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.
I just read an article on "presenteeism". It's the opposite of absenteeism. The studies I saw on it say it is a very prevelant problem in nursing, much more so than in other jobs. Another study found it costs employers MORE than absenteeism. Basically an ill/exausted worker is a shadow of themselves, far more likely to infect a patient/co-worker or make a med error. The management culture that says 'get to work no matter what' is counter productive.
Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.
You should not feel guilty to care for yourself. If you don't, you can't be there for anyone else. And, your record is much, much better than mine...(smile).
Well let me tell you...about a month or so ago, I had one of those nights where I was stressed literally the entire shift. I did not have any lunch, and I did not even get to think about charting until a good bit after the shift. I was so very exhausted that I knew that by the time I finished everything, ate, and got home, I would not get enough rest to come back in the next night. So I went ahead and told the AM charge nurse that morning to go ahead and plan on finding a replacement for me for that night because there was no way I was coming back in being that exhausted.
They got a little peeved, but after feeling so abused all night and stressed out, I really didn't care!
To echo the other posters, twice in 8 months really is not bad AT ALL! Get yourself some rest and kiss the guilt/worry goodbye!!
And remember, bedside nursing is not like any other job....our mistakes can potentially translate into real catastrophies. And think about it...if you were a patient, would you want your nurse to be exhausted? Of course not....how scarey.
Specializes in Jack of all trades, and still learning.
OP, you really have to look after yourself first. Is it a possibility that you are such a conscientious nurse that you are the one stressed out about having to take the day off? I wouldn't be surprised if your supervisor has forgotten...
I am glad to hear it is illegal to ask what is wrong in the US. It is here as well. You have a right to confidentiality, as any hospital senior should know...
:heartbeat:heartbeat Hoping you feel better soon. And do seek counselling if it really becomes too much. It is better to discover coping methods and build up support systems long before you hit breaking point...
It is illegal in my state to be asked why you are calling off, although it doesn't stop them from asking. I always tell them I have diarrhea. I'm sure they think I have intestinal issues (not that I call off a lot)!
Management think you have to be in a cast or in an ICU bed with multiple tubes inside you to call sick.
I think you should get an award at the end of the yr for calling sick only twice in 8 months. Your supervisor can/should not trouble you for that sick call and she should not have asked what was wrong with you anyway. And yes, you are right that if you don't feel mentally prepared to go to work, you should not go as long as not it is not something you do frequently. You have to be mentally and physically prepared to be able to provide good care to your patients. If you go to work and mess, it is your licence at risk and not theirs, so it is up to you to protect it anyway you can.
Good luck to you and stop worrying about management please.
I wouldn't worry about it, you are entitled to your sick time and as they say, we are responsible for ensuring our own competency to work, which means that if you go to work tired and unfocused it is your responsibility. Your employer wouldn't stand behind you if you made a mistake.
We also have a prn nurse who works in a busy ER and has been quietly taken to the psych ward by the Doc who saw her starting a(nother) breakdown. I personally wouldn't want to work with someone like that, and she should be responsible enough to recognize it herself, instead, prides herself on working 20+ hrs of OT each week.
Our facility is short staffed, so if we call in we are given the gears, and usually called back and told there is no one to replace us, since we are the only RN on, often we have to work sick. But if you truly are not fit to work, you are not fit to work, period.
Specializes in Med/Surge, Psych, LTC, Home Health.
Wow, thanks for all the replies, I appreciate it.
I think what had me the most stressed was a couple of things. One, I've been tardy about 3-4 times. Only a couple minutes each time, but that's still "points" against me. Two, we have this stupid thing at our hospital called "Halogen". I don't know if any of you happen to be familiar with it, but... basically it's a system to determine your raise at the end of the year based on how much you go above and beyond the call of duty, how many compliments from patients and other employees that you get, how much community service you do, etc etc... AND it includes attendance. Attendance was about the only thing I might have had going for me, since I don't like to do a lot of extra crap at work and I don't have the personality that gets me remembered a lot by patients.
(Actually, I *DO* like doing things in the community like volunteering, but... well anyway...)
Oh, and also I am still looking to EVENTUALLY get off of my unit and try something else, and I don't want attendance to hurt me.
Oh well. Thanks for all your replies. I am much less stressed and am ready to "get back at it" tonight. =)
I agree with all those who have said, in essence, don't feel guilty about it.
But I also worry about you as a person. I read under the actual words of your post a person who may be stretched pretty tight by the stresses of life and could be at risk for coping in unhealthy ways. Nursing is a really tough job - as are a lot of jobs these days - and we need to find positive ways of caring for ourselves.
That means a little sustained attention to things like healthy diet, adequate sleep, regular exercise and being constructively assertive about other family members taking their share of the load and making sure your sleep and rest time are protected.
At the highest level of wellness, it is really helpful to seek out some deliberate stress-reducing activity - mindfulness meditation, yoga, something within your own religious tradition that gives you the tools to cope with stressful times none of us can escape.
We can only really care well for others when we care for ourselves first.
I totally agree with this response, think about "safety first" if you're on the floor working impaired in your mind and thinking med errors may occur, patient care will be substandard also. Do not feel guilty about resting and seeking your mental healing.
Thank you for having the good sense to call off under the conditions you stated. I hate it when I hear other nurses saying "I didn't sleep at all today". It scares the heck out of me wondering who they might accidently hurt with their decreased concentration.
Studies have shown that sleep deprivation is just as dangerous as drunk driving.
I have learned the hard way that when I am sick or sleep deprived or worried about a family problem I make a lot of mistakes and therefore am very careful in regards to sleep and taking care of myself.
No matter how great your attendance is managament is always going to gripe. But they don't have a problem taking their days off.
(not that I call off a lot)!
wjf00
357 Posts
I just read an article on "presenteeism". It's the opposite of absenteeism. The studies I saw on it say it is a very prevelant problem in nursing, much more so than in other jobs. Another study found it costs employers MORE than absenteeism. Basically an ill/exausted worker is a shadow of themselves, far more likely to infect a patient/co-worker or make a med error. The management culture that says 'get to work no matter what' is counter productive.