Can Travel Nurse Applying for Unemployment

Set up now and so you’re not caught off guard.

Takeaways:

• Nearly nurses never look to be terminated from their jobs.
• Preparing for unexpected task loss can assist you navigate the notification process, empathise what’southward required of you by human resources, determine how to accost your immediate needs.

Editor’s note: This is the start of a two-part serial on nurse task loss. Part ii will appear in the September issue of American Nurse Periodical.

A mutual misconception is that nurses will always accept a chore. Offset with nursing school, and ofttimes throughout our careers, nosotros hear this refrain. However, unexpected unemployment is a reality, and nurses must remain professionally nimble and banking concern their energy then they tin easily pivot if necessary.

This two-office series aims to aid nurses set up for an unexpected chore loss. In Part 1, we discuss the termination process, how to communicate a task loss to others, and steps for addressing immediate practical needs. Part two volition focus on strategies for cocky-intendance and how to successfully pace into a new role.

Termination procedure

The termination process includes notification, human resources (HR) tasks, and retrieving personal items.

Notification

Termination notification is an employee’s official communication of task dismissal. Information technology typically occurs in a meeting with a supervisor and an HR representative with only minutes or hours of notice.

This conversation tin be distressing and confusing, especially if the chore separation is the result of a nonperformance issue such equally budgetary reductions. Maintaining your professional person sophistication tin can be vital when being considered for rehire and in securing colleague references. If possible, before going into the meeting, reach out to a friend or family member. Spending a few minutes with someone who can offer 18-carat words of support and business concern may reduce stress.

In the meeting, work to maintain your composure. Take deep cleansing breaths and focus on the facts provided rather than negative thoughts or emotions. However, expressions of sadness are acceptable. This is peculiarly true if it means the loss of proficient professional person relationships and fulfilling work.

Demonstrations of kindness and graciousness make powerful impressions. Expressing empathy for those making the termination conclusion and offering words of gratitude for the professional opportunities yous’ve had and for positive aspects of the work setting tin help you experience empowered and permit for a dignified divergence.

Avoid making accusations or getting defensive. A termination meeting isn’t the venue for discussing grievances. The decision has been made, so arguing is futile.

Human resources

Several HR-related tasks may need to exist completed before leaving the workplace. For example, notice out where y’all should return equipment (such as laptops and cell phones) issued to you lot by the arrangement as well every bit the deadline for returning it. According to the Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM), some states have laws allowing employers to deduct money from a terminated employee’due south final paycheck for unreturned equipment.

Some organizations offer severance packages to laid-off employees. These packages can incorporate financial compensation for being terminated and an extension of employment-related benefits. According to SHRM, no federal regulations require organizations to provide severance packages. Receiving a package can be helpful, simply you may be required to sign an agreement that includes non filing a wrongful termination lawsuit. Severance agreements might require that you not seek re-employment with the organization for a period of fourth dimension and not discuss whatever aspects of the separation or severance with anyone. (Run across
Working with HR.)

Retrieving personal items

How you retrieve personal items from your assigned workspace will depend on your arrangement’s policy. Some organizations crave that a supervisor or designated colleague pack upwardly items and notify you of when and where to option them up. Other organizations will allow you to pack up your personal items as long as you’re accompanied past a supervisor or other employee. This process can exist difficult and humbling. Keep interactions with coworkers brief and positive.

You may need to ask permission to access reckoner files to call up stored items, including personal photos, continuing education certificates, documents related to professional person licensure or certification, and personal appointments recorded on your work calendar.

How to tell others

After a chore loss, carefully consider how to share termination specifics and with whom. Expressing feelings of anger, anxiety, and other negative emotions can be cathartic and healing, peculiarly when shared with a minor circle of friends or family members who are supportive and empathetic, understanding that any data is confidential. Yet, dwelling on negative emotions for too long can be counterproductive to moving forrad. Part 2 of this serial volition offer suggestions for moving past negative emotions. Retrieve that disclosing cognition of an organization’south operational processes or information that violates the Wellness Insurance Portability and Accountability Act could pb to legal prosecution and disciplinary action from licensing or certification boards.

Many nurses may want to tell others about their job loss via social media. This can be benign, but should be done carefully. (Run across
Job loss and social media.)

Addressing immediate practical needs

Unplanned and unforeseen unemployment tin be financially challenging. In addition to the loss of a regular paycheck, you’ll also lose admission to many employer-provided benefits.

Wage loss

Wage loss can be a major stressor. Ideally, everyone should have an emergency expense fund that covers 3 to six months of living expenses. A Federal Reserve survey found that almost forty% of adults would take difficulty covering an unexpected $400 expense, suggesting that many lack an adequate emergency expense fund.

