THE GOOD THE BAD AND THE UGLY: Part 3 of the Lengthy "Back Story"

And...so it continues...

November 1, 2010, after a normal workday I received a call from my manager. She stated: “I spoke to head office and they said you are not to come in. You are on ‘hold.’ After asking her what on earth that meant, she replied: “They just said to call you and tell you that you are on hold.” I then asked her to please find out exactly what that meant and to call me back when she knew. Well, I didn’t hear from her for several days so I contacted her again. She still had no rhyme or reason for their ‘on hold’ scenario. Every couple of days, I would call again and either ask her directly or leave her a voicemail. NO RESPONSE…My response did however arrive 2 weeks later in the form of a Record of Employment. They had decided that I represented too much of a risk to their bottom line.

They were chock full of the ‘what ifs’ and the financial risk to the company that they could care less about what they were doing to me. The day that the dismissal letter arrived, you seriously could have knocked me over with a feather. I WAS SHOCKED! I had no idea that this is what “on hold” actually meant. Now, I could understand them doing this if I had not been doing well over the past 7 months. Yet, I did absolutely great and never missed a day due to my injury or pain.

Prior to my successful return for the 7 months, I had tried to return to work repeatedly and failed each and every time because my pain was still too severe. Frankly, I could understand them discarding me after one of my numerous failed attempts, but to have me return and do well for 7 months and then cast me aside? I simply do not understand it at all. Anyone that I explain it to shakes his or her head as well. Further to this, it meant that I was again forced to deal with WSIB (workers comp) and that in itself is a big ole barrel of cherries, sour cherries at that!

So, this is why I started the Human Rights case. I do not think they should be allowed to literally BLINDSIDE an employee the way they did me. I am absolutely not the type of person that would ever launch a frivolous lawsuit and frankly I could care less about getting money out of them. I simply want them to give me my job back. Is that too much to ask? Well, apparently it is because they have hired some Human Rights lawyer that charges almost $3000.00/hr. For my side, well it’s just iddy bitty me. I’m no fancy lawyer and in fact I know very little about law, but I do know when my rights have been violated. I have already told them that I have no interest in this case and that I don’t even want money. I just want the job I love back! Most people think I am crazy for wanting to work for this company again. But for me, it isn’t about the employer. It is the job. I love community nursing and always will. It would be awesome if there was another agency in the area that offered home care but right now, Bayshore is the only one. I don’t do it for the employer, I do what I do for the patients. The company is largely irrelevant as I have always loved community nursing.

The most pathetic part of this is the latest documents that I have received regarding their reply are full of lies. Believe it or not, outright blatant lies! I have always been honest, sometimes honest to a fault and would never lie about something as serious as this. Apparently the Human Rights Tribunal can force them to take me back and it is my fervent hope that they will do exactly that. What they have done is wrong! If I win my case, it will also be publicized and perhaps then they will realize that they can not dispose of injured employees like yesterday’s garbage. Unfortunately, this in not the first time they have done this to an injured worker and quite frankly it is a downright disgrace.

At this point, I have just replied to the lies in their documents and apparently they are to respond again to me and then the case will commence. As much as I don’t want to go through this, it needs to be done, not just for me but for all the present and/or future employees of this company. Wrong is wrong right?

Take care and stay well,
J

P.S. Presently, because I have no idea how long it will take for my case to come up, I have been forced by WSIB to look for work. Interviews abound…fun, real fun…

THE GOOD THE BAD AND THE UGLY: Part 2 of the Lengthy "Back Story"

April of 2010 was an awesome month for me. I finally achieved what I had wanted since my workplace injury on November 2007. (For anyone that does not wish to read older posts, I was injured trying to catheterize a 500-pound woman). After a couple of months of working on getting my pain medication to an optimal level, I was ready, willing and able to return to work. Frankly, I had long ago resigned myself to the fact that I would never be able to function well at all, never mind returning to work. But, I did. I was literally more excited than a small child on Christmas Eve…

My employer, Bayshore Home Health, decided that I would be ‘buddied’ up with another nurse to ensure that I was able to carry out the tasks of the job. It had been 3 years and so I thought that was quite a reasonable plan. I knew I was atrophied and would need to build up my strength. It would afford me the opportunity to slowly work my way up to becoming independent again. Good plan right? I was told that this was only a temporary measure, that once I was able to build up my stamina I would be given my own caseload to take care of as I had done for years.

