runner502

Thanks I appreciate it. I actually have run into the nurse that was so awful to me. She was the exact opposite....she asked how I was doing and told me to "take care of myself". Not sure if someone spoke to her about her behavior. I had thought of reporting it after it happened, but I didn't want to draw more attention to myself either, so now I'm glad that I didn't. In my past experiences I have found it often doesn't get you very far and can even make things worse!

The only reason I signed it is because it basically just stated the facts. Otherwise I would have never signed it. It said it is recommended that I get the note from the doctor, etc... think she was doing it as much to cover herself since I later found out she was on probation for other things.

I sure hope so. We already now have have 5 nurses and one secretary from our unit out with COVID. So we are very short. Nurses are being texted every day asking to come in for bonus so that means they may be working 4-5 days of 12-14 hour shifts often times with one CNA for the whole unit!

Thanks for your support. It looks like I will not have to go on the floor period because, due to an autoimmune chronic condition that I live with I am more at risk. So my doctor is going to write a note stating that it is "not advisable" according to CDC guidelines for me to work on this unit. That is what I was originally hoping to get to avoid all of this, but was hoping it wouldn't come to the point where I would have to float since we've been so busy on our unit. But now I realize I should have done this sooner. My being unable to breathe was not an excuse not to go on the unit as someone earlier seemed to indicate. Until you are in someone else's shoes it is easy to pass judgment. I try to keep my medical condition private and not make it be a big issue, but sometimes I have to speak up.

Not much has happened. I had sent a message to my manager saying I was upset about how things were handled and that I'd like to take with her about it. When I saw her at work the other day she said we would meet at some point but agreed that it wasn't handled well.

I hope so. I have no problem floating but not when I am at risk unnecessarily.

That is a good point! Our hospital is in chaos right now. Huge turnover so I'm sure this got overlooked. But I am not going to risk my own safety for this oversight.

This is true, but I had no idea that I couldn't tolerate wearing the hood since I had never tried it. I understand that they need documentation, now, but the way it was handled was unprofessional and intimidation.

I hope you're right. I don't want to go drawing attention to myself but I feel that I am an easy target as someone to be bullied/intimidated due to my size and that if I don't do something....this will happen again in some other form. The new manager is definitely not like this, but we also have a fairly new CNO who I never see and a new CEO who I also never see. I know they recently suspended staff including a charge nurse. This employee should have been suspended or let go 2 years ago when she started, so I think this new CNO isn't going to put up with much.

Thanks for the support. I just hope one of my doctors will be willing to write a note stating that I am unable to wear the papr or what would be better if they just excused me to my chronic condition that weakens my immune system. I never know how doctors feel about doing this due to making them accountable.

Unfortunately it's not a union hospital. My manager actually messaged me this morning to see if I would come in to work another floor for bonus! This is after they told me to get a note first. I messaged her back asking to speak with her as soon as she can to discuss what happened and how poorly things were handled. She hasn't responded, but I'm supposed to work tomorrow. I don't fault her because she just started in the position as manager and now we have no director. I really do like her but I know she is in a difficult position herself. Any advice on what I can do?

Unfortunately I don't work in a union hospital.

I had a horrible experience yesterday. I was asked to float to the covid unit. I told them that I was fit tested and failed the test for N95, so they said I had to wear a Papr. Well, I got up to the floor and they couldn't find any hoods. Meanwhile an hour had gone by with 6 patients having no nurse. Rather than find another nurse that could take the patients, the supervisor wasted another hour trying to find a hood. When the supervisor finally found one, basically taking a hood from an OT therapist's locker, I tried to put the hood on. As soon as I got the hood on, I couldn't breathe, got nauseated and started sweating. I basically had a panic attack because I couldn't breathe. I told the charge nurse I had to get it off. She called the supervisor who basically said "tough". Then she called me down to her office and tried to bully me into wearing it. She even tried to get me to wear an n95, saying....I want to see this on you. I told her I failed the fit test and it didn't fit. She then called my manager saying I refused to wear the mask and refused to work on the unit. I told her I would work anywhere else they needed me, but physically could not handle wearing the hood. So, I was placed on another unit, but basically threatened that I needed to get a doctor's note and I had to sign a write up about what happened. I am sick about this whole thing.....especially since there was no regard for my safety and now I'm being punished. I have never had a panic attack before and I have no trouble working with contagious patients, but I can't put up with being bullied into risking my own health and well-being. Has anyone else had a similar experience? Any advice on where to go from here? Then ironically, I got a text this morning asking me to come in to work for bonus! That's after the supervisor said I needed a doctor's not before coming back to work!

That sounds exactly like me! I have learned the hard way over the years that it's better to think things through before reacting. I am sure they will not be able to keep this up for long because they are losing staff either they quit or they are getting sick or injured.

Thanks for the support. Believe me I know HR is not my friend! I am probably going to wait it out and see if this is really just temporary. But, if it continues and the working conditions don't change I will probably start looking for another place to work.