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by Dempather

I've been coming down with a cold for the past week and a half (since Christmas). I hate calling in sick and don't do it very often (I know a lot of people can agree on the sense of guilt one feels when they call in.. even when legitimately sick). I was out one day last week, but I forced myself through the rest of the work week. However, this week, my cough started getting worse, I started feeling achey, bad headache, vomiting, etc.. thankfully that all started happening on my days off.

I went to my doctor yesterday and he told me my WBC was low, so it wasn't bacterial.. it was "probably viral". I was given a prescription for some cough medicine. He gave me a note to return to work when my "symptoms subside". I was due for work today, and spoke with my boss, who agreed I should take off today, too.

Now, my headache is gone but my voice is hoarse, my neck and throat are sore and cough is still lingering (although no longer productive and less frequent). I feel like I could probably go to work tomorrow... I'm due to work in ICU stepdown, which can be intense and has sicker people. I don't even know if I'm still contagious.. so I don't know what to do. I don't want to get my patients sick and I want to heal fully, but I know they need me. How do you gauge if you're well enough to go in?

[sidney82]

Re: Calling out sick...?

just don't go in if your in any doubt, sounds like you've been genuinly ill so going in might just make it worse and bring it back on, i repeat DON"T GO IN

[babbz]

Re: Calling out sick...?

I agree, do not go into work!! DO NOT go into work!! Forget the guilt, think about how guilty you will feel when patients with already compromised immune systems become increasingly ill because of you.

Most improtant, remember that someone will always be there to take care of the patients but who is taking care of YOU? You can only help others after helping yourself! Be safe and hope you feel better.

[letina]

Re: Calling out sick...?

Don't go in if you don't feel well enough and DON'T feel guilty.

Do you think "they" feel guilty when they cancel you?

[pagandeva2000]

Re: Calling out sick...?

I have never felt guilt calling in sick. If I was uncomfortable at all, it is usually due to me wondering if they will one day finally write me up. I know this is selfish, but, the burn out I was experiencing was really bad. Sometimes, I was sick, other times I needed a break. Either way, I knew that going in to work that day would have been a bad idea. Keeping that in mind, I decided to ensure that I get the proper rest and take care of myself to save the days for real emergencies.

[Drifternurse]

Re: Calling out sick...?

Call in! Your health is most important; this bug you have could worsen as well as put your patients at greater risk!

[GrumpyRN63]

Re: Calling out sick...?

I don't get sick often, but it's usually a doozy when it happens. I do go to work sick ,( if no fever), I will wear a mask to protect my patients and coworkers

[DutchgirlRN]

Re: Calling out sick...?

If you go to work with nasal congestion the patient will not appreciate the fact that you came to work. A mask only scares them worse. Stay home!

[JessieRN]

Re: Calling out sick...?

Better for the staff to have one call in today, and a well staff tomorrow. If you go in, the whole staff could have to call in next week. I've seen that happen a couple of time.

[whipping girl in 07]

Re: Calling out sick...?

My first year in nursing we had a horrible epidemic of flu among the staff of my ICU because everyone kept coming to work sick and would only call off if they thought they were DYING. I did too, I was in orientation and thought I would look bad calling off. I mean, I'd only been there a month. I probably would have dragged myself to work the last day I was scheduled that week if my kid (4 at the time) hadn't started throwing up at 10 PM and kept me up half the night. I called off when I put him in the bath, changed his bed and started a load of sheets at 3 AM and I knew I wouldn't be able to take him to daycare. By the time I woke up again, I was running a fever and he and I spent the next 30 hours in my bed, barely getting up to go to the bathroom. I was so sick I could barely drag us to the doctor, and I nearly passed out in my doctor's office.

My husband came home early from his out of town job, when we were getting better, just long enough to catch it from us and didn't develop symptoms till he was back at work, hundreds of miles away and had to nurse the flu in a motel by himself. Poor guy.

The point is, don't go to work sick! It's much easier to work short now than for everyone to get sick and you're even shorter!