Calling In for ANY Reason using PTOs

OklaLPN · Feb 17, 2009

Let me play Devil's Advocate here...

You stated that you are a recent graduate. Have you just started working for your current employer? You also stated that when you try to call in, you are questioned about your illness. Is it possible that you are calling in too frequently? If you are, I don't see where your employer is in the wrong.

This is just my opinion from reading your post...

OklaLPN

Ruas61, BSN, RN · Feb 17, 2009

I would say hold your ground. Just say I am ill I won't be in. If there is a central call off office. Use that to avoid the hassle.

nickos · Feb 17, 2009

If you aren't calling in often, and are calling in with plenty of warning time when possible, I don't think you should be able to be bullied into coming in. If I call off, I am OFF. However, I *never* call off unless I know I will be of no help.

youknowho · Feb 17, 2009

If you are sick and have the time to use, then just call in and don't let them bully you. If you are new and this is not the first or second sick call, then I would really ask yourself what is going on. BTW, I don't think you need to explain you have a headache or diarrhea or a cold. You are just sick, not feeling well and not coming in. If your manager wants to talk to you about attendance, they have that right.

Virgo_RN, BSN, RN · Feb 17, 2009

Ok let me start off with what I believe why I am writing this. As a nurse, we do not have the usual holidays as other normal jobs because our work does not stop. Fine, so instead of giving us these holidays, we get PTO, or paid-time off, to use anytime we want yea?

Not exactly. In other jobs, you get a designated number of sick days plus a designated number of vacation days. PTO simply combines these two types of paid time off into one "bank". However, that doesn't mean you can use this time "anytime you want". You still have to submit vacation requests for days off, and if you call in sick, you really should be sick.

dRkazN · Feb 17, 2009

Ah i see, thanks for all your input.

Also, no I do not call off that often. The last time I did call off was in October. During the holidays we were told that calling off is not allowed, so the last time I did call off must have been October.

I call really early, in my thinking that they would have ample time to find a replacement. But, instead, they would delve into WHY I am calling off, and telling me WHAT I should do so that I do come to work.

But, does this happen in YOUR environment? Do they have the right to ask why your sick?

iluvivt, BSN, RN · Feb 17, 2009

It is crucial you know your facilities policy. Some facilities have a number usually,5-6 days per calender year that you can call in without getting some kind of verbal or written warning. For example,if you have a flu that lasts foe 3 days and you were scheduled to work all of those days it usually counts as only one occurrence. this is how it works at my facility....so if you are ill...better to stay out...b/c if you have a relapse in a few days or was never really well and you call in again....it counts again. Now as far as your manager goes you need to stand your ground.

You: I am ill and will not be in today for my shift that starts at 1500 (ps...do not give the details of your illness...be vague)

Manager: Oh you will be fine ...just get some rest and take a tylenol ( how in the heck do they know....they can diagnose and treat over the phone)

You: thank you for your concern but NO, I am ill and will not be in for my shift that starts at 1500

if they continue to bully you...keep repeating your call in statement. If bullying is severe you might need to say I guess I will have to talk to your supervisor

Please also check the nursing call in policy....we must call 3 places.....the nursing ofice....manager and the unit we work on......YES they want to make it a pain...... Also check on time frames they demand at least 2 hours notice where I work. this can also be unrealistic...you wake up throwing up and your shift starts in one hour.

I think if you come to work ill to take care of ill and immunocomprimised patients you are also doing the patients a great disservice and certainly are not advocating for your patients What kind of manager/human being tells you to come in sick!!!!!!!! I wish these managers would get a grip and think past their immediate staffing issues and budget

LilyBlue · Feb 17, 2009

I have rarely called in - once when I had a kidney stone and once when I was having a threatened miscarriage.

They sounded irritated, but didn't give me any hassle really - just a short "OK". I think it's sad that nurses are supposed to be overflowing with empathy and break our necks to get a patient a juice, but we should come to work while passing a kidney stone?

dRkazN · Feb 17, 2009

Good points iluvivt, yes I should know the policies at my institution, yet, I do not want to ask the wrong person. The work environment, I noticed, is alot like a class. The teacher is the manager, and all the students are the RNs. Class presidents are the charges. The students who suck up to the teacher gets preferential treatment (easy patients, having 5 while others have 6 or 7 patients, getting PTO and shift switches approved easily, etc). The ones who do not follow suit do not get such treatment.

So, in order to avoid stepping in anyone's toes, especially the manager, I do not ask alot of questions towards policy and the like because they will start questioning as to WHY I want to know! Crazy right? It seems like they want us (newly grad RNs) to be kept in the dark so they can manipulate us without any resistance.

rngolfer53 · Feb 17, 2009

Ok let me start off with what I believe why I am writing this. As a nurse, we do not have the usual holidays as other normal jobs because our work does not stop. Fine, so instead of giving us these holidays, we get PTO, or paid-time off, to use anytime we want yea? So this is the situation:
I am working at a certain hospital where when I try to call in, they actually bully me to come to work! EVEN when I am sick! The manager would tell me to take a Tylenol and get some rest! THE NERVE :angryfire! For example, today, I did not feel like going to work so I called in to say I'm calling off. But, the nurse manager just told me to get some more rest and come to work. So, now I AM at work with a headache.
So anyway, I want to know if this kind of practice is the same in other hospitals, or if my belief in PTOs is flawed. Tell me how I should approach it, what should I say, or what I should do about it. I have talked to other nurses on the floor and they tell me to just calling the Nursing Office, instead of the floor, but I do not want to be shady; this is, after all, where I work at.
Let me know please because I just recently graduated, and because of that, they think they can step all over me, and I'm too scared to say anything since I don't know if I am right or not.
Thanks alot,
DesperateRN:bowingpur

emphasis added

So, you aren't really sick, just don't "feel like" going to work.................................

No hospital, etc has an unlimited number of nurses to be called on short notice to take your place because you don't feel like working. Pt still have to have nursing care 24/7.

You are part of the reason nurses get called endlessly to come in on their days off.

dRkazN · Feb 17, 2009

" think if you come to work ill to take care of ill and immunocomprimised patients you are also doing the patients a great disservice and certainly are not advocating for your patients What kind of manager/human being tells you to come in sick!!!!!!!! I wish these managers would get a grip and think past their immediate staffing issues and budget "

I agree with that also because your not doing yourself and your patient a favor if you come in sick. Its a sick cycle: the patients are already sick, you make them more sick, in turn, what they have you might receive because of your already weak immune system.

Also, our floor is always expressing the importance of patient satisfaction, BUT how can you satisfy somebody else when you aren't even satisfied yourself? One thing I observed about patients is that a warm, genuine smile and kind demeanor means so much more than anything else. You do not get that if snot is hanging from your nose, your eyes red and itchy, or your throat sounds like a frog died in it.

We also have to call 2 hours ahead before our shift starts. Who wakes up 2 hours before their shifts? Seriously?