I know this topic has been debated before but i have unique ciecumstances. Some people say do not call off sick because it is abused and that it is best ti just show up and be sent home. (Side note, in my mind though that wiuld cause more chaos to scramble around ro find someone). Others say it is ok to call off.
Where i work a call off is considered an adverse event and we are allowed up to 6 per calendar year. I called off once in January ...i was so sick i literally could not get out of bed. I commute 1 hour to work and have to be there at 7pm tonight.
I did not feel good last night after my shift so i slept. Congeation cough and just didn't feel right. I tried to get some sleep this moening but i couldn't because of the cough and felt dizzy. I went to the storw got some mucinex, advil, and a thermometer. Apparwntly i have a 101 temperature on top of this.
I have only been there 6 months and i do not want to give the impression that i am unreliable. I mean right now i juat feel blah and I can do stuff, just feel fatigued if i exeet too much energy. The fever though concerns me about showing up and taking care of patients.
By the way i did call off. I hate doing so. Here is another question...
How soon do you call off? I found out about my fever at 1 pm yesterday and called off 15 minutes after posting on here. Nainly i do not want to appear unreliable. After taking advil last night it came down but now its back to 100.3.
If i call off now for ronight i will feel like an ass if i am better rhis afternoon...but if i wait until the afternion i know they will be scrambling for a replacement.
Also i don't want to go to urgent care. Last rime i went there the just told me to take 800 mg of amoxicilin...it did nothing for md so qhen my pcp wS open the next day dx was walking pneumonia. The amox was doing nothing.
Call off as soon as you know you're feeling ill. It's policy at my facility to provide 2 hours notice. Also, keep in mind that the meds could simply be masking other serious issues, especially if the temp has returned. So, stay home. If you're feeling better by the afternoon, fine; I'd still stay home because it was a legitimate call when it was made. But generally, most facilities incorporate a 3rd-day-absence-requiring-a-visit-to-the-doctor policy.
On a jokingly serious side note, lots of facilities don't care if you're sick; they only want a warm body there. And with a fever of whatever, the body doesn't get much warmer than that...making you a prime candidate. So you can expect to not be sent home. The fact is, they staff with the bare minimum. Unless the census has dropped and they placed people on-call instead of canceling altogether, you are your own replacement.
That is the odd thing though i got my flu shot i always have since i was 18
I have gotten a flu shot every year for the past seven years. I swabbed positive 4 seasons out of seven (but never confirmed in years prior to receiving the vaccine). Bottom line, it's far from fool proof.
If I feel sick enough to call out I go to a doctor so I can get a note. It doesn't change the fact that I had to call out, but it provides proof that it's wasn't a "mental health day". Plus, with a positive influenza swab, their own infection control policy states that we are not to come in until fever free without mendication for so many hours.
If I have a fever and/or am pretty sure I won't be able to work my shift I call ASAP to let my employer know so they can work on finding a replacement. I also let them know that if I improve I'll be in touch and willing to work my shift if they still need me. I also only call in if I am seriously SICK.
As far as going in and hoping to be sent home, this would either seriously short staff your unit or seriously backfire on you if they do not supply a replacement. It will be a very LONG shift.
Specializes in Pediatrics, Pediatric Float, PICU, NICU.
How soon do you call off? I found out about my fever at 1 pm yesterday and called off 15 minutes after posting on here. Nainly i do not want to appear unreliable. After taking advil last night it came down but now its back to 100.3.
You need to be aware of your facility's policy in regards to call off notice/time. I have worked places that only require 2 hours notice, and I have worked places that require 4 hours notice. It wasn't as big of a deal for me when I worked night shift since I usually was awake and aware of how I was feeling well before that time frame.
It is clear that you are a dedicated employee. But make sure to take care of yourself. You hospital will put their needs before yours. You need to take care of you - and you are sick. Six call offs per year is part of your employment agreement. It is okay to use them if you need to.
