When do you call in?

Nurses General Nursing

Published

If you know you're going to call in for the next day's shift, when do you do it? Today for tomorrow's 7A-7P, tonight, or sometime like 3AM tomorrow? I know you NEED to call by 5AM, I'm just asking if you know in advance, when do you call?

TIA! :)

Nah, disgusting would be to call during puking.

Did that once - not planned. I was on hold, waiting for the nursing supervisor. While on hold, I HAD to puke so I run for the bathroom. In the middle of puking she picks up. My mouth was too full to say anything so I handed the phone to my mom.

I call in as soon as I know there's no way I can work. A few weeks ago when I was sick I knew I wouldn't be able to work my 7a-7p shift and I called at 11p after throwing up.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I think what the above poster meant to say about the one that got suspended- he had tried to find a replacement, but no one would work for him, so then he called in. Not that he needed to find a replacement for calling in. Thats what I took it to mean.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

I try to call in at least 4 hours prior to the start of my shift. 4 hours should be ample time for the staffing coordinator to make other arrangements that will fill the shift.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in 5 yrs OR, ASU Pre-Op 2 yr. ER.
I think what the above poster meant to say about the one that got suspended- he had tried to find a replacement, but no one would work for him, so then he called in. Not that he needed to find a replacement for calling in. Thats what I took it to mean.

There are some employers that expect their sick employees to find their own replacements.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ICU/PCU/Infusion.
There are some employers that expect their sick employees to find their own replacements.

now THAT's crazy!

i can't think of another profession that would even THINK of asking that of their employees! ridiculous.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

If I know I am not feeling well-(after being a charge nurse-short-staffed is not fun)-I call in as SOON as I know I won't be there for my next shift so they can try to fill that hole earlier rather than later.......

Up Vote Up Vote ×

i call as soon as i figure out i'm not going to be able to work. it doesn't really matter when we call in. generally speaking, they can't find someone to cover us. i think we have 3 casuals (all of whom have other full time work) and 5 empty lines (out of 15).

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Trauma/ED.
There are some employers that expect their sick employees to find their own replacements.

I teach some classes for our training and development (staff-ed) dept and we are required to find a replacement if we cannot make it for ANY reason. I am very close to giving up on them even though I love to teach...the way the dept is run is absolutely ridiculous (the above example is only one of many).

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in geriatric.

i always call in as soon as i know that i will not be able to come in. i understand what it's like to work short staffed. what i don't understand is that night shifters are written up if they call in after 3pm but day shifters routinely call in after 5am. thankfully, we are not responsible for finding our own replacements. there was an incident where a cna had an injury and called in the night before she was to return to work. she was told to come in anway, that they could not get a replacement for her. she came in that morning and had an xray. turned out that her foot was broken.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Just be careful not to call in TOO early. Sometimes administration can question you as to why you 'know' you'll be sick enough to call in "already". Just make sure you know your unit culture and what is acceptable. I usually call in the early afternoon before my shift unless it's a subsequent call in. Then I cal call ealier. (But I'm usually never up before noon anyhow!)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Psych, Med/Surg, Home Health, Oncology.

Hi

We MUST call in at least 4 hrs before our shift starts!!

So I start at 2300 and must call in by 1900.

Days starts at 0700, so they need to call by 0300. We get written up if we call late. Also, we can't use our PTO if we call late.

Mary Ann

Up Vote Up Vote ×
There are some employers that expect their sick employees to find their own replacements.

Yes and this is an absurdly unreasonable expectation! Regardless of policy there is no way on God's green earth I would do this. Besides, I would not want all of the nursing staff to have my phone number! I just added this to my list of questions to ask potential employers.

My attendance record speaks for itself. I call off only when truely too sick to perform my job, like when I'm to BR q° with gastroviroenteritis (happened recently). If I just don't feel well I go in.

I used to be a supervisor in a non-medical field and you would be amazed the excuses people come up with.

Where I work they document your reason for calling off.

I too feel guilty when calling off so that tends to make me wait until the last possible minute to do so.

jt

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment