sick day?

Nurses General Nursing

Published

i have been working on a tele floor for 6months now, and its nights. I called out for a sick day once so far. I had to take my son to the cardiologist in the am, and felt it couldnt wait. I now have a nasty cold, i barely made it threw work on sunday. I had a good night sleep last night, but still feel wiped out, acky and stuffy!!!!!! I also am 9weeks prego so i am sure thats not helping either. But i am scared to call out. I dont like to be undependable, and you cant call out more than 5-6 x a year with out getting introuble. But i am thinking i wont be a good nurse if i feel like crap! What should i do? IS it worth getting in trouble? how do u guys feel about calling out?

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When I am sick I do not go to work. I have made the mistake in the past of going to work when I was sick and I was miserable.:angryfire It upsets me when nurses come to work sick and are coughing,sneezing,etc. I feel like saying "Gee thanks for coming to work so the patients and staff can get your bad cold too".

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Specializes in psych, addictions, hospice, education.

Even though the boss will be a bit irritated if you call off (because it's difficult at times to find someone else to work), you are a good nurse if you stay home when you are sick. A good nurse doesn't bring his/her germs in to the patients or coworkers.

You've used one sick day in a half year, and it takes 5-6 to get "in trouble." Stay home!

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Specializes in Critical Care, Education.

I agree - don't bring your germs to work!

Since you are the parent of one - soon to be 2 - young children, I would also encourage you to talk to your HR department to learn how FMLA works. You need to be sure that whenever you have to take time off due to your need to provide care for one of your kids, it is considered part of FMLA. It won't keep you from running out of vacation time or prevent your boss from getting mad or counseling you, but there are some protections that kick in under those circumstances.

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Specializes in Cardiac Telemetry, ED.

If I was the one laying in that hospital bed, I would appreciate if you stayed home when you are sick.

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Specializes in Med-Surg, Trauma, Ortho, Neuro, Cardiac.

ditto....call in sick.

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If it takes 5-6 to get in trouble, I would definitely take a sick day for this cold. Remember that you have to take care of the baby too, so rest up for a shift. And chicken soup.

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Specializes in ER, LTC, IHS.
I agree - don't bring your germs to work!

Since you are the parent of one - soon to be 2 - young children, I would also encourage you to talk to your HR department to learn how FMLA works. You need to be sure that whenever you have to take time off due to your need to provide care for one of your kids, it is considered part of FMLA. It won't keep you from running out of vacation time or prevent your boss from getting mad or counseling you, but there are some protections that kick in under those circumstances.

Actually FMLA is not for kids Dr. apps and such. It was enacted for things such as; the birth or adoption of a child or to take a chunk of time of to care for a dying spouse and such. Op needs to research that before playing that card. As for your current situation if you are sick take a sick day, that's what they are for. The excessive absent policies are put in place to keep people from abusing them, which you don't sound like you are.

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Specializes in Cardiac, Hospice, Float pool, Med/Peds.

I have gone to work when sick because I would have felt guilty calling in, but a few of my patients said to me that I sounded sicker than they did and should go home... That was when I was a new nurse; now if I am sick or my kids are sick, I call in... I also get a Dr. note whenever I take the kids or myself to urgent care... That way, it is proof that I am sick...

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Specializes in Hospice, LTC, Rehab, Home Health.

Take a day now and get completely well otherwise you may end up missing several days later. Use your sick days -- that's what they are for. Also if you were not feeling well the other day I'm sure someone noticed and will pipe up with "Yeah, she sounded awful the other day!"

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Specializes in psych, addictions, hospice, education.

Also, remember...you have sick days to USE, not to donate to the place in which you work. Where I've worked, sick days were separate from vacation days. People who retired only got half the pay for their sick days that had accumulated, while they got all the pay for their accumulated vacation days. One of my former jobs was eliminated. I had accrued almost 300 hours of sick time. I seldom got sick, and when I did, I tried to tough it out. Since I wasn't retiring, I got nothing for those hours. The hospital didn't have to pay me a dime for them. I do think it's a financial decision by places we work in, to keep money in case people leave. Consider it when you're trying to decide if you should use hours you've earned to care for yourself!

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