Would You Call Out of Work for Mild or "Walking" Pneumonia

Nurses General Nursing

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I was just diagnosed with pnumonia and my MD stated that he didn't think I should return to work for 4 days. I guess I am feeling guilty but am still hurting when I inhale and especially cough. It gets worse when I move around. I know I shouldn't feel guilty, especially since I have a doctors excuse but I was recently sick a few weeks ago and told myself I wouldn't call out from work again unless it was something major. We are already in a bind at work as it is. UGH! :mad:

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In a similar situation my daughter ended up hospitalized. Then they wouldn't let her back at work without the doctor's ok. She works at the hospital so I was surprised somebody didn't tell her to go home before she ended up flat on her back.

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Specializes in Med/Surg.

Well, not only are you in pain, I'd worry about being contagious? If your doctor advises you not to work, there's your answer. I am not familiar with how "walking" pneumonia feels, but I had a "regular" (ha) pneumonia following the flu in the fall, and it was awful. Don't push yourself, you need to rest or you'll only get sicker, and be out of work possibly a lot longer.

Take care and get better.

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That's a scary situation and I'm glad your daughter is doing better.

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When I saw her she was in bad shape so I was surprised that they let her work in the hospital in that condition.

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Specializes in ER.

I would.

Just my two cents worth, but walking pneumonia is usually caused by mycoplasma pneumoniae and can be spread by close contact. There's nothing more up close and personal then being a nurse, lol. If you're not familiar with it, medline, cdc.gov and wiki has some info. It can make you sick for several weeks so if you don't rest now you may be sick for a while.

We had an outbreak several years ago in my area- I think we admitted more kids for that then we have for flu or RSV.

I hope you feel better!

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Specializes in LTC, Acute Care.

I would call off in a heartbeat, especially because my underlying asthma is severe (I'm quite healthy otherwise). I did have bilateral pneumonia last year but worked through it, but my situation is the only one I believe in which this should be done. I work at home behind my computer and I felt well enough to work, but I definitely remember thinking that there was no way I'd be able to bop around behind a med cart if I still worked the floor. The pleuritis hurts and it's awfully easy to get winded, nevermind coughing on everything. You shouldn't work, and don't feel guilty about missing work because you're obviously legitimately sick. You could just go on to make yourself more ill and then have no choice but to miss work because you're in the hospital.

Think about this, though. If your boss knows you have pneumonia and you choose to work through it, the next time you are sick and need to take off work your boss may just have it in his or her mind that you'll just tough it out like you did the pneumonia. Don't set this precedent. I hope you feel better soon and return to work after your 4-day excuse from the doctor.

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Don't feel guilty. It's management's job to staff adequately and they should expect an occasional illness. Or you can go to work in your compromised state and pass out on the job. Or infect some little old lady who subsequently dies. Or make some horrible medical error and lose your license and career.

Personally, I'd call in.

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Specializes in being a Credible Source.
I was just diagnosed with pnumonia and my MD stated that he didn't think I should return to work for 4 days. I guess I am feeling guilty but am still hurting when I inhale and especially cough. It gets worse when I move around. I know I shouldn't feel guilty, especially since I have a doctors excuse but I was recently sick a few weeks ago and told myself I wouldn't call out from work again unless it was something major. We are already in a bind at work as it is. UGH! :mad:

We are strictly and expressly prohibited from working if infected with certain diseases, pneumonia being one of them.

I would absolutely call out.

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Specializes in AA&I, research,peds, radiation oncology.
I was just diagnosed with pnumonia and my MD stated that he didn't think I should return to work for 4 days. I guess I am feeling guilty but am still hurting when I inhale and especially cough. It gets worse when I move around. I know I shouldn't feel guilty, especially since I have a doctors excuse but I was recently sick a few weeks ago and told myself I wouldn't call out from work again unless it was something major. We are already in a bind at work as it is. UGH! :mad:

This happened to a tech at our facility-she was dx with walking pneumonia and was coughing and looked horrible. For the sake of our cancer patients, ourselves and our families, we asked her to go home. She was out for a week.

I think she was offended but she's doing better now. We all pitched in and made it work. It'll all work out for the better in the end at your facility as well. Get well soon!:nurse:

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Specializes in Army Medic.

Take a deep breath and exhale - would you want a patient to hear that while you're helping them?

Pneumonia gets really serious really fast if you don't rest up.

Do what your doctor says :p

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Specializes in Hospital Education Coordinator.

I would call in for anything that created a fever, caused me to take medications that impaired my judgment (phenergan or even bendaryl) or made me have to run to the bathroom.

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