Calling off :-(

Nurses General Nursing

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At our hospital, the policy is that if you have to call off, you need to find your own replacement. We are a critical access hospital so there are not a lot of staff on standby. The population of our town is about 1500.

I had an injury before work today, got hit by a gate that a cow ran into when we were sorting. I passed out and when I came to, I had a forehead abrasion and pain in my L ribs.

I was scheduled to work that night. So my question is...I was in NO shape to call around to find a repalcement. I called in to work and let them know what happened. They were very snotty to me on the phone. Needless to say I'm going to an ER 40 miles away to get checked out.

Is this normal in other places? Especially critical access hospitals? I know we dont have staff but I can't function safely as a nurse with a head injury.

Well my concern is that I would be turned in for Patient abandonment since I agreed to work the schedule. I do NOT want to jeopardize my license. But going to work like this would be unsafe. Also jeopardizing my license--and patients most off all! I don't feel competent to handle an ER case after getting my bell rung.

It's not abandonment.

You could always discuss the entire situation with your state board of nursing, ask for their input, and then pass it on to the hospital's DON, administration, etc. That might actually get their attention!

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Specializes in Med/Surge, Psych, LTC, Home Health.
I really enjoy working in critical access hospitals, and have worked in many of them over the years.

Same here!!! I've worked in two of them in the past couple of years, both such

fun experiences! :) :)

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Same here!!! I've worked in two of them in the past couple of years, both such

fun experiences! :) :)

I'm glad I'm not the only one! :)

I first worked in one back in 1998, and I was hooked! Over the years, I've worked as permanent staff and as a traveler in various critical access hospitals - in 1 in KS, 2 in ID, 1 in MT, and 2 in ME. It sounds like I'm starting a collection! LOL

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This is a new trend in nursing that I am noticing as well. i have also seen it happen to nurses that are at wok and become sick. They have to call nurses to come in so they can leave.

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Great idea! I believe I will call the board and be proactive about my situation.

Thank you all for your input. Out here I sometimes forget what is up and what is down. I'm grateful to be able to connect with nurses in other places.

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Specializes in school nurse.

If it's a CRITICAL access facility, isn't it critical that the administration has a viable plan in place to assure staffing?

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Specializes in ICU.

We don't have to find our own replacement if we call out sick, but we don't get paid sick time, either. We only get paid for sick time on the 3rd consecutive day out. So even if you have tons of "sick hours" saved up, you still can't use them unless you are out at least 3 days. And you still don't get paid for day one and day two. (And they call that a benefit......)

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Specializes in school nurse.
We don't have to find our own replacement if we call out sick, but we don't get paid sick time, either. We only get paid for sick time on the 3rd consecutive day out. So even if you have tons of "sick hours" saved up, you still can't use them unless you are out at least 3 days. And you still don't get paid for day one and day two. (And they call that a benefit......)

In a weird way it encourages you to stay out longer...

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Specializes in Critical Care; Cardiac; Professional Development.

Oh my goodness....I hope you are recovering well. This stress is not helpful and I think it is complete BS. It definitely isn't abandonment. You cannot abandon that which you had not taken "ownership" of in the first place. If you left after receiving report without a replacement, THEN it is abandonment. What happens if someone is in a car wreck and unconscious? Or otherwise incapacitated? Or has a sick child in the hospital? Or the death of a family member? Your management isn't very proactive or realistic.

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Specializes in SICU, trauma, neuro.
In a weird way it encourages you to stay out longer...

I was thinking the exact same thing. Why take a sick day or two, when three days is required to get your earned benefit of sick pay?

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Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.
At our hospital, the policy is that if you have to call off, you need to find your own replacement. We are a critical access hospital so there are not a lot of staff on standby. The population of our town is about 1500.

I had an injury before work today, got hit by a gate that a cow ran into when we were sorting. I passed out and when I came to, I had a forehead abrasion and pain in my L ribs.

I was scheduled to work that night. So my question is...I was in NO shape to call around to find a repalcement. I called in to work and let them know what happened. They were very snotty to me on the phone. Needless to say I'm going to an ER 40 miles away to get checked out.

Is this normal in other places? Especially critical access hospitals? I know we dont have staff but I can't function safely as a nurse with a head injury.

If it truly is a policy, I would ask to see it in writing. Then I would be careful about revealing too much here, because no doubt someone may recognize you and ask if you can manage to post on a website, why can't you call/text your replacement?

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That's ridiculous. You're in absolutely no shape to be worrying about finding your own replacement. Your first priority is to make sure you don't have head or pulmonary trauma. And honestly your employer should be concerned about that too (one, because they know you as a person, and two because a nurse with a concussion isn't going to be the best nurse). Hope your injuries are minor and that you recover quickly.

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