[SFCardiacRN]

I take a couple of mental health days each year. It keeps me from getting burned out. I always check the schedule first to make sure a light day is forecast. I work in the OR.

[Marie_LPN]

Now i have scheduled personal days for mental health days before.

[mcmannrn]

If I need it once in 3 months, I try to check staffing. You gotta take care of your self too.

[tinderbox]

Originally Posted by mcmannrn

If I need it once in 3 months, I try to check staffing. You gotta take care of your self too.

Exactly!! Being good to yourself and taking care of yourself, which means knowing when you're maxed out too much to be at work, is essential to maintaining your sanity . I don't see a thing wrong with that. As nurses, we give a lot at work, physically, mentally, and emotionally. Sometimes, especially if you have like 2-3 rotten days in a row, you may need to stay home just to recover. In my mind, that totally qualifies as a "sick" day.

[steelcityrn]

I love to take a day off when spring comes and the garden needs turned, get the hubby to take a day and go buy a truck load of plants. Just have to do it for my mental health! But, I always ask for the day off ahead, so its not really hooky. Other that that I call off only when Im sick. Hey Mercy, maybe if the steelers are in the next super bowl again( oh and lets hope they kick butt again) we can take off to go see them win! Oh yeah, hanging out in Miami...oooolala........

[ADONLTC]

Tinderbox, I won't argue with you on this EXCEPT... As the DON, staffing is something I am constantly dealing with. In the past 3 weeks, I have literally fired 7 people.. ALL for attendance issues. Staff complain about working short, then call in.

I agree, we all need a mental health day, but sit down with your DON, Manager, scheduler...who ever does your schedule and PLAN the day, so it doesnt end up affecting everyone else!!

[Cute_CNA]

Originally Posted by cheerfuldoer

First nurses, nurses-2b, etc.....being "sick" does not always imply something is "physically" ailing you.

Being "sick" may be due to emotional and mental stress as well as physical ailments one suffers.

I have taken "mental health" days when I need them. If I need to be the patient who needs nursed, I do not feel guilty in doing so.

That said, I rarely have called in to work. If I do, I'm truly sick...physically, or emotionally/mentally stressed to the max.

I checked "1 to 3 times per year" on the poll.

Agreed. The mental health of a nurse should not be discounted, or considered "hooky." Your mental health is a large part of your overall wellbeing.

[mom2gabriel]

We have been very short since the beginning of the year, and I have been working 4 twelves a week. This past week it got the best of me, so I am having my first mental health break in a while. The best part of it is, when I called out, I was honest and told them I had some personal stuff going on and it was not that big a deal. Our Unit is great, so we cover for each other when stuff like this comes up.

[MOOSEMAN]

I've taken the old mental health day. Sometimes you just need to do what is right for you. It's an unspoken right of passage.

[dria]

My employer doesn't distinguish between sick vs personal days, only planned vs unplanned PTO. I can usually get a day off the day before I want to take it, so if I feel a "crash" coming on, I will take the next day off.
I don't see a problem using sick days for mental health reasons...I think there is little point in going in to work "just to be there." If I can't go to work and be productive, I just stay home. I have no problem supporting colleagues so they can do the same (but it is a little different for me since I'm not in direct care)

Besides, I consider "spring fever" to be a legitimate illness!!!!!