Calling Off Sick --Do You Ever Think People Lie?

[It'sInTheBlood]

I was having these EXCRUTIATING intestinal pains a few days ago and I have no idea where it came from. It just comes in waves, and I feel like I'm going to pass out as it's happening. I was literally on the toilet when I called with my eyes squinted shut. So..I called my supervisor during this (because I could barely breathe, I didn't know what to say on the phone other than explain myself to her) I broke down in the middle of my explanation into tears (I was kind of out of it, but I'm afraid now she thought the whole thing was an act....I mean, who starts crying on the phone). What do you think about the issue?

[xtxrn, ASN, RN]

The problem nurses who call in regularly need to be accountable to the attendance policies, to be fair for everyone. If someone calls in with inexcused/unscheduled absences and causes a hassle for everyone else, they need to work someplace that doesn't depend on him/her to do their share of a heavy workload.

I'm in a category of having been a major pain to have around. I've got nocturnal temporal lobe epilepsy (triggered when my brain waves go into snooze mode- not deep sleep) which can be a problem if my blood sugar acts up (diabetic) or my blood pressure tanks (dysautonomia)....my last job before disability required me to show up and I did want to make the effort...( the DON called an ambulance to pick me up at HOME when I called in one day- that really ticked me off- I called in to avoid being hauled off). I was taken out by ambulance multiple times for passing out (hypotension) or seizures. It was a disaster. I made it worse by NOT calling in after having been to the ER because I didn't want to fall behind on my work ( LTC/SNF facility; I did MDSs and careplans) or have worse attendance than I did. I generally GOT to work, just didn't always leave vertically....it was horrible.

Now, even with the ADA requirements on employers, I'm not able to work, since there really aren't accomodations that can be made for me to be employed. A lot more has gone on, and I'm physically a wreck (but miss working and being a working nurse a lot).

When I had to deal with call ins as a supervisor, I really didn't care why someone called in- but if they were a problem employee, I did ask them more questions. The ones who always showed up, even if green, red, or blue, I never questioned.

[tokmom, BSN, RN]

Of course they lie! When I was a supervisor and someone would call out we would be polite to the caller on the phone, but when I hung up, it was always "What do you think is really going on?" We had one aide who kept having her grandmother die and take a week off for it. On the other hand I have had managers really not believe me when I called out. Once really sick with a UTI. I was yelled at and told"Why don't you retire from nursing?"I was only 30!! My friend called out and was busted by the DON when she posted on Facebook about how much fun she was having at "Great Adventure!"

Oh, she was soo busted!

[tokmom, BSN, RN]

I have to take sick calls during the day for noc shift. OMG, the excuses! This one girl had fallen against a piece of furniture and smacked the side of her face, given her eye a slightly bruised look. No pain, swelling and she even said make up covered it up, but she had to stay home. Wounldn't be a problem but the week before she called in for the 'sniffles'.

[xtxrn, ASN, RN]

My all-time favorite call-in was the nurse who had to stay home and deliver a baby goat !! (she never called in, so it wasn't like she came up with weird stuff on a regular basis!!).... I congratulated her on the new addition, and got her shift filled- it was a nice LTC facility, and when they heard who called in (not a 'regular'), the one who was free came right in :)

[tokmom, BSN, RN]

We have this one guy that calls in about 3x a month. His excuse is his gut or he has glass in his foot. I want to buy him a vacuum.

[xtxrn, ASN, RN]

Depends, and shoes, going on the Christmas gift list- :)

[Amanda.RN]

I'm sure people call in sick all the time without actually being sick. I wouldn't second guess yourself though, despite crying as you asked about. I had the flu earlier this year and felt so horrible that I called my manager crying. It happens. She completely understood & wished me well. I was out of work for 4 days straight days! (...it was awful!!)

[tokmom, BSN, RN]

Depends, and shoes, going on the Christmas gift list- :)

[fuzzywuzzy, CNA]

One time at a previous non-healthcare job a girl called in sick because her toe hurt. Hello, you're a receptionist. You don't type with your toes!

I lived in a rural area too so everyone drove to work and you only had to walk 10 feet from the parking lot to the office. Poor toe!

[xtxrn, ASN, RN]

Yeah, that's a flimsy one, unless maybe she had gout !!

[Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN]

I think this falls under "Unprofessional Behavior" no matter what the official policy is.

Which is unprofessional...the policy or the behavior? I didn't understand....:)

My belief is what you do on personal time is your business, just be safe than sorry and keep your personal business on the down low. people calling in sick shouldn't be bullied or harassed....now that some facilities have the morals of an alley cat is unfortunate.

I prefer going to PTO......you don't get into that administrative trick bag of saying someone is "lying about bring sick.

[Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN]

Do I think that someone may be lying when they call off? Of course the possibility that someone may have called off for the hell of it crosses my mind...but as I don't work in staffing or upper management, it's not my place to sit in judgement on them. Nor is it my business.

Hope you are feeling better.