Excuses for Missing Work

lpnstudentin2010, LPN · Apr 16, 2008

I am a prn nurse at a local hospital and just got hired as private duty through a home health agency (prn also) My first day was to have been this past Sunday to orient with a vent patient. Monday I was to be with this patient 12 hours. On Saturday I was ill and could not hold my head up to drive, so I called the agency and spoke with a lady who was taking care of their answering service and told her I did not think I would be able to take care of this patient as I was very sick. She said "are you just not wanting to do this or are you calling out sick", I said "I am not able to work because I'm sick". The next day, Sunday, I called the answering service back to make sure they knew to cover Monday also which they did not.
On Monday I tried to see my PCP and was told he was out. My pcp office made me an appt with a gastroenterologist to check my liver for swelling and possible mono. I have tried to contact the home health nursing director to update them but they won't take my call. Can they legally fire me for this?

For that no. But they can find a legitimate reason to fire you that they never use and use it on you if they want to get rid of you.

HisTreasure, BSN, RN · Apr 16, 2008

I am a prn nurse at a local hospital and just got hired as private duty through a home health agency (prn also) My first day was to have been this past Sunday to orient with a vent patient. Monday I was to be with this patient 12 hours. On Saturday I was ill and could not hold my head up to drive, so I called the agency and spoke with a lady who was taking care of their answering service and told her I did not think I would be able to take care of this patient as I was very sick. She said "are you just not wanting to do this or are you calling out sick", I said "I am not able to work because I'm sick". The next day, Sunday, I called the answering service back to make sure they knew to cover Monday also which they did not.
On Monday I tried to see my PCP and was told he was out. My pcp office made me an appt with a gastroenterologist to check my liver for swelling and possible mono. I have tried to contact the home health nursing director to update them but they won't take my call. Can they legally fire me for this?

I don't know what this company's policies are, but most places start you on a probation. Although you were legitimately sick, you may have violated your probation and could be let go because of that. You haven't established yourself as a dependable person so your agency doesn't know that you really WERE sick as opposed to just not wanting to work. That said, go up there and specifically ask to speak with someone. If they can talk to you face to face, see that you truly are sick or look into your eyes and see that you are indeed telling the truth they may keep you on. Otherwise, they could terminate you simply because they need dependable people to work (especially in home health) and they may not be willing to take future chances with you. :nurse: Good luck.

dreamjob25 · Apr 16, 2008

I finally did speak to the Director of Nursing. She said I was not in any trouble but they did need a note from the doctor. I too would feel like this was a bad first impression and now will feel like I have to work sick in the future to avoid termination for the rest of my 90 day probation.:bowingpur

squeakykitty · Apr 17, 2008

I finally did speak to the Director of Nursing. She said I was not in any trouble but they did need a note from the doctor. I too would feel like this was a bad first impression and now will feel like I have to work sick in the future to avoid termination for the rest of my 90 day probation.:bowingpur

Not a good idea if you can spread it to the patient. I called out once 2 weeks after being hired. I had a bad upper respiratory infection, and one of the resident where I worked had COPD. If he caught what I had, he would have probably needed to go to the hospital.

HisTreasure, BSN, RN · Apr 17, 2008

I finally did speak to the Director of Nursing. She said I was not in any trouble but they did need a note from the doctor. I too would feel like this was a bad first impression and now will feel like I have to work sick in the future to avoid termination for the rest of my 90 day probation.:bowingpur

It's very sad that we work in a profession that guilts us into working ill. In no other profession will you see such a push; and it is the biggest oxymoron ever. We are there to help our patients get well, all the while infecting them with our baddies... :banghead:

ILClaire · May 4, 2008

I have heard 2 doozies in my time.

1. I have a terrible migraine....this was called in around 9am on tuesday...shift didn't even start til 11am Wed...so a nice 26 hour advance notice on a headache. I wish I could know when my headaches were coming on...would save me a heap of trouble!

2. Have to shovel our driveway. Now this is only funny becuase it was for a 12 hour shift, we only got 2 inches of snow, and this person has a snowblower...one of the other nurses live next door and can verify this! LMAO! You CAN come in late if you need to!

I personally have found that working at a hospital, although I definitely get sick more often than before I was a CNA, I think it's alot easier to feel crummy at a hospital. There's bathrooms everywhere, nurses and doctors if you need them (all docs have been SUPER nice getting meds for me if I need them and getting me seen in the clinic ASAP), and honestly...you CAN be sick at a hospital. I used to be terrified of feeling sick for fear of puking or something at a normal job...but now with nursing...they've seen it all before, so no big deal! Of course I never endanger patients when I'm sick...I go home for their safety...but honestly...after my first year I think I'd been exposed to everything under the sun and very seldom get sick!

careerchoices · May 5, 2008

I think it's alot easier to feel crummy at a hospital. There's bathrooms everywhere!

I think the reason I was able to pretend my first few Crohn's flares were nothing is because I worked in a hospital. I could just go change my scrubs, take a shower in the OR changing room, (we had just remodeled with private showering areas)...we had equipment in my unit to deal with even the most embarrassing symptoms. I think that helped me maintain my state of denial for a few years.

Of course, the bad part of all that is I knew the nasty comments that some staff made about patients with CD/UC, so I also avoided a diagnosis for a while....

pca_85 · Aug 24, 2010

Have I mentioned, I have called off more than once because of food poisoning from being dumb and brave enough to eat my own cooking..................

cam-retiredrn · Mar 21, 2011

I can't get my body started.

Sergeant'sDaughter · Mar 21, 2011

How about this one...
" I am not coming in to work, its private and personal and none of your f#%$^%* business ! "

This..just makes me so happy. :yeah:

steelcityrn, RN · Mar 22, 2011

I would say just a simple"Im sick and I am calling off today" is enough.

Fngrpntsnotasin · Mar 22, 2011

All three of these given by one person for one shift after we called her for not showing up, and stating she did not know she had to work (this was her regular scheduled weekend) :

There was a fire down the road that nite, which gave her a headache, so she called 911 and went to the ER via EMS...also she may have a spider bite.