After a couple of months travelling along with my fellow nurse, I was doing great and had not encountered anything in the community nursing environment that I was unable to do. Both my colleague and I reported to our manager that I was doing well and was more than ready to be out in the community on my own. Every week or so, we reported the same thing and always received the same reply from the manager: “Just a little while longer until your doctor and head office says you can be on your own.” So, I shut my mouth, continued to work Monday through Friday without a problem. None whatsoever!

In hopes of removing my need for a ‘babysitter’ my physician filled out a report stating that I could see patients on my own. However, because of my injury, she stated that I should only see patients requiring lighter type care. For example task such as: changing dressings, taking blood pressures, giving injections. Unfortunately, my employer was apparently thinking that my physician was going to clear me for any and all possible patient care. Anyone with a lick of sense would realize that after an injury that incapacitated me for 3 years, a doctor would never give full clearance. After all that had happened, she would have been a fool to say, “Yes, you have free reign, go do whatever they ask you to.” They expected me to be able to jump back in and provide nursing care to anyone even 500 pound patients. Just a tad bit unreasonable?

The very sad part about it all is that my employer was warned that this particular patient situation was an accident waiting to happen. I had my manager come into the home to assess it for herself and after promising to get more assistance, she ended up just telling me to “Be careful.” All of the other nurses had already refused to nurse this patient due to the risk, yet I, feeling guilty that she would be left without care could not say no…A nurse with a heart, working for a company that could care less about their employees. Am I a fool or what?

Please stay tuned as part 3 is to be posted today as well.

Take care and stay well,
J

JUST A SIDE NOTE...

I was just reading a few old posts and could not help but see the HUGE contrast in where I was both physically and mentally at that time compared to now. If you read my most recent entry: "The Good the Bad and the Ugly", part 1 and compare it to the entry dated September 16/09 entitled "Know When to Fold Em," you will see what a miracle truly looks like. Clearly I was in a bad place at that time.

I will begin on part 2 this week of "The Good the Bad and the Ugly" and this contrast is worth mentioning only so that it will be clear that after struggling for so long to improve and return to work, I was finally successful...The very fact that I have come so far only to be discarded by my employer is even more heartbreaking. In part 2 I will go into more detail of what has occurred regarding the Human Rights case but even before that I welcome prayers that the case will go in my favor.

See you soon for Part 2.

Take care and stay well.
J

THE GOOD THE BAD AND THE UGLY: Part 1 of the Lengthy "Back Story"

Once again I must apologize for my absence. This time however, I have a reason...I have been jumping through the many WSIB (Workplace Safety and Insurance Board) hoops. To begin, anyone that knows me is well aware of the nightmare I have dealt with regarding chronic pain. In the past, if anyone were to tell me that I would actually be successful in controlling my pain and again have my 'life' back I would have believed them insane. Though, that is exactly what happened.

Based upon the recommendations from a pain specialist, my lovely physician decided to try me on the Fentanyl patch.* (A very dangerous narcotic, but exceptionally effective when used correctly and safely.) It turned out to be an absolute miracle for me. Normally my pain level on a scale of 1-10 was at least 7 at rest and rose well above 10 with any physical activity. I had become a completely non-functioning chronic pain poster child. I had always been an upbeat happy individual and never dreamed that I would become depressed and suicidal. But, I did. Chronic pain can do that to even the most jovial person. It was a combination of the pain and my inability to function. I truly felt like a useless piece of garbage. As a nurse for many years I was always in the caregiver role, not the care receiving and had my identity all wrapped up in being a nurse. What was I now? Thank the Lord that I had not followed through with my suicide plan, as just when I reached my darkest hour, my miracle arrived.

