I called in tonight. I didn't want to, but I just simply did not feel like I could handle it tonight. I was worn out and had not been able to nap, plus I've got crap going on here at the house that is really weighing on me. It's the second time I've called in in almost eight months of working there. Both times I have called in for mental health reasons, not because I was physically sick.
The nursing supervisor just kinda laughed at me. She asked me "Well what's wrong with you?" (I HATE that), and I didn't want to say "Well I haven't slept and I feel like I'm on the verge of a nervous breakdown here" so I just simply said that I didn't feel good. She laughed and then said "Okay, well I'll tell (my manager) then." Ugh. That made me feel like I was probably going to be in trouble.
We have a PCT on our floor who has regular severe anxiety attacks while she is at work. She often walks off the elevator at the beginning of the shift, practically already in the midst of an anxiety attack. Often we wish that on nights when she feels like she just can't handle it, she would just call in. We often spend our shifts taking care of her AND the patients.
I feel like, if you seriously don't feel like you can handle work mentally that day, you should call in, just as if you were physically sick. But I know a lot of people, supervisors don't feel that way. And I'm not going to tell the supervisor that I'm having an anxiety attack and I haven't slept any and I just can't handle it tonight.
There's no point in calling for a mental health day if you're going to stress out about it. Enjoy your night off, you need it and deserve it. Guilt schmilt, as I always say.
Babe, it's the same the world over, unless you can prove you are "under the weather"..eg..your leg is hanging off or you have impaled yourself on a large spear, then it's zero sympathy and a get your backside to work attitude. Never mind your MIND!!!
I know of co-workers who have faced the same kind of put down, it only serves to make the person with the issues goin on feel worse, doesn't it?
You take care of yourself, I'm sure some of your co-workers have called in sick much more than you have over the past months, just cause it's physical stuff and can mostly be seen, makes that ok!
(((((Hugs to ya babe!)))))
Michael Moore's movie about health care in different countries would seem to say that it is NOT like that the world over, that some countries understand that life happens, that we're not automatons.
We are a nation of wage slaves. The powers that be have their hooks into our pay so they can spend our productivity on their favorite pork projects is how I see it mostly.
For the OP: 2 call off's in 8 months? What are you worried about? And as for the Sup asking what's wrong with you, she cannot legally ask that question, I don't believe, nor do you have to answer beyond a simple "I have a personal/family situation that I must deal with." Not a lawyer, don't know for sure but you can check and see what your state law is on that.
You owe them nothing more than sufficient notice. No, don't abuse your sick or other time but, for God's sake, be good to yourself. They sure aren't going to care about you. I'm generalizing, speaking out of my years of being mal used and learning painfully what the world of work is really about. And it's not about the worker's wellbeing.
I hope things perk up for you soon and that you find peace and ease. God bless.
As for "What's wrong with you?", it doesn't really matter does it? If you feel, for whatever reason, that you can't do your job that night, then you need to call in. I have three boys and work nights in the ICU. Lord knows, I've taken a few mental health days, and I always felt better afterward.
I'm not sure what the policy is at my hospital. My policy has always been, if I'm sick, I call in; if I'm well, I'll be there. My policy supercedes theirs.
Try not to worry about it. If pressed for a diagnosis, mention something about "explosive diarrhea". That ought to squelch things a bit! :chuckle
I love it! Explosive diarrhea should work every time. :nuke::chuckle:no::chuckle:clown::uhoh21: How about lice? Cooties? Crabs? Too gross? :lol2:
I completely agree, mental health days are necessary for nurses. I've had my sleepless nights where I have pushed myself to go in with no sleep, anxiety attacks then I had to be afraid all day of making a mistake because of being so exhausted. I won't do it anymore. I called in a few weekends ago as I had bronchitis and not slept in four nights. No way could I work a weekend. I stressed out all night about calling in then I decided hey I'm more important than this stess and just called in and worked on getting well so I could take care of my patients better. Don't be so hard on yourself. If we don't take care of ourselves how will we care for others. God bless us nurses.
Specializes in private duty/home health, med/surg.
I think a lot of nurses have to use a mental health day every so often to prevent burn out. I really like my job and my co-workers but there have been the occasional times when for various reasons, I just can't make myself go in so I don't. If it was something that happened on a routine basis I'd have to examine my position and/or my coping skills.
I wouldn't worry about 2x in 8 months. I hope your stress level improves soon.
That is one thing i hated when I worked at a hospital. When you tried to call off, you got quizzed about what was wrong with you and then harrassed if they didn't deem your reason worthy. I work for a school district and we get 3 personal days a year. They are just that-personal. You take them and nobody asks. Also if you have a Dr. appt that you couldn't make after work, you can take 1/2 a sick day to go and nobody gives you a hard time. How come the people in education get it and the people in health care don't. :uhoh3:Sometimes you just need a day, for whatever reason.
Rest, relax and take your night off. Twice in 8 months is not bad!
It happens.....I 've had to call off once in a while...just because I couldn't face going into work again...but I'm like you once in every 4 months isn't bad...adn some people could take a lesson from it....
2 times in 8 months is not bad at all...you have sick days and you should be able to use them for whatever the reason is. Also you should not have to explain your reason to others if you have not went over your sick days. We all need mental health days or we would absouletly go crazy and wear ourselves thin. Do not feel bad about what you did.:redbeathe
Ahh your letting your concious get the best of you. 2 call offs in 8 months is nothing you need to worry about. Just dont bring it up again and dont give any reasons. It isnt their business anyway, people get sick, be it mental health or physical health. Better to call off and save the sanity for further shifts than go in and crack at work.
:nuke:
:chuckle:no:
.thumb.gif.bd59648159cce1b1d54711ce1ae578c4.gif){kind=avatar}
nurseby07
338 Posts
There's no point in calling for a mental health day if you're going to stress out about it. Enjoy your night off, you need it and deserve it. Guilt schmilt, as I always say.