If you don't want to feel like they will think you are unreliable, get a dr note that states fever if you want. Let your work know ASAP so they can find coverage. Never just show up to work to prove to them you are sick. You're correct. It will cause more chaos to cover your shift
Not to mention, they probably don't care if you are sick anyway. My last DON tried telling me to come in anyway when I stated I had a fever and think its the flu. I got a flu swab and showed them the positive results.
By the way i did call off. I hate doing so. Here is another question...
How soon do you call off? I found out about my fever at 1 pm yesterday and called off 15 minutes after posting on here. Nainly i do not want to appear unreliable. After taking advil last night it came down but now its back to 100.3.
If i call off now for ronight i will feel like an ass if i am better rhis afternoon...but if i wait until the afternion i know they will be scrambling for a replacement.
Also i don't want to go to urgent care. Last rime i went there the just told me to take 800 mg of amoxicilin...it did nothing for md so qhen my pcp wS open the next day dx was walking pneumonia. The amox was doing nothing.
Call off as soon as you find out you have a fever. You won't magically be non-infectious the next day.
Specializes in Palliative, Onc, Med-Surg, Home Hospice.
That is the odd thing though i got my flu shot i always have since i was 18
I got the flu this year. I also had my flu shot, back in Sept (through work). I more than likely got the flu when I was in hospital for an asthma flare. The bad thing is, I was back int he hospital 3 weeks later for a more severe flare (and respiratory failure) because of the flu Please, for everyones sake, do not go to work.
You should never go to work until you are fever free for 24 hours. I don't care what employers think or what policies they have, if you're sick you're sick. You could ask you doctor to write you a note to cover yourself.
I have a very simple personal policy that works wonders for me.
1. If I am sick, I call out WITHOUT guilt, and do what I need to do to try to get better quickly.
2. If I am not sick, I go to work. Yes, sometimes life gets in the way and I need to leave early or go in late. Also, If I am feeling run down, I will schedule a random PTO day and use it as a mental health day.
As a supervisor and nurse manager, please call in sick if you are sick. Please don't think its better to come in hoping you will be sent home. By that time agency and/or extras have been sent home and the shift is short. Give us enough notice to at least try and find someone to fill your spot. You sound dedicated and that's great. But there are some that think they get some sort of credit for coming in sick and leaving. There is no such thing. Hope you feel better soon.
Call out sick. You have a 101 degree fever, that's reason enough. As your coworker, I don't want this bug, neither do your patients. Feel better soon :)
Last year, while on orientation, I woke up and suddenly felt unwell. I simultaneously vomited and had diarrhea twice before leaving for work. I was so afraid of giving a poor reflection of myself to my new employer.
Within ten minutes of my shift, I had another episode. Had explosive diarrhea and emesis in the bathroom. I cleaned myself up and went on with my shift. Fourty-five minutes later, I just couldn't go on. Had yet another episode. Nurse manager sent me home and was upset that I didn't call off.
Called of the following day as well and spend both days drinking pedialyte. It was awful.
Moral of the story: don't come to work ill. Call off. You can't take care of other patients if you are sick yourself.
NotMyProblem MSN, ASN, BSN, MSN, LPN, RN
2,690 Posts
Call off as soon as you know you're feeling ill. It's policy at my facility to provide 2 hours notice. Also, keep in mind that the meds could simply be masking other serious issues, especially if the temp has returned. So, stay home. If you're feeling better by the afternoon, fine; I'd still stay home because it was a legitimate call when it was made. But generally, most facilities incorporate a 3rd-day-absence-requiring-a-visit-to-the-doctor policy.
On a jokingly serious side note, lots of facilities don't care if you're sick; they only want a warm body there. And with a fever of whatever, the body doesn't get much warmer than that...making you a prime candidate. So you can expect to not be sent home. The fact is, they staff with the bare minimum. Unless the census has dropped and they placed people on-call instead of canceling altogether, you are your own replacement.