Ok. I totally understand that nursing is a 24/7/365 operation. Really. And I knew when I went to nursing school that I'd be working weekends and holidays, and planning my vacations six month in advance, at least while I worked in the hospital setting.
But seriously, why bother even giving people the opportunity to earn sick time if you are going to punish them for using it? I myself, though never warned or terminated for it, was routinely "dinged" on my annual evals for "excessive absenteeism".....though I only took sick time I had earned. Every year I had the same response for my manager: "I understand your policy, but I disagree with it. If I am sick or I have a sick child, and I have sick time to take, I am going to take it. I call in well in advance of the shift so I don't leave anyone in a bind. I have also been known to come in when asked on my day off because of other staff sick calls, or to help cover vacations. I disagree that it's excessive absenteeism if it's within the limits of the time I earn." And every year we'd agree to disagree, and I'd go back to the floor....
Now I work in hospice. I work very few weekends, I have paid holidays, and if I call out sick I am told "Feel better....take care of yourself." In fact, the few times I have gone to work sick because of the expectations I had absorbed that that's just what you do as a nurse...and I was told "Go home! You're sick! We don't want you seeing patients like that!".
It just makes me so angry that so many of us are made to feel like criminals or bad employees for taking more than 2 or 3 sick days per year! Sometimes life just doesn't work that way! And no one should be made to feel bad about that!
Ugh. I have terrible sick stories too. Surprise, surprise.
Usually I get repremanded after the fact. When I call in, I talk to the house supervisor directly and they usually just say "wow. That sucks. ok, I'll put you down. Feel better!" And are fine with it. The only time I've ever heard a supervisor get mean was when someone called in at 6:30 and their shift started at 7.
Usually the day I come back to work after a sick call, I either get a snide comment about calling in sick, a nasty note in my mailbox, or a gentle "reminder" that if I call in sick __ more times, i need a doctor's note for each call.
Mind you, I've called in 3 times in 18 months. Once for the migraine, once puking, and once with the evil flu where I couldn't stay awake for more than an hour at a time.
Totally agree - if you're sick, you're sick! How are we supposed to take care of others if we can't even take care of ourselves?
Where I used to work, 1 sick day was an "occurrence". Seriously. And if you were one minute late it was 1/2 an occurrence. There's been so many times I've stayed late (half-hour, up to three hours) because there's a PNB coming in, or I was caring for a resuscitated PNB, or they were short. And staying late doesn't cancel out that "one minute late" occurrence. You could have up to 8 occurrences/year, yet were given 23 sick days/vacation days each year. Huh?
As nurses we work in some of the filthiest working environments, exposed to god knows what each and every day. Potential exposure to TB, MRSA, VRE, C. Diff, norovirus...and the list goes on and on. There is such a high likelyhood that wenurses will come in contact with some illness, regardless of handwashing (like when a patient coughs on you). So, why shouldn't we be encouraged to stay home when we are ill?
funny how we as nurses aren't suppose to get sick, yet the same people you tell us we need a note never have to bring one when they are out!
2 years ago i missed a total of 10 days from work had pto time to use. i as put on a action plan for missing work and was asked if i had legatiment excuses:
2 days out because my father died suddenly from a massive mi.
3 days due to being admitted the cardiac unit to have another heart cath ( the same hospital where i worked at)
5 days in the same hospital with salmonella and bacterimia in a room right across from my nurse managers office!!
the day after she wrote me up, she left for a weeks vacation on a mission trip to mexico!!
First of all if they are going to require a note from the doctor, tell them to let the ER know your coming and they can absorb the cost of the REQUIRED doctor visit. Why should anyone have to pay copays when it is a medical facility with doctors all over the place.
If you are sick your sick. Half the problem is the managers cant be out of the building as easily if they have short staff. Their meetings have to be missed and heaven forbid their workshops are missed. They may have to do the JOB, instead of critiqueing everyone else. Believe me ours have had to take some supervisor rotations, staff nurse rotations and even yes even some night shifts on their units because of short or sick nurses schedules. Painful for them i know,, but its about time the rest of us find out if they really can do the job.
Specializes in Psych, Med/Surg, Home Health, Oncology.
Hi,
i know exactly what you all mean. It's been about 6 months since I called off sick; I have MOUNTAINS of PTO time, even after taking a 4 week vacation a couple months ago.
Last Wed. Nite I had to call off because I was with my Mom at the ER.
