When I had my surgery in August, I went to my manager, explained to
her that I could not lift any weight for a week, but could lift a light load
for the next three weeks (10lbs) and then normal activity. I was told NO.
Strict hospital policy that if a nurse cannot lift 50lbs, cannot work, purely
a safety issue to protect us. So, i was off for a month.
Today I show up for work, and am replaced as charge nurse, by another
one of our nurses. I'm a bit confused. She is wearing a cast on her left
arm, from elbow to hand. I asked her what was going on and she says.
Oh, I'm charge nurse now cuz I had surgery on my arm and I cannot lift
and can only take one or two patients that I don't have to lift.
Now, how is this fair? Am I just being petty? Not only is that unfair it sounds like it is illegal. I would be setting up a meeting with yourself, your boss, and the Administrator. Is there a difference in pay? You have every right be very offended. Good luck!Oh now that stinks. That isn't fair at all. Do not know what you can do about it. But i do not blame you for being mad. You can not get your month back. This lady sounds rude on top of it. MAybe this could be discimination. As they think this lady will get better when her arm heals and they think you will still have RA. But with things in the work place they can toot off with an answer like new company policy. The world is not a fair place and sometimes we dig our self into a bigger whole trying to make it one. You can except it or fight it. Just some times when fighting it you better make sure you have the energy. Unfair things tend to stay unfair. Sorry things are going this way for you.Geez Lori. I don't think you're being petty. That doesn't sound right at all. I don't know if I'd be willing to just let this slide. I would be speaking to her superior and put it all in writing, do you have a union at all? Do not let this lie, that really is discrimination! It makes me so mad, rubbish like this, you go girl!! Janie
Something is definitly wrong w/ that. How could they let her work when she cant obviously lift 50 lbs but not you. I would speek to her supervisor and find out what is going on. Does that mean you do not have a job? I'd be speaking to your union rep if you have one. Sounds mightily unsavoury to me.We do have a union but it is worthless. I raised so much hell yesterday over
this that the supervisor ended up calling the manager at home. Oh, I'm sure
I'm going to get a call from that manager today. I'm not going to let this
slide. This is exactly the type of thing that ruins morale in the workplace. I
didn't get sick leave for that three weeks as I had none in my bank. But I
could have worked had I known that these types of accomodations could be
made for nurses. Hmmm. I even thought about calling the labor board
today about it. I'm very mad. Lori, it stinks. Hospitals and other medical treatment facilities are notorious for this type of unfairness. I'd also go to HR and put it all in writing. Don't allow them to get away with this. As nursing supervisor does she have a patient load or is she just supervising? What happens if nurses are out sick, does she fill in? She's a danger to patients if she is doing patient care. No, you're not being petty. Lindy Sounds like unfair and illegal treatment to me!!!
Best of luck in pursuing this - it can be very tough to prevail!
Lorster was she hurt at work and that is why she has a cast? If she was hurt at work they have to give her a job she can do that will not interfere with the cast because of being hurt at work. If she wasn't at work when she got hurt and needed the cast I would raise bloody hell becuase it is definately favoritism then
[QUOTE=meme]Lorster was she hurt at work and that is why she has a cast? If she was hurt at work they have to give her a job she can do that will not interfere with the cast because of being hurt at work. If she wasn't at work when she got hurt and needed the cast I would raise bloody hell becuase it is definately favoritism thenI didn't have any thing in my bank in august, but it was ok, it was elective
surgery so i had saved money and didn't need the sick hour banks.I was
ok with the managers explanation that they couldn't accomodate me as it
was a safety issue. I am ok with that. But then to accomodate this nurse
as they did was totally unfair to me. She is more at risk as she was not
able to properly clean her hands between patients. This nurse in the
cast, had some sort of a growth removed two days prior to working,(not
work related injury) in any case, was not allowed to lift with that arm and
it was a cloth based cast so she certainly could not wash her hands which
to me is a health hazard in itself. I have not contacted this manager yet
as I'm still so angry that I want to make sure I don't say something that I
may regret later. This really is a dog eat dog profession. It really sours
me on the whole idea of being a nurse.
Geesh! Sounds like my life...so unfair. You have got to get to the bottom this and it doesn;t sound good at all. I am so sorry that you have to go through this.
WHen my mother had her initial surgery on her knee, one of her nurses was pregnant. Well 2 days after her surgery her nurse was not there yet we knew the baby was not due yet. THe other nurses stated that she was on maternity leave....ok.
About an hour after we heard this, she was in mothers room. We asked what was going on and why she was there we thought perhaps she was ill. She told us that she was taken off the schedule because she was close to her due date........?
She told us and stated it very loud..."DO I look like I have had a baby yet????????? ( she was very pregnant at the time.) SHe then stated she told them she had not signed up for thematernity leave yet and she is and will continue to be on the schedule to work...they had to send the other nurse home....I got an idea then that it is a dog eat dog profession.
GOod golly! There is enough stress and hard work with that job, why the heck do they add to it?
Jode
Dog eat Dog profession doesn't even come close to describing it. I spent 20 years in the profession and was never happier than when I left. I never realized how a workplace should be run until I left the hospital. I hope that you're successful. Lindy
Lori, that is just awful and wrong. I am so sorry this has happened to you. It is extremely unfair and discriminatory. I hope you can sort it out easily and quickly. I think you should make a huge fuss, it is just not right. One rule should apply to all, if it applies.
I am sorry, Lori. I hope you get to the bottom of it.
Good Luck!
One of the things I hate about being a nurse is how management ALWAYS plays favorites. It seems to me that they tend to pick those to be in charge who shouldn't be in charge of anything.