Called in... Feel guilty.

[TigerGalLE, BSN, RN]

Went to bed last night at 1am after going to see a movie. Yea pretty late considering I was scheduled to work today. So I woke up this morning at 2:30am sweating and feeling nauseated. My stomach hurt really bad but I never vomited or had diarrhea. At 4:00am I still hadn't fallen back to sleep and I decided to call in. I never call in. Having only done so 2 other times in my career. Finally fell asleep around 5:30am. Now I feel fine. Not sick at all. I was sure I was getting the big bad stomach bug that was going around. I guess not. Anyway, I know this is silly but I feel so guilty sitting here feeling fine when I'm supposed to be at work.

Am I crazy? I want to go out and enjoy the day but then I really will feel guilty.

[tencat]

Don't feel guilty! Your intentions were honorable, in my opinion, and it's a bonus that you didn't get the creeping crud, so take your unexpected day off and relax. It doesn't sound like you got enough sleep, so snuggle up and relax.

[DayDreamin ER CRNP]

Awww, don't beat yourself up and you don't have anything to feel guilty about.

I felt guilty about calling in when my daughter was sick once but after seeing how much other people call out I got over that pretty quickly.

Consider it a mental health day and get some rest and have a nice meal tonight.

m

[chinacatSN]

I agree with the other two PPs. You probably wouldn't have been the best nurse possible, anyway - not getting enough sleep and all. And I'll bet that most people at your work call in more often than you!

[SlightlyMental_RN]

Weird...the same thing happened to my hubby last night.

[agent]

I understand feeling guilty i know my unit is super busy today but i felt getting sick yesterday and last night my whole chest was tight and body hurt all over.. i called in this am cause i think I have the flu. How much more miserable the already sick patients would be if they got the flu! And I just got my flu shot! ugh!@$%%#

[Sparrowhawk]

Don't feel guilty..you thought you were getting sick.

[KarmaWiseRaven]

Wow i thought i was the only one really. I would hate to call in. It feels like your letting people down. So i as a dummy would show up sick. I know i know how stupid but i would feel so guilty if i didn't show up crazy it sounds. I would show up with a temp and all because of the guilt i felt. And with all the nurses around if i started to feel really bad i could get aspirin or throat spray. Or if i was bad enough my RN Supervisor would send me home.

Some people would say don't feel bad but it's something i couldn't shake. So i say to you for the both of us just go enjoy your day it might be away your body is telling you that a break is needed from the stress and all. These are my thoughts use them as you wish

[sunnycalifRN]

Definitely do not feel guilty! Once, I had some sort of food poisoning or stomach bug with vomiting and diarrhea . . . I called in . . . after retching my guts out, I felt much better . . . . So, I thought . . . I can probably work . . I called back and told them I was coming in. BIG MISTAKE!! Once I was at work and working . . . the smells, the sounds, whatever . . . I was nauseous, vomiting, multiple trips to the restroom . . . I felt terrible . . . I managed to work 6 hrs out of 8 and finally had to go home.

Once you call in, relax, get better, forget about work . . . they'll get by . . . people call in all the time.

[JacknSweetpea]

I used to feel guilty too....even if it was one time in a year. Then I got to thinking that they don't feel guilty when they write their damned near impossible attendance policies or when they try to call you in after working 12-16 hrs. the day before. Try not to feel bad. You need the rest. *wine

[lkwashington]

I believe where I work, you may call in up to 6 times a year. So there is no need to feel bad about. If you feel bad stay home. We take care of sick patients. We dont want to make them even sicker.