We took her in because her breathing became very poor. She's 91 with a hx. of CHF & multiple bouts of pneumonia.
Her O2 Sat. on room Air was 80%!! She was being admitted with a new onset of A-Fib,CHF Exacerbation, Pneumonia plus Generalized weaknes.
Now I called off that nite, but I gave plenty of notice; However, I know that I'm going to be written up.My Manager is EXTREMELY rigid.
I've been written up before, but GEEZ----why do I have to choose between my Mom and my job?? I truly thought she might be dying & I didn't intend to leave her.
Well, no matter what, My Mom comes first.
It's like the OP said, if you've got the time , why can't you use it?
I think that if a doctor's note is required for you to return to work, the employer should provide the doctor. They should pay for the doctor's visit ... and given that it is not always possible to see your PCP on a moment's notice, provide the doctor or NP for you to see. The employer's Occupational Health folks should be able to certify that you are truly sick and need to stay home and/or that you are now safe to come back.
If it's required by your employer, the employer should provide it. If I were a member of a union, that is one of the issues I would address in the contract.
I have to agree with some of the posters here regarding getting a doctor's note. Are we in middle school? At my last job they tried that "you need a note or you need to go to ER crap if you were sick". According to them it was in our policy and procedures book, I happened to look it one day, sure enough no such thing was said. Sometimes I think they are making up their own policies and procedures as they go.
Nursemary, is there anyway you can go to HR and file a greivance or complaint to fight that impending write up? I think it's awful that your manager would even consider doing it.
She did no physical exam, just left the room, wrote my note, came back in and said "Feel better....go home and go to bed." Her note said: "Andrea has the flu. She may return to work tomorrow if she is feeling well enough, otherwise she may return at her discretion. Thank you for wasting an office visit by making her come in."
:chuckle:chuckle:chuckle:chuckle:chuckle:chuckle
Andrea
I think I'm in love with her and I don't even go that way. That's fantastic.
We only have to bring a note if we are out more than 3 days in a row which isn't too bad. The management seems pretty good with those that call out sick and it doesn't happen all too often. One nurse was sent home and as I am new at the job I saw that as a good sign. I like to see nurses seen as people and not robots.
We have the same 3 day policy about the note, not sure if it's enforced or not.
If they didn't staff so short 1 person calling in every now and then wouldn't be such a major ordeal.
I called in the day before Thansgiving last year (Ihate calling in around holidays) got a couple snide remarks and told one girl that the next time I was sick I would put my diarrhea in a baggy to prove it to her. She has actually been a much nicer coworker since then.
We have the same 3 day policy about the note, not sure if it's enforced or not.
If they didn't staff so short 1 person calling in every now and then wouldn't be such a major ordeal.
I called in the day before Thansgiving last year (Ihate calling in around holidays) got a couple snide remarks and told one girl that the next time I was sick I would put my diarrhea in a baggy to prove it to her. She has actually been a much nicer coworker since then.
Andre, I couldnt agree more with you! I have sick time at my job as well and I get a strike against me on every day that I take. Average # of days I should be taking a year is 3-5. Any more than that I am considered less than average, and it will reflect in my yearly appraisal. Its absurd. Especially when you are told "If you are sick, please dont come in" AND to boot I work with cancer patients!!!!!!!
It will be interesting to see at this years appraisal. I had surgery at the end of Decemeber and took time off (my sick time) into Jan so I could recover. Will this planned use of my sick time, get me? We shall see.
I will continue to take my sick time as needed and warranted. I will back everyone up with an MDs note if needed. Let them ding me if they must, wont prevent me being a good nurse and a good job! Im a better nurse when I am not sick!!!!
:barf02:
ONCRN84
251 Posts
Ugh. I have terrible sick stories too. Surprise, surprise.
Usually I get repremanded after the fact. When I call in, I talk to the house supervisor directly and they usually just say "wow. That sucks. ok, I'll put you down. Feel better!" And are fine with it. The only time I've ever heard a supervisor get mean was when someone called in at 6:30 and their shift started at 7.
Usually the day I come back to work after a sick call, I either get a snide comment about calling in sick, a nasty note in my mailbox, or a gentle "reminder" that if I call in sick __ more times, i need a doctor's note for each call.
Mind you, I've called in 3 times in 18 months. Once for the migraine, once puking, and once with the evil flu where I couldn't stay awake for more than an hour at a time.