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.
I told her I had a severe headache 4 hours before my shift, ample time for them to find a replacement. I felt like if I would go to work tonight, it wouldn't be to the best of my ability, hinder the patient care, will not satisfy patient satisfaction, and most importantly endanger my well-being when driving home after my shift (I live 30 miles from the hospital).
That's when basically she told me to take a Tylenol and go back to sleep. I'll be fine by the time I get to work, she predicted.
We go to work all the time when we're not feeling well. I could work through a headache - no sweat. Its different when you're contagious sneezing germs all over the patients. At that point you belong home. Calling in before a weekend or a holiday? Those call ins should be monitored if done more than once - especially when you're only taking one day off. No one wants to work with people who use all of their call-in days - just one at a time - not sick. Nobody wants them for an employee, either. Don't know what your situation is - may be perfectly legitimate - but your performance can't be excellent when you're not there to perform. Be well.
I've definitely had cluster headaches that I couldn't have worked through - but luckily for me, I've never had them when I had to work. The best course of action is if you have recurrent problems of any type is to get them covered on FMLA of course.
And I agree, if you are someone who calls in one day every three-four months, your co-workers are going to look upon you as untrustworthy. Just something to keep in mind.
Specializes in ICU/CCU, Home Health/Hospice, Cath Lab,.
As a nursing supervisor at my hospital I get the joy of taking sick calls sometimes (they are supposed to call staffing now but people rarely remember). We are absolutely not allowed to ask what is wrong. In fact I am often so busy that I wish they would just go with "I am sick" since many try to tell me exactly what is going on. The only distinction we make is that if someone calls in for sick family we code it differently (doesn't get paid differently though).
Also here you get occurrences - so 1 sick call = 1 occurence. 3 sick calls over consecutive 3 days = 1 occurence. So if you are sick stay home for the time you are sick - don't fight it and come in then have to take more time off with another occurence.
As for those who hate having to call in 2 hours before - remember we don't have a bunch of nurses in the closet waiting for work. If you call in 1 hr in advance we have already cancelled everyone for that day and now have to scramble to find someone willing to come in. Getting agency is not always easy as most tend to be pre-booked. We really need that time to find a replacement, especially when census is high.
So call in with plenty of time and don't let them bully you - just say you're sick and can't come in. If they keep pressing just keep saying it. Give them 3 times and say goodbye.
Every hospital has their own policy with regards to calling in sick. Some hospitals have 6-7 calling in sick allowance per YEAR. SO be very careful not to use all your sick call. In some facility, you are called or reminded when you have 4 on more calling in sick whether it is valid or not.You have also to consider your coworkers who may be affected once you call in sick, Some may take an extra patient beyond the norn in a unit. However if you are truly sick then stand your ground. You dont want to work and compromise the safety of your patient . If I am not well, I could not think critically at times so especially on a high acuity environment. Good luck
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
I would never allow someone to diagnose me over the phone or bully me into coming to work. If I've decided I'm too sick to come in, (happens about once a year) then they can just take my word for it. I expect my record to speak for me, and I expect some professional respect.
If they ask you what's wrong just say "I'm sorry, that's private," and give them an estimated return date if you have any idea. Be a broken record, "I'm sorry, I can't share that with you," and "why do you ask" or "it's not an infectious issue for the hospital, unless I come in." Call ins put you in the same vulnerable position as calling you to come in to help. If you've been someone they could bully in the past they'll keep doing it. You came in after calling in with a headache??? Great, now you'll have them making stupid suggestions for years to come. Once you call in that's it, you're out, and don't even agree to try to come in.
dRkazN
30 Posts
I should have been more specific then...
I told her I had a severe headache 4 hours before my shift, ample time for them to find a replacement. I felt like if I would go to work tonight, it wouldn't be to the best of my ability, hinder the patient care, will not satisfy patient satisfaction, and most importantly endanger my well-being when driving home after my shift (I live 30 miles from the hospital).
That's when basically she told me to take a Tylenol and go back to sleep. I'll be fine by the time I get to work, she predicted.