called in sick for a night...feel so guilty/bad

[missmiamoore]

Hey there: I have been working nights for the past 3 weeks now and I tonight was to be my 9th one. For some reason, when I got home this morning, I could not fall asleep! I was plagued with an anxious stomach and mind and was tossing and turning since. I felt very nervous with the idea of going in tonight on no sleep, so I called my manager to tell her the situation. Needless to say, she was NOT IMPRESSED. I feel so bad, like I have let her down, but I also feel that I would have been an unsafe nurse tonight with no sleep in over 24 hours. Would you have done the same thing? What have other nurses done in similar situations?

[pagandeva2000, LPN]

NEVER tell a manager any excuse outside of death in the family, self or family illnesses, because it is true, many do lose respect for you. I mean, people do work with things...I had a boiler bust on me and flooded the basement, however, I was able to prove it by bringing in the proof of the plumber's $5000+ bill, but if you can't show proof, do not tell them. I have an associate that calls in for ridiculous reasons..."I helped my friend paint and I have muscular pain, so, I am calling in". She had the nursing supervisor's office livid for WEEKS! I do believe that you had a legitimate reason to not wish to go in...you had to protect yourself and the patients you would have been caring for, but never tell them anything other than you are sick and when you expect to be back. Be sure if it exceeds whatever the policy says (mine is that we have to bring in a note after 3 days), that documentation is provided.

Otherwise, I do believe you did the right thing. Your license is your livelihood. If you have any inkling that it may be in jeopardy, you do what you have to do. Now, get some rest! :0)

[JB2007, ASN, RN]

Next time tell them your sick and nothing more. I handle the schedule from time to time and I am the mean one who ask people why they are calling in. Vomitting or diarrhea is never questioned by me. I do not want people coming in with that stuff.

[Batman24]

You should never go to work if you don't feel you can provide safe care. If your manager says anything about this to you state just that. "I didn't feel I could provide safe care." Period. She can't really push it after that.

Next time say you are sick. "I'm ill and won't be in." Consider this a learning experience. Always keep it short and sweet.

[wonderbee, BSN, RN]

You're still a newbie. Your first call offs are treading uncharted waters. Please don't feel bad about feeling guilty. You'll never get any sleep! Good advice all around about not sharing all the details concerning your call off.

More importantly is how often you feel this way and how do you handle it? The first year of nursing can make anyone feel ill. It's important that you take care of yourself and see a practitioner if you're feeling stressed out on a continuing basis.