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As I write this, I have to pause periodically to cough my brains out. In fact, I'm about the sickest I've ever been in my life. I was diagnosed with pneumonia a few days ago, and wouldn't it figure, this Dx landed on my scheduled weekend. I'm a patient tech, and I work in critical care and telemetry. Now, you would think in a perfect world, that the hospital would prefer to keep employees with pneumonia away from critical patients. But I don't find this to be the case. Actually I can recall countless times employees came to work with strep throat, pink eye, and cold/flu symptoms. And I congratulate them on their willingness to trudge through the halls of Tele, sweating with fevers, coughing all over those of us that are still healthy. The supervisors pretend to not notice that they look like death warmed over. Well, let me get to the point of my post. Initially I went to work at the onset of my illness. And yes I was one of those people coughing all over the healthy. I made it through two days of working while sick, but my condition worsened over my two days off. I went to my doctor, he took x-rays, and he diagnosed me with pneumonia. I called out Saturday and again today. It's their response that irked me, no get better, or sorry to hear you're sick. Just nothing... She isn't the most friendly thing on a good day, but as a fellow human being, you think there might be some hint of kindness. Oh well just wanted to take a moment to vent. Thanks in advance for listening.

When I was in management, people with sickness, where told to feel better and then sent out the door. If I found out on the phone that they were sick, they were issued direct orders to stay home from work and stay home, especially, flu, fever, and especially, pneumonia. I also required a physician's note or letter for them to come back to work and if they did not have one, they were not permitted to work. I was lucky because I had the RN right around the corner, for people who thought about lying about their sickness. People who worked, made everyone else sick, then I had to replace them, more work for me or I would get sick. Making sick people work, that is an a$$ine policy, if I have ever heard one.

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Its a shame but we all are experiencing that hope you're feeling better

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Specializes in Certified Med/Surg tele, and other stuff.

I too have been told to come in to work or be written up. When you need your job, you go in, even if running a 102 temp. I didn't work there too much longer because I quit.

My current facility will send people home or encourage them to stay home. We still get people coming in though and it's maddening. We are all dropping like flies, thanks to those that won't call in. Myself and the secretary are one of the few that haven't succumbed to the vomiting, bronchitis, strep and whatever else is going around.

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The occurrences of flu/virus/illness are cyclical and everyone from the CDC to the press is aware of this. Nurses get sick too. However, hospitals choose not to gear up for these inevitable bouts/occurrences, and try to bully or shame sick employees to show up. It just spreads disease around in the exact environment it should not be.

It's just sickening (pun intended). (But the word "pun" makes it sound funny. It's not funny. It's wrong.)

Hospitals need to have reserves of float nurses, agency nurses, and travel nurses to cover during these times. I once staffed a regional hospital and we always could call the agency, or count on float personnel, to cover.

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Thank you, I'm feeling much better. I think it will be a while before I'm back to normal, but it's a huge improvement from the other night. As for the supervisor, I don't think she's a very happy person in general. In fact, she has never even said hello. She's one of several hospital supervisors, and the others are much more personable. They at least know my name lol!

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Thank you! I admit her words and tone of voice did make me feel bad, hence my initial post. But I know I had no choice in calling out. Thanks for the smiley! :)

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Specializes in Med/Surg.

Just go in and pretend you are passing out, when they see how sick you are, they will let you go home.

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I'm glad to hear you're feeling better, OP. I always feel guilty about calling in sick, too, but on the other hand I know no one can do their best work when they feel lousy. I think it's more important not to infect patients and co-workers than it is to please management by making a martyr of yourself.

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Specializes in geriatrics.

Generally speaking, most employers don't care about their employees, and that should not come as a surprise. Employers are interested in maximizing productivity for profit. Do your job as best you can, but learn to put yourself and your health first. If you quit today, your employer will find a replacement. We are all replaceable. That's why I've never understood the debate about "I feel guilty for not answering my phone when work wants me to work extra..." Why? Learn to do what is best for you.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Academics.
I wish people would use some common sense when it comes to coming to work spewing germs, being febrile, honking and sneezing. One of my co-workers decided to "share" her germs, and I wound up getting very sick and needed to be hospitalized. The illness I acquired from my co-worker, who should have stayed home, did permanent damage to my lungs. I don't know why she came in, since she was so sick she was worthless. She spent most of the shift sitting at the desk. Occasionally she'd get up to answer a call bell and she'd have this hang-dog/martyred look on her face. It still makes me angry, because now I'm on oral meds and inhalers thanks to her foolishness.You and your co-workers aren't doing anyone any favors by coming in sick. I'm sorry your boss didn't tell you to get well soon, but the age of employers taking an active interest in their employees has gone the way of the gooney-bird.
What was the attitude of management about nurses who called in sick at the time of this coworkers illness? The reason I ask: I have acquired a short term medical condition that affects my immune system. I've advocated for myself to varying responses. Some charges are fine with redoing the assignment and others act like I have killed their cat. Acquiring an infection during my nadir period could kill me, but some didn't give a flying fig. This makes me wonder about the work environment in which a very sick nurse feels obligated to come to work.
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Specializes in Med/Surg.

My co-workers were talking behind my back when I was gone for a week due to a severe flu. I had my doctor's letter and doctor said I should NOT go back till my flu was gone because I was highly contagious. I called in sick not by choice, you see. If I went in, the whole place would be having the same flu that I had. Why put our patients' health at risk? And again, I don't really care about my co-workers since they were being nasty with me!

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Specializes in Oncology; medical specialty website.
What was the attitude of management about nurses who called in sick at the time of this coworkers illness? The reason I ask: I have acquired a short term medical condition that affects my immune system. I've advocated for myself to varying responses. Some charges are fine with redoing the assignment and others act like I have killed their cat. Acquiring an infection during my nadir period could kill me, but some didn't give a flying fig. This makes me wonder about the work environment in which a very sick nurse feels obligated to come to work.

She would not have gotten any guff for calling in. Mgmt was fairly reasonable, and she was someone who never, ever took sick time.

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