .. and grow... and it became more painful. I asked a co-worker about it. She took a look and suggested that I get it checked out asap because it looked like a hematoma. I approached my manager, explained what happened, and went to the ED. CT of my lower back confirmed a hematoma. I was given a doctors note and was instructed to take it easy the next few days so that the area can heal and not get worse. I kept my manager updated via text and calling, and immediately provided a copy of the MD note.
I returned to work a few days later as instructed. I was eager to get back to work and was feeling much better. Near the end of the shift that day, my manager pulled me into the office, and called HR. With me, my manager present, and HR on the phone, HR stated that as a new hire I am on probationary period, and during that that time, it is expected that employees be at their best. The number of unexcused absences has made them feel that I am not a good fit to work there anymore. Reasons were irrelevant... She said that at the end of the day, the number of unexcused absences was concerning, so much so that they felt they could no longer keep me as an employee. I was terminated. Just like that.
I am still stunned... It's not like I caught a cold or didn't feel like coming to work... It's not like I just went to the ED on a wim and nothing was found... Is this really grounds for termination? Is there any way to fight this? I followed advice of co-workers, I followed MD instructions, I kept my manager updated, and thought that I was doing the best one possibly could in keeping that balance of being a diligent worker and caring for self. Should I have done something different? Is there anything that I can do now? I am really at a loss...
