I had surgery, now my employer won't let me work

[nursinghumor]

That's the one pitfall to bedside nursing, once you knees or back start giving you trouble, your career on the floors is over.

Some are able to do case management, utilization review or something else that doesn't require patient contact, but most are not that lucky.

Hope things work out for you.

Andrew Lopez, RN
http://www.nursingentrepreneurs.com

[mattsmom]

I agree with Andrew...facilities tend to treat us like the plague if we have any injury...specially an OJT injury. They simply don't want the risk, and unless one is in a protected class, there is not much one can do. If an injured nurse cannot meet the job description, employers have no obligation to retain. In my parts they don't even get into the 'whys'...they just 'found a better candidate'.

That said, keeping solid nurse contacts can help...after a back surgery and a car injury requiring neck surgery, I WAS able to keep working in nursing...but I DID have to pass a functional capacity evaluation and prove I could meet the lifting requirements. I'm convinced my good reputation and contacts played a huge role in my ability to stay on the job. 'Who you know' really does count.

[kathy-j]

I was hurt at work in August while lifting a patient and all went well in Minnesota. Everyone worked very hard as well as I to get back to work. Got the same job back and a promotion.

[mattsmom]

Originally Posted by kathy-j

I was hurt at work in August while lifting a patient and all went well in Minnesota. Everyone worked very hard as well as I to get back to work. Got the same job back and a promotion.

Minnesota is a union state where workers have rights. Not all areas are like this. Employee at will, nonunion areas (like Texas and much of the south) will not feel an obligation to an injured nurse, necessarily.

Consider yourself fortunate Kathy.

[vincent]

What if you had the surgery but you don't tell the hospital that hired you. Would that be okay?

- Vince

[nursinghumor]

Trying to hide your having a surgical procedure, is probably not advisable.

If you were going for something minor like microliposuction, sure you could schedule around it, depends on the recovery time.

If you're having surgery that is going to interfere with your ability to work, you'll have a tough time hiding it and when they do find out, they'll be less likely to work with you.

Andrew Lopez, RN
http://www.nursinga2z.com

[cassioo]

my hospital just fired a nurse (who last year was the employee of excellence) she had knee surgery and was off work from ICU but she was able to continue teaching clinicals (which she had done before surgery) from a wheelchair. There is some wording in our hospital policy that says you can't work someplace else if off from your job which I don't think is totally fair working from a wheelchair is not the same as staff nursing on the floor.

[JazzRN]

Originally Posted by cassioo

my hospital just fired a nurse (who last year was the employee of excellence) she had knee surgery and was off work from ICU but she was able to continue teaching clinicals (which she had done before surgery) from a wheelchair. There is some wording in our hospital policy that says you can't work someplace else if off from your job which I don't think is totally fair working from a wheelchair is not the same as staff nursing on the floor.

Maybe because she didn't okay it before hand? I can understand that Hospitals might get upset if you are on sick leave and working somewhere else. But if this nurse had discussed it with her main emplower beforehand they might have okayed it...

[orionseal]

Originally Posted by vincent

What if you had the surgery but you don't tell the hospital that hired you. Would that be okay?

- Vince

Was it before you were hired? Did they ask about it? If not don't feel guilty, and oh yea keep it to your self till they ask and when and if they do ask don't lie about it.

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