When Should You Call Off Sick?

mago8388 · Dec 20, 2015

Whenever you're sick especially if it's contagious. That's part of protecting your patients too.

nutella, MSN, RN · Dec 20, 2015

well, obviously you do not want to come in sick to work.

But of course, if you call out sick for every little cold you will not have a job for long.

I have worked with a mask in the past when I was recovered from a cold but got stuck with a cough to prevent coughing around. But it depends a bit on the field you work in. It is not encouraged going to work with the flu or any contagious illness. Sometimes there are outbreaks of Noro virus related illness and staff who contracts that needs to stay at home, otherwise it continues to spread.

KelRN215, BSN, RN · Dec 20, 2015

You call out if you have the flu or the norovirus. You don't call out for a cold, in my opinion.

Elladora · Dec 20, 2015

You call out if you have the flu or the norovirus. You don't call out for a cold, in my opinion.

I think this is a pretty good guideline. I wear a mask when I have a cold, stay home with the flu.

RainMom · Dec 20, 2015

...& for any fever, vomiting, and/or diarrhea

canigraduate · Dec 21, 2015

Stay home if you are vomiting, have diarrhea, have a fever, or are too weak to work. Also, if you are actively sick, such as coughing with sneezing and runny nose and sore throat, don't come to work and definitely don't come near me, LOL!

Dranger · Dec 21, 2015

I got flu A last year. It was no joke, I couldn't get out my bed for 3-4 days. Anyone who comes to work with the flu, doesn't really have the flu.

Simple cold? Unless it impedes work I would go.

Farawyn · Dec 21, 2015

I have gotten sick LESS than most non nursing people I know.

I hate when peeps say they have the flu for 1 day. Flu puts you down for the count.

That being said, I agree with the above, and also "call out" (in NY we say "call in sick") for the first really nice spring day. :blink:

Editorial Team / Moderator · Dec 21, 2015

Recently I was so sick that all I could do was lie around for four days. Fever, coughing so hard there was post-tussive vomiting, laryngitis/no voice, body aches, malaise, pure misery. That was the first time I called in sick, so my coworkers knew it was bad. Lol. Luckily three of those days were my days off. Not the best way to spend time off!

vintagemother, BSN, CNA, LVN, RN · Dec 21, 2015

As the others have said, nurses tend to work while ill. I worked through a couple of URIs that involved quite a bit of coughing and (gross) stress urinary incontinence! [emoji23]

I called off only when I felt I was a risk to pts, eg dizzy d/t vertigo likely d/t dehydration.

For some reason, my DON and another coworker experienced vertigo with the URIs we all had last flu season.

I would go by my facilities policies. Let my supervisor know my symptoms at least 4-8 hrs in advance, and ask if I should come in.

If no fever or diarrhea, I almost always worked sick.

Perhaps I'd consider staying home with a cough if my pts were medically fragile. Mine were not. (Non medical psychiatric hospital)

caliotter3 · Dec 21, 2015

Should you ever have doubts, report for work and see your supervisor. If the supervisor feels you should not be there, they will send you home. You will learn to tell the difference after a couple of instances.