"I Come Into Work Sick! Why Can't You?"

Nurses General Nursing

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The quote I used for this thread is a paraphrase of something that I've heard many times at work. The people who say this are usually angry that a nurse or CNA called out sick, thereby leaving the job short staffed. They often say that they have come to work with a migraine, fever, or flu, for example, so how dare a nurse/CNA call out for something "minor," like a headache or stomach pains. One coworker even said that by agreeing to work in the nursing field, you should know that work will often be short staffed if you call out sick, so CNAs should stop being "wimpy" and "selfish" and come into work sick. I have also seen many coworkers who are nurses and CNAs at work with an obvious illness, such as nonstop coughing, sneezing, and some who have admitted to having a fever. I don't think it is good for the patients to have someone who is ill working around them, nor do I think that a sick employee should be made to feel guilty for calling in sick. Therefore, I was wondering: is this attitude about coming into or calling out of work sick common where any of you work? Also, exactly how sick is "too sick" to come into work?

I used to get fed-up with a couple of them that would come in sick - and that's all you heard about all shift!!:uhoh3: They'd refuse to go in this room or that, or to do certain things - because they were 'sick'. They'd take their temps ever so often, then give us an update on how lousy they felt. But then would brag that they hadn't called in sick.:madface:

The problem would be, then, that they'd pass whatever bug they had to everyone else!

The quote I used for this thread is a paraphrase of something that I've heard many times at work. The people who say this are usually angry that a nurse or CNA called out sick, thereby leaving the job short staffed. They often say that they have come to work with a migraine, fever, or flu, for example, so how dare a nurse/CNA call out for something "minor," like a headache or stomach pains. One coworker even said that by agreeing to work in the nursing field, you should know that work will often be short staffed if you call out sick, so CNAs should stop being "wimpy" and "selfish" and come into work sick. I have also seen many coworkers who are nurses and CNAs at work with an obvious illness, such as nonstop coughing, sneezing, and some who have admitted to having a fever. I don't think it is good for the patients to have someone who is ill working around them, nor do I think that a sick employee should be made to feel guilty for calling in sick. Therefore, I was wondering: is this attitude about coming into or calling out of work sick common where any of you work? Also, exactly how sick is "too sick" to come into work?

Uh, 'cause I am inconsiderate and only care about myself. I am about as terrible a person as you could meet. I am really terrible. I really only wanted free vacation time at your expense.

Really such an ignorant question (not ignorant of you but of the person who asks this) has no answer. So I might be tempted to aswer like this.

Really, this dumbfounds the person on the other end. Sometimes so much they stop their attack after the first sentence you deliver in this vein. Othertimes you may need to persist a bit. These answers are obserd and they serve to point out the obserdity of the question. Also, you are agreeing with the other person about your charcter. That is you are inconsiderate, terrible etc. It is pretty hard to argue with someone who is agreeing with you.

It works best if you can avoid all traces of sarcasm.

So agree with them your are a jerk. Infact if you infact know what is comming (please be sure you do) you can jump the gun and start the self attack before they can. If they are going to attack you anyway might as well. It also discourages future attacks. These attacks are designed to manipulate and control you. If they find you can not be manipulated and guilted into working they will eventually give up. They may not like you but then if you are refusing to work sick and feel you should work they it seems safe to say you already are not on thier most popular list anyway.

First hi all have been dipping in to read here for a while but never felt brave enough to contribute till now.

There is a similar attitude in the NHS, the “oh I’m soooo ill but I came in” “remember the time I spent x-hours in the WC but I still came in” attitude.

I can’t stand it, I’d rather be one down than be expected to listen to someone tell me how brave they are to have come in. If you come to work be fit enough to work is my attitude. Personally I’m off at the minute, which is why I’m logging at 01:00 my time.

Of course we are lucky enough to get paid sick leave, though they are clamping down on that now. (Fortunately for me I have a GP who’s attitude is we’re all in this together and if I need a sick cert his attitude is I am a fellow health professional and I know when I need time off.)

Recently on a very short week I went in coughing/ sneezing /snuffling, summer colds are a pain and a patient request that I not care for her. Can’t blame her really, would you want some one in that condition serving your food? No, so dressing your Hickman line………………..REALLY NO

Quick silly question, I get the impression (possibly wrong) that you get a set number of paid days off, be that holiday or sick it doesn’t matter, is that right?

kitta - I would suppose that it would depend on where you worked, how much time off you get.

At the hospital where I worked before, sick leave and vacation were all dumped together and called PTO - paid time off. But there were only so many times you could call in, in a six month period - 3 or 4, I don't really remember - and if you missed more than that, you would get counceled. They could eventually fire someone for missing too much time, but I don't know if they ever did.

But if you had to have surgery or something and were off for a specific time, that counted as one absence.

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