If you’ve experienced job loss due to layoffs, you probably qualify for unemployment benefits. Each country’s government workforce service oversees their unemployment insurance plan. Visit your state’s official website to acquire about the benefits you’re entitled to.

Receiving unemployment benefits may help alleviate more than merely financial concerns. Findings from a written report of vii,558 unemployed individuals past Shahidi and colleagues and a systematic review of 12 unemployment studies by Renahy and colleagues advise that unemployment benefits may positively bear on an unemployed private’s wellness. The detrimental health furnishings of task loss are well-documented in the literature. Applying for unemployment benefits can be a proactive health measure later on losing a chore.

Benefits loss

The expense of paying for personal health insurance after losing it through your employer may tempt you to forego coverage. However, an accident or major disease tin can rapidly consequence in thousands of dollars of medical bills that you lot may be unable to pay. Continue in mind that although the federal penalty for non having health insurance was eliminated in 2019, some state jurisdictions may have wellness insurance mandates.

For those ineligible to switch to a significant other’s wellness insurance programme, the Consolidated Jitney Budget Reconciliation Human activity (COBRA) and the Health Insurance Marketplace are options. COBRA mandates that those eligible subsequently job loss may remain on their former employer’s group plan for up to 18 months. COBRA offerings tin include the following from a erstwhile employer:

• dental, vision, and prescription drug plans
• flexible spending account
• wellness reimbursement program
• health and employee assistant programs
• alcohol and drug treatment.

Although COBRA is a viable option, it can exist costly. According to the U.Due south. Department of Labor, those who qualify may be responsible for paying the entire premium upwards to 102% of the cost of the plan.

Healthcare coverage through the Wellness Insurance Marketplace may be more than affordable. This program, overseen by the federal government, is role of the 2010 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Deed. Several plans are available, and costs vary depending on geographic location and coverage level.

Job termination also tin impact your eligibility for other employment-related benefits, such as childcare, gym memberships, and net or cell phone providers. Contact these services directly to identify potential not-employment related discounts.

Be prepared

Many nurses never anticipate sudden unemployment. Being prepared with a plan for how you lot’ll handle notification, share the information, and take care of immediate practical needs can aid you successfully transition into your adjacent career.

Phyllis Hooten is a freelance writer in Hewitt, Texas. Aida J. Sapp is a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner at Baylor Scott & White Wellness in Temple, Texas.

References

American Hospital Association. Fact sheet: COVID-nineteen pandemic results in bankruptcies or closures for some hospitals. aha.org/fact-sheets/2020-11-09-fact-sheet-covid-19-pandemic-results-bankruptcies-or-closures-some-hospitals

Federal Reserve. Written report on the economic well-existence of U. Southward. households in 2018. May 28, 2019. federalreserve.gov/publications/2019-economic-well-being-of-united states-households-in-2018-dealing-with-unexpected-expenses.htm

Hannon Yard. Laid off? Tell the earth on social media. August 25, 2016. forbes.com/sites/nextavenue/2016/08/25/laid-off-tell-the-globe-on-social-media/

Jin RL, Shah CP, Svoboda TJ. The bear upon of unemployment on wellness: A review of the evidence. CMAJ. 1995;153(5):529-xl.

Renahy East, Mitchell C, Molnar A, et al. Connections between unemployment insurance, poverty and health: A systematic review. Euro J Public Health. 2018;28(2):269-75. doi:10.1093/eurpub/ckx235

Shahidi FV, Muntaner C, Shankardass K, Quiñonez C, Siddiqi A. The consequence of unemployment benefits on health: A propensity score analysis. Soc Sci Med. 2019;226:198-206. doi:10.1016/j.socscimed.2019.02.047

Society of Man Resource Direction. How-To Guides: How to deport a layoff or reduction in force. www.shrm.org/resourcesandtools/tools-and-samples/how-to-guides/pages/conductlayofforrif.aspx

Society of Human Resources Management. HR Q & A: A terminated employee has not returned company equipment. Tin can the employer hold the paycheck until the equipment is returned, or deduct the toll from the final pay? January 8, 2019. www.shrm.org/resourcesandtools/

tools-and-samples/hr-qa/pages/returnequipment.aspx

Stauder J. Unemployment, unemployment duration, and wellness: Pick of causation? Euro J Health Econ. 2019;20(one):59-73. doi:10.1007/s10198-018-0982-2

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Economic news release: Tabular array A-12. Unemployed persons by duration of unemployment. June 4, 2021. www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.t12.htm

U.S. Department of Labor. Continuation of health coverage (COBRA). dol.gov/general/topic/health-plans/cobra