calling out on christmas...

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Specializes in heme oncology, critical care.

I already feel horrible because I know that I left my coworkers short staffed. I had all the intentions in the world of working today, but here's what happened:

This morning in my sleep deprived state ( I had worked the past 2 nights), I decided it was a good idea to try and cook some breakfast. Well, long story short I grabbed the pot handle with my bare hand and burned myself

pretty bad. Blisters formed almost immediately. Luckily it was my left hand and I'm right handed, but the pain was excruciating. I burned the palm of my hand, my four fingers and my thumb. This happened at 9am, and i was supposed to work tonight 7p-7a. So after dipping my hand in cold water for 2 hours and feeling no relief whatsoever, I called work at 11am for some advice. I talked to charge nurse and told her my situation, and asked

her what I should do. I was more than willing to come into work; I even switched into Christmas so that one of my coworkers could have off today. I have never called out on a holiday before ( I barely call out at all), and to make matters worse, my manager isn't the fondest of me. The charge nurse called the supervisor who said if I was unable to use my hand then I really shouldn't be coming into work, so I called out.

But i still feel horrible, especially since the pain has started to subside and I know that they will be shortstaffed tonight. And I'm dreading having to talk to my manager about this tomorrow, because I have a feeling hat she will be less than understanding. I am planning to go to the doctor's tomorrow to have him look at it and write me a note.

Has anyone else had to call out on a holiday?

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Specializes in School Nursing.

maybe you could go to the er where you work. this way they would have verification that you were telling the truth. hope you feel better soon.

praiser :heartbeat

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Never have, but you can't go into work with open wounds on your hand. Tomorrow, either.

Get this documented, with backup so your hand can heal.

I repeat, you can not go in and expose your open hand to repeated washing, alcohol sanitizers, and gloves.

And I'm sorry you got so hurt.

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Oh my lands. I don't think you should be feeling badly at all for calling in! What else can you do???? You certainly didn't plan on burning yourself.

Please just take care of yourself and do all you can to heal quickly.

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Specializes in Pediatric Heme/Onc/BMT.

You wouldn't want to expose your open wounds to MRSA or any of the other creepy crawlies in your hospital. Get yourself checked out before you go back. Get it documented and get yourself treated.

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Specializes in Medical Surgical.

Well, of course you couldn't go to work. One thing you might consider, though. For years if there was a really good reason I couldn't go to work I have called the supervisor/staffing FROM the doctor's office or the ER and tell them whatever doctor involved said I couldn't come in. If I get any static at all, I ask if they would like to speak to the doctor to persuade him/her to let me work, since I am more than willing to come. They never took me up on it, and they know I'm telling the truth.

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Specializes in UR/PA, Hematology/Oncology, Med Surg, Psych.

Since I have a previous history of burning my hand, I know how painful it can be. Like most people I have a higher than usual decision threshold for calling in on a major holiday, but your reason passes muster. So don't feel guilty anymore. Your reason for calling in is legit and try not to stress about the supervisors reaction. You did right and I believe that as long as a person is doing the right thing, they shouldn't stress.

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Specializes in ICU.

Stand your ground and dont feel bad. Also dont apoligize either. Tell it how it is and leave it at that. You shouldnt be made to feel guilty. You burned yourself. You cant work like that. Think of the infection risk to yourself.

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Specializes in NICU, PICU, PCVICU and peds oncology.

I called out sick the very first Christmas I was a nurse. I was diagnosed on the 23rd of December that year with community-acquired pneumonia and the doc told me I needed to stay away from our unit's neonates with their non-existent immunities for a week. I was quite upset and didn't want my manager or coworkers to think badly of me so I had him write me a note on the spot.

I've also burned my hand on a day when I was supposed to work a night, only my burn came less than 3 hours before the start of my shift... and after the deadline for calling out. When I called the unit to tell them about the burn, the charge nurse had no issues with me staying home. So my experiences suggest that you're not going to get much grief over this. Hope you feel better soon!

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Specializes in heme oncology, critical care.

Thank you everyone for your replies. I called my unit to see how things were going and they said that there were discharges so now census is low. So it turns out that if i had gone in tonight, someone would have ended up getting pulled to another unit. Funny how things work out! I feel so much less guilty now.

I am definetely going to go to the doctor's tomorrow to cover my butt.

Oh, and I just wanted to add that although I have blisters on my hand, none of them has broke open, and that's the only reason I was thinking about going into work tonight. If I had open wounds I definetely wouldn't put me or my patients at risk. Although I never thought about the fact that the constant handwashing during my 12hr shift probably would have probably caused them to open up.

Thanks once again!

Happy Holidays!

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Hi all, I just want to say you all belated Merry Christmas and Happy New Year in advance!!!

Click4carbon

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Specializes in ER.

What would you feel guilty about? They told you not to come in. I think it's a good idea to see the doctor but not to cover your butt for work but because you need to be seen for your own health. You may need antibiotics and you will likely need silvadene, etc...Please take good care of that hand and don't go back too soon. That's what sick days are for, when you're sick.

I called out once on Christmas and I was truly sick with a high fever, sniffles, cough etc...The super called me to fuss at me but once she heard me on the phone she said never mind honey, go to bed, don't come in until you're better, sorry I doubted you.

I once called out on just a normal day, I had horrible cramps and heavy bleeding. My NM called me several times during the day to see if I was better yet and could come in to finish out the shift. I quit answering after her first call and just let her leave messages. The next time I worked I let her have it. (in a nice way of course) Made me so mad.

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