Calling in sick: how do you decide?

[kids]

I have been feeling absolute s**t for the past 3 days, woke up with it on Thursday, came home after 2 hours. Called off Friday and went to the Doc and ended up with abx bronchitis (duh, 2 ppd smoker), today I feel marginally better.

I work split duties at my job- 28-30 hrs/wk admin, in an office, 10-12 hrs/wk doing shifts. I stayed home because I felt crummy, plain and simple.

What I want to know is: how do ya'll decide weither to call in or work when sick? I am not talking about taking mental health days when sick of work, but when you are infected with a "real" bug.

Minor cold that is more annoying than anything...but you feel OK. Work or not?

Sick as a dog, feel quite a bit better than you did but are not 100% yet...but are not contageous (been on abx >24 hrs). Work or not?

Feel like crud but are not contageous (hay fever kicks my a$$). Work of not?

[Big Bab's]

Originally posted by 1RNLadybug

That is what I ask myself "can I care for my patients well?"

We all get sick. Sometimes we just need a few days to regroup. I am taking today and tomorrow off for 'mental flossing.'

I work too much and push myself too hard, trying to learn to balance work and home. When I called in I said I had "personal situation I had to resolve and won't be in until Saturday am." They know not to ask "why." because it is personal.

Years ago I called in and said i was 'sick', and the supervisor said 'what do you mean by sick," like I was out drinking all night or something. I said 'irritable bowel syndrome, would you like me to bring you a stool specimen? That was the last time they asked what do I mean by sick.

We are human, we get sick, especially with all we are exposed to, coughing, spitting, bleeding, phlem...

linda

I am soo glad to hear that I am not the only one who needs a mental health break once in a while!!....I work in an office/clinic setting, and we are ALWAYS understaffed, at times it is sooo stressful, some mornings I feel like I never left!!.....I used to beat myself up anytime I had to be gone, and make myself feel even worse than I already did.....About 2 years ago I had to call in because I was in the ER with my 3 yr old son, who was VERY dehydrated from the flu, when I called, my supervisor actually had the balls (sorry about the language) to ask when I'd be done at the ER and coming in to work!!!....When I said I'd be at home with my son, she asked why my husband couldn't do it!!!....Damn woman!!...Have a heart would ya!!!!...at least that's what I wanted to say........Since that happened I decided I would NEVER let her make me feel guilty for taking care of my family or myself like I would any of my patients, again, and that includes a mental health break once or twice a year.....It's just not worth me sacrificing myself!!

[NorthStar]

Calling in sick is just that. I think that it hits nurses extra hard because we are difficult and expensive to replace. I've actually seen it where a hospital had to transfer all their patients on one floor to another because one nurse called in. That's how stressful the staffing can be at times. We all know this, because we've been hit at work, extra loaded because of a sick call. Then we get sick from being run down....we either are truly ill or need some mental health time.

I think the key word is "moderation". Excessive call-in's need to be evaluated confidentially by the nurse manager. Also, anyone calling in for any reason need not be chastized/condemned. In some states, it is illegal to call a nurse at home if she has called in sick. It's considered harrassment.

[barefootlady, ADN, RN]

Sick is fever, nausea,vomiting, diarrhea, splitting HA, and severe weakness. Sick is not trip to Sam's. But agree that sometimes a mental health day might be required. Too bad my mental health is no longer top priority.

[NorthStar]

Quote from barefootlady: Sick is fever, nausea,vomiting, diarrhea, splitting HA, and severe weakness. Sick is not trip to Sam's. But agree that sometimes a mental health day might be required. Too bad my mental health is no longer top priority.

I dissagree. Sometimes you might feel well enough at home to think that you can go back to work. Not a better test to see if you are ready to go back to work, than a nice brisk walk through Sam's. I would say that if you didn't last at Sam's for an hour, you wouldn't last a 12 hour shift at the hospital

[Agnus]

If I am well enough to "weight" a decisision to go or not I go.

If I am too sick to go, then there is no decision involved.

[teeituptom, BSN, RN]

There is not a thing wrong with calling in sick if you are. You get so many sick days a year and at most places you either use it or lose it or save it up ad infinitum.

My favorite was 2 weeks ago I was scheduled to work ER that night. I woke up early in the morning, the Sun was out, the Temp was 70, clear sky. overall a very beautifull day. So what did I do, I called in sick stating I needed a mental health day, and then I went golfing for 36 holes that day. And I fealy so much better for it.

[LLSRN]

There have been times when I have been miserable and not called in sick. The reason, I end up leaving coworkers in a terrible bind. Our unit doesn't have many nurses and to say the least they are all overworked and calling in sick leaves the floor short.

Believe me, it is oh so frustrating to have to work severly short staffed and guilt is a major factor here. If you do call in sick, they also let you know what an incredible bind you are leaving your fellow workers in.....to say the least it is frustrating all the way around and sometimes difficult to give your best when you feel your worst. However, if you know that your floor will be short, your fellow workers will be frazzled and that your time home nursing yourself will leave patients wishing for more nurses ....you head to work.

Sad but true! I thank management and lack of organization amoung those I work with for this fact and am currently attempting to bring union to our facility.

Thanks for letting me vent!

[NicuGal, MSN, RN]

You called in and played golf? Here, if they see you, hear about you or catch you out when you called in you are suspended for oh, I forget what they called it. 2 people I work with got caught! Something like misuse of hospital time or something like that. Whatever.

I have to be near dead, fever, puking my guts up, got my butt slung over the toilet constantly or can't get my head off the pillow to call in. If I have a little cold, I mask it and carry my hand sanitizer with me.

[teeituptom, BSN, RN]

I admitted up front I wasnt sick, just needed a mental health day off, how I get therapy for my mental health and well being is by playing golf. Better than taking drugs. If you dont need to.

Did make me feel absolutely Marvelous.

Besides sick time is your time, you earned it. I only call in maybe 3 or 4 times a year as is anyway.