Going Back To Work

[nalasmom 14]

ok, so I work 3 days a week. So I cant request 4 days off in a row, and sometimes 8 days in a row but the latter is usually more difficult to get approved for. And being that I am still under probation at work, I don't want to push my luck. When people say they go back to work within a week, is that after the surgery or after the hospital stay? Im a nurse working 12 hour shifts and on my feet 80% of the shift. I am constantly moving and turning patients. Is it possible to go right back to work. By the way, I'm having my surgery in Mexico with Dr. Ortiz at the OCC. Can anyone else tell me what the optimal recuperation time would be before going back to work. Thank you.

[shangefan 193]

There are people who have more direct experience, but based on what I have read, I think you will need a few weeks off before you can return to that type of duty. Typically, you can't lift more than 10 pounds for several weeks.

[nalasmom 14]

thats unfortunate because ill never get a few weeks off

[shangefan 193]

Don't make your decision -- or even get too concerned -- based on what I say. I am just basing this on what I have read in the literature from doctors and what I have seen people post here. Did Dr. Ortiz's office provide any guidance on this?

[nalasmom 14]

Don't make your decision -- or even get too concerned -- based on what I say. I am just basing this on what I have read in the literature from doctors and what I have seen people post here. Did Dr. Ortiz's office provide any guidance on this?

I am going to call their office tomorrow. OUt of all the questions I asked Carolyn, the patient coordinator, I forgot to ask this one very important question. Hmm..thanks for the reply shangefan:)

[shangefan 193]

Is unpaid leave under FMLA a possibility? I don't know the rules, but it occurs to me that this might apply (others probably know more). I also have seen some folks post about going on short-term disability.

[nalasmom 14]

The FMLA entitles eligible employees of covered employers to take unpaid, job-protected leave for specified family and medical reasons with continuation of group health insurance coverage under the same terms and conditions as if the employee had not taken leave. Eligible employees are entitled to:

• Twelve workweeks of leave in a 12-month period for:
  
  • the birth of a child and to care for the newborn child within one year of birth;
    
  • the placement with the employee of a child for adoption or foster care and to care for the newly placed child within one year of placement;
    
  • to care for the employee’s spouse, child, or parent who has a serious health condition;
    
  • a serious health condition that makes the employee unable to perform the essential functions of his or her job;
    
  • any qualifying exigency arising out of the fact that the employee’s spouse, son, daughter, or parent is a covered military member on “covered active duty;” or
    

• Twenty-six workweeks of leave during a single 12-month period to care for a covered servicemember with a serious injury or illness if the eligible employee is the servicemember’s spouse, son, daughter, parent, or next of kin (military caregiver leave).
  

So the above is what I found under the US Dept of Labor website. I don't think they would consider my surgery as a serious illness. I mean I would like them too but I think I'd be pushing it, ya know? Yeah, its a serious illness to me. This has seriously been putting my life on hold for the last 11 years. I'm just tired you know?

[shangefan 193]

I understand what you are saying.

I hope that you can get some feedback from some of the people who have had to negotiate this. I know that there are a number of nurses who are active here, as well as people who have other types of jobs that require physical exertion.

[welittle1 26]

I am a cook at our local nursing home and my doctor told me I would need 3 wks off from work.

[5DoxieMom 87]

Nalasmom,

You will have lifting restrictions. I am also a nurse, but now I do home health. I went back to work at 10 days, but if I was still working in a hospital, I could have never done it, it's much to strenuous. Some people feel fine right off the bat, but they still have a lifting restriction. Mine was under 25 lbs for 6 weeks.

[Lissa 2,631]

I think that the lifting restriction is going to be your biggest hurdle. I see that you're still on probation for your job. Do you think they'd let you have a No Lifting Restriction at work for a few weeks to recover from your surgery? That way you could still work and heal. It might be worth a frank conversation with a supervisor, but ask your surgeon's office first.

I'm not sure what the FMLA guidelines are, even after reading the post above. I would like to think that any job would honor a doctor's note that allowed you to return to work with a lifting restriction. I know that the real world doesn't always work that way, though.

Good luck!!

[Texarkolina 201]

The FMLA entitles eligible employees of covered employers to take unpaid, job-protected leave for specified family and medical reasons with continuation of group health insurance coverage under the same terms and conditions as if the employee had not taken leave. Eligible employees are entitled to:

• Twelve workweeks of leave in a 12-month period for:
  
  • the birth of a child and to care for the newborn child within one year of birth;
    
  • the placement with the employee of a child for adoption or foster care and to care for the newly placed child within one year of placement;
    
  • to care for the employee’s spouse, child, or parent who has a serious health condition;
    
  • a serious health condition that makes the employee unable to perform the essential functions of his or her job;
    
  • any qualifying exigency arising out of the fact that the employee’s spouse, son, daughter, or parent is a covered military member on “covered active duty;” or
    

• Twenty-six workweeks of leave during a single 12-month period to care for a covered servicemember with a serious injury or illness if the eligible employee is the servicemember’s spouse, son, daughter, parent, or next of kin (military caregiver leave).
  

So the above is what I found under the US Dept of Labor website. I don't think they would consider my surgery as a serious illness. I mean I would like them too but I think I'd be pushing it, ya know? Yeah, its a serious illness to me. This has seriously been putting my life on hold for the last 11 years. I'm just tired you know?

I do human resources for a living and deal with FMLA each and every day. This would absolutely qualify under FMLA as treatment for a serious medical condition. In order to qualify you have to have been with your employer for one year, however.

[legal loser 77]

Mine was covered under FMLA.

[aleach0003 12]

To the op,

I know exactly what you're going though. At the beginning of 2012 I started a new job with a new hospital (rn as well). While I'm not in a probationary period anymore, I have limited vacation time and am not eligible for FMLA.

Anyway, our organization has a medical leave available at our managers discretion. While it isn't perfect, that's the route I've decided to take. Additionally, I've been open with my manager and am having surgery during the summer when census is lower and after more people will be trained for our shift. As a newer employee I'm trying not to make my surgery a burden for my coworkers or the floor.

As far as the amount of time you're taking off, you're not counting for any complications, giving yourself time to adjust to your new stomach, etc. This is major surgery. People with gallbladder surgery take off longer than you're planning or thinking, fwiw.

I'm not trying to be a downer, but Im just Concerned nurse to nurse. If it is any help, my surgeon lets some people go back after a week but after he learned I was a nurse and what kind of floor I worked on (med-surg/medical detox), he told me 2.5 to 3 weeks.

Best of luck.

[MrzSongbird 53]

FMLA would go into play if you have been at your job for one year. However STD should definitely kick in for six weeks and you should still be paid with it. Check with your HR dept. Best of luck