I woke up this morning feeling awful....GI stuff. I was scheduled to work at 2:30 So, I took my shower and got dressed for work, you know....just trudging on. Had a miserable episode where I became diaphoretic and white as a sheet.
So, I called work, told my DNS I wasn't going to make it in. Her response "Absolutely not, one nurse has already called in today!"
Now, I have worked for this facility for 2 1/2 years, and I can count on ONE HAND the number of times I've called in sick.
I understand she has a facility to run, and its so difficult to get nurses to come in, its just frustrating that when you really are sick, to be treated so poorly.
Make me feel better (emotionally anyway!) share your calling in sick stories.
We don't have sick days in the UK so find this discussion really interesting, we also have really strict guidelines as to how sickness is dealt with by managment, you are not allowed to ask if they are sure, could they try to come in later, we are not allowed to phone a nurse at home when on the sick to ask when they are likely to be back either (although this does sometimes happen)
We also have really good sickness benefit, you are able to self certify for 7 days then need a drs note, but after I think 12 months if you work in the NHS you are entitled to 6 months full pay if off sick and after than 6 months half pay.
When you say sick days are these paid days that you are entitled to, what happens if you need long term sickness?
I hope you feel better. I know a time or two I've left my coworkers high and dry. I know how it feels because they've done the same to me. It can't be helped, so don't feel guilty.
what is it with nurse's and this guilt ridden thought process? and why are we so treated like dirt by so many manager's. IS it because as a collective group we are mostly female?
It isn't just nursing. Medical students are expected to show up regardless-that is the very real but unwritten rule.
My brother had the misfortune of falling ill on Christmas eve. Knowing it would look suspicious to miss work before a holiday, he dragged his feverish, coughing self in so he could be sent right back home.
Wow, she sounds like a real winner.!!!! I have never had anyone say anything to me other than, hope you feel better, don't worry about it etc.Then again, I don't talk to the chief, we just tell the chg nurse, (who is just any of us on any given day)
there have been times several people have called out on the same shift and oh well, you just deal,start calling people to see if they can come in, whatever. To personally go after you like that is pretty appauling,
What is she, your mother???
I would be a little peeved. It's not your fault or your problem, it's hers. Yes, she has a business/facility to run, so she should just act professional, shut up and run it
I agree, grumpy. I don't understand why these administrators don't have a plan of action for circumstances like this.
I hope you feel better. I know a time or two I've left my coworkers high and dry. I know how it feels because they've done the same to me. It can't be helped, so don't feel guilty.
We all know what it's like to work short.
But I respectfully suggest that it's this bizarre personalization of a situation where a nursing co-worker calls off work (he/she is doing this to me/us) that creates an unhealthy environment. You say (and have said in previous posts) "it can't be helped" and I believe that you would not unnecessarily berate a coworker who was calling off, but the personalization persists.
Coworkers are living, breathing, complete human beings with complete, complex lives and a complete set of anatomical/physiological parts which tend to break down from time to time. They don't call off to do something to me. If there is a pattern of call offs from a particular person then management needs to deal with it.
Regardless how "sick" the nurse is, if they have sick time that they are able to use, then they should be able to use it.
Our unit released a memo before the holidays stating that if a nurse wants to call out during the holidays (they listed dates that this would take be effective on) would need to speak to the manager on-call and provide a doctors note.
And like they'll be able to find a DOCTOR around during the holidays!
It's not just nursing. When I was registration, I got the 3rd degree if I needed a sick day. I worked once in the ED where I ran to the BR every 20 min the whole shift. I had asked to leave but the hospital rule is that you can't leave an ED post until someone comes to relieve you. My manager couldn't find anyone, so I wasn't allowed to leave.
I am home sick right now, and feel horribly guilty about it. Was supposed to do a 16 hour shift, so I know I really hurt their staffing. Stomach is just twisted up in knots, don't even want to drink any water, can't imagine how I would've gotten through it anyway, almost fell over when I tried to get out of bed. My supervisor was nice about it, though.
My fiance has a system where they call in to a machine....they don't even have to talk to a person.
Where I work, we can't leave a message on an answering machine to call out sick; it "doesn't count." We have to speak to an actual person, and it has to be the supervisor on duty. Otherwise, we won't get a paid sick day. I used to feel guilty for calling out, but I have finally realized that it is not my problem if the facility doesn't plan for callouts. I have always provided a doctor's note when I've called out, so that work knows