It did require some 'tweaking' but, within 2 weeks, I was pain free. PAIN FREE!!! Anyone that suffers with chronic pain day in and day out can certainly appreciate just how difficult it is to control it and many poor individuals never reach that point. My pain level is now 0/10 and only when I really overdo it does it come back but even then, it is only 1 to 3 out of 10.

Finally I had my life back. I could again attend social events, visit friends and family, participate in the day to day necessities which previously all fell upon my poor husband's shoulders. Not only that, I was able to return to the job I loved with all my heart as a community nurse. My identity restored, I was ecstatic and felt on top of the world, well for 7 months anyway. After 7 months of working without incident, my employer, Bayshore Home Health, decided that they would dispose of me because I represented a future risk of re-injury, therefore it was about liability and the potential loss of money. The bottom line is always about money isn't it?

After months and months for persevering and struggling to return to normal functioning, I was discarded like a piece of rotted fruit. The details of what has since occurred are somewhat lengthy so I shall leave that for part 2 & 3 of the 'back story'.

As a little preview, it involves a Human Rights case initiated by me and a 'promise' to Bayshore that I will not go away quietly.

Until then, take care and stay safe.
J

P.S. Come back soon, the story is just getting good.

I AM REALLY STILL ALIVE

I have finally made my way back online. The primary reason was computer issues and the financial inability to purchase another. At last I have a new one, an HP laptop this time...boo to Acer!

So much has happened both health related and not. I believe it will take 4-5 entries to get up to date and plan to start writing this weekend. I apologize for being such a bad, absentee blogger and hope my readers will forgive me and return again. Please :0)

Be back real soon, really I will!

Take care,
Jeannette

A LITTLE FRUSTRATED...

I thought I owed my faithful readers another update and certainly an apology regarding being MIA...Unfortunately, things with the laptop did not go well. As you know, I sent it into the Acer Repair Depo via Purolator. I suppose that was mistake number one-however hindsight and all that...

Anyhow, my laptop apparently arrived at Acer with a BROKEN SCREEN. It was sent in for a problem with overheating. Now Acer in their grand wisdom, documented the broken screen and promptly returned it to me via Fed-Ex. (Of course nothing was done about the overheating-which is somewhat irrelevant now anyhow.)

I contacted Purolator and informed them that my laptop screen had obviously been damaged while in transit. They immediately informed me that because Acer sent it back, the insurance I purchased was then VOID. I was told that it should have remained at the Acer Depo and they then send a person out to view the damage before they allow a claim. Now, one would assume that Acer should know such information and be aware that they have virtually voided the Purolator insurance and left me empty-handed. I can not begin to explain how upset I am at both Acer and Purolator.

I waited patiently for my laptop to be repaired and here I am with not only an overheating issue but now a broken screen to top it off. Neither Acer nor Purolator is accepting responsibility for this which leaves me presently without a laptop. Those that have followed my blog, know that due to my workplace injury, money is quite an issue. I have no clue when or if I will be able to pay to replace the screen or wait until the day comes that I can purchase a new one.

To be perfectly honest, I am not sure I wish to own an Acer after what they have done. I have infrequently been using the PC I have here-however that poses a couple of issues. First-it is very slow and frustrates the life out of me-and second-the entire reason for having a laptop was so that I could lie in bed and manage my pain without sitting at a desk with the PC.

What can I say...Caveat emptor...this buyer will certainly beware from this point forward. Thanks Acer-you've been awesome!

I WILL BE OFFLINE FOR A SHORT WHILE...

Just a quick note to update my readers. I was recently hospitalized yet again for severe dehydration. I waited too long to go to the ER and felt like death was upon me when I arrived. Still a bit weak however slowly recovering.

I have been putting off essential repairs to my laptop however it absolutely MUST be taken care of now before my warranty is void. So, depending upon how long these repairs take I will be offline for a short while. I have committed to getting back to at least one blog post per week minimum once I have my computer returned.

Until then, take care and stay well,
J