Somewhat of a job-related predictament

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Okay, so I'm graduating next Saturday from a BSN program here in the D/FW area. We were supposed to have one final yesterday (Saturday) and another final tomorrow. However, we had an ice storm Thursday evening to Friday afternoon, and here, it basically results in schools and other businesses closing down. Our Saturday final was rescheduled for Tuesday from 11:00-1:00. Yesterday, the school sent out an alert that the campuses would be closed on Monday as well (forcing the Monday final to be rescheduled). Supposedly, the final will also be on Tuesday from 2:00-4:30. However, the instructors have stated that this is not guaranteed, and the test could also be on either Wednesday or Thursday, but they may not know until Monday night or Tuesday morning (very last minute, in my opinion). Because we were originally supposed to be completely done by Monday afternoon, this obviously caused a lot of people to have to reschedule other commitments, some due to work and others who had planned to go out of town. So far, this nursing class (which was 80% online anyway) has refused to convert its test online, despite the fact that several other nursing classes have already agreed to do so for the students. So far, it hasn't affected me. However, the problem comes if the final falls on either Wednesday or Thursday.

I've been working prn as a PCT for a big local hospital since May. From May until late August, I basically worked full-time (three 12-hour shifts a week) and cut back to only two shifts a month once my final semester of school started due to preceptorship scheduling and whatnot. Anyway, I had to call in sick one time in July due to having a 103-degree fever and being extremely and visibly contagious. I did not have this appear until the morning of my shift, and I called in as early as possible. I only missed one day. Unfortunately, in October, a very close primary family member died suddenly on a Thursday evening, and I was scheduled to have a shift on Saturday during the day. I waited until early Friday morning to call them once I knew when the funeral was going to be (Saturday). My wife and I had to go out of town for this, but I let them know more than 24 hours before I was scheduled. They seemed very supportive and told me not to worry about it.

Anyway, less than a week after I got back from the funeral, I received an e-mail from the floor coordinator/assistant manager that I was going to be verbally warned due to having missed two days of work (the one day I was sick in July and the recent Saturday because of the funeral), that prns are subject to being terminated/let go after three missed days in a 12-month period. I spoke to the coordinator, and she said that she understood why I missed, but that they were required to still verbally warn me and have me sign something that I acknowledged it.

So now, I'm scheduled to work both Wednesday and Thursday, and I'm concerned that if I need to call in and cancel my shift for one of those days because a final was rescheduled due to bad weather that this will be the time that they decide to fire me. Obviously, there's not much that can be done about the final. I'll also say that I planned on leaving the tech job very soon anyway because I was offered an internship/GN job at another hospital that I accepted and will be starting it at the end of February pending the NCLEX in January. At most, I probably only would have worked four more shifts (my focus was on studying for the NCLEX). Money is not an issue at this time, but I also don't want to leave this hospital with a bad flavor about me (i.e. if they end up firing me). In my nearly twenty years of working, I have never been fired from a job and have stayed at every job I've worked anywhere from 5-10 years. I'm a very reliable worker, and to possibly be fired due to two absences that were out of my control (a family death and a rescheduled final for graduation) just rubs me the wrong day, and I'm not sure of the best way to handle it.

Has anyone ever been in a similar situation? How did you deal with it?

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This is ridiculous. First I would look up the bereavement policy for the hospjtal. Most large businesses have one and you should be entitled to miss a certain number of days for the funeral based on that policy. Therefore, that cannot be held against you.

Maybe they will let you go, you never know, but thank god you don't really need them. They should be supportive of your education. Warn them now of the situation, offer to switch a day, ask someone to switch with you.

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Yeah, I thought it was weird, but they said that prns are held to a different standard than full-time employees.

The only problem with switching is that I'm required to work two-days per four-week schedule, and Saturday is the last day of the schedule. Tuesday is a final (possibly two), and if the final falls on one of the days that I'm scheduled to work, then I'll only be working one day. Friday is pinning, and Saturday is graduation, so those days are out.

I guess I'll just contact them and see what they say. Thanks for the feedback!

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Specializes in Neurology.

Why don't you tell them ahead of time instead of calling out ? After 20 years of working you should know hlw people are .. if yku give thwm time to find coverage shouldn't be an issue

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