What reason is used for call offs!

southernbeegirl, BSN, RN · Aug 29, 2011

During nursing school I called in once because i had dried my cat in the dryer the night before and had to take him to the vet. My instructor was like "you did WHAT?". I don't think they believed me so I had my vet write me a note, lol. (thankfully, my furbaby lived)

Recently I had a staff member call in because she had almost run over a homeless man in her driveway. Evidently he had passed out in her driveway. This has been her most memorable excuse yet.

xtxrn, ASN, RN · Aug 29, 2011

during nursing school i called in once because i had dried my cat in the dryer the night before and had to take him to the vet. my instructor was like "you did what?". i don't think they believed me so i had my vet write me a note, lol. (thankfully, my furbaby lived)
recently i had a staff member call in because she had almost run over a homeless man in her driveway. evidently he had passed out in her driveway. this has been her most memorable excuse yet.

please say this is a joke. :eek:

amarilla, RN · Aug 29, 2011

Best one I've heard:

"Can't deal with patients today. Sorry. Call me off."

We all :eek: at the honesty.

I wanted to raise my hand and say me too!! I would appreciate being allowed a few 'take a break from patients' nonsense' days off when needed.

Mec_Happens · Aug 30, 2011

I think it's less the whole migraine thing but more when they have their "monthly migraine" three times in the same week. Or like a PP said, the person who had three car accidents in less than two months.

sometimes my "monthly migraine" lasts 3 or 4 days :crying2: It's not pleasant at all.

southernbeegirl, BSN, RN · Sep 4, 2011

Please say this is a joke.

I just wish it was a joke. I really did dry my cat in the dryer. Not on purpose but still he got in there. I was doing laundry and how he did it I will never know, but he jumped in the dryer without me realizing it. About 10 minutes later I started hearing "thud thud" in the dryer, like tennis shoes sound when you dry them. When I opened the dryer there was so much blood. He was barely alive. The vet wouldn't let me take him in that night because the trip would have killed him. I held him in front of a cold fan all night and put sips of water in his little mouth, crying all night. 2 days later you would have never known anything happened to him. He never got in the dryer again though, wouldn't even go near the sucker.

xtxrn, ASN, RN · Sep 4, 2011

I just wish it was a joke. I really did dry my cat in the dryer. Not on purpose but still he got in there. I was doing laundry and how he did it I will never know, but he jumped in the dryer without me realizing it. About 10 minutes later I started hearing "thud thud" in the dryer, like tennis shoes sound when you dry them. When I opened the dryer there was so much blood. He was barely alive. The vet wouldn't let me take him in that night because the trip would have killed him. I held him in front of a cold fan all night and put sips of water in his little mouth, crying all night. 2 days later you would have never known anything happened to him. He never got in the dryer again though, wouldn't even go near the sucker.

:eek: Oh, how horrible for both of you.

madwife2002, BSN, RN · Sep 4, 2011

I just wish it was a joke. I really did dry my cat in the dryer. Not on purpose but still he got in there. I was doing laundry and how he did it I will never know, but he jumped in the dryer without me realizing it. About 10 minutes later I started hearing "thud thud" in the dryer, like tennis shoes sound when you dry them. When I opened the dryer there was so much blood. He was barely alive. The vet wouldn't let me take him in that night because the trip would have killed him. I held him in front of a cold fan all night and put sips of water in his little mouth, crying all night. 2 days later you would have never known anything happened to him. He never got in the dryer again though, wouldn't even go near the sucker.

Oh that is horrible for the poor cat :idea:

NPvampire, MSN, RN, APRN · Sep 9, 2011

We used to have a coworker that worked 2 16 hour shifts every weekend. And 2/3 weekends she would call in: "sick," "snowbound" (not on the TV radar honey), "death in the family," "car busted," on and on and on. I think I saw her work 1/23 weekends as she was scheduled.

**canoehead, BSN, RN** · Sep 9, 2011

This is pretty bizarre, but notable as an ultimate call-off. An employee where I worked at years ago called off, because her husband had been murdered. She stated that she would be back to work in two days. We were all in shock r/t the tragedy (and also thinking what a strong person she was), and many co-workers visited her at her home to provide emotional support and ultimately the obligatory tuna noodle casserolle. Also, another co-worker called off with the flu (August). Our workplace had a "sunshine" committee (go figure the name) that organized collections for co-workers when there was a death in the family. So, needless to say, a collection was taken up for this employee. Two days later, said employee and oher co-worker (whom she was having an affair with) were arrested for the murder and dismemberment of her husband. Body found buried in backyard. The employee who organized th the collection (treasurer of said "sunshine" committee) was mortified and had to give all of the donations back. Did not have to explain after the headlines hit the local newspaper. Shortly thereafter, the "sunshine" committee was defunct.

Two days huh? I guess it takes a while to dismember, and dig a hole.

Am I sick, or was that whole situation funny as heck? Seeing as they didn't have any funeral expenses, perhaps money wasn't the best gift. I think the sunshine committee had a great idea, but a new chainsaw and a bottle of Mr Clean would have been more helpful.

xtxrn, ASN, RN · Sep 9, 2011

Sorry, canoehead.... I'm missing the giggles on this one :)

I love my cat! · Sep 9, 2011

I am totally against Professional adults having to provide a reason why they need a day off. Why?

1. You really do need the day off-it I feel it is a private and person reason that does not need to be shared.

2. You do not need the day off, but will make up an excuse to get the day off anyway.

I think every worker should be give 'x' number of days off a year and they can use those days for whatever they want. Giving reasons why sounds so grade-schoolish to me. I know many people in other professions and they don't have to give reason why they are missing a day. They also don't have to hear about why they missed a day from co-workers for weeks to come, either.

Around here the most comon excuse: kids. PTA meetings, championship ball game, child sick, child this child that....the kid excuse works every time ...parents ALWAYS get the time off and are able to come in late or leave early. Not so much for those without kids.They have to be much more creative unless they really are on their death bed.

**canoehead, BSN, RN** · Sep 9, 2011

I've called off because my cat was dying. I've had a coworker call in because she ran over her cat. Poor thing- she needed the day to pull herself together. Another coworker I knew called off a couple days each lambing season when her babies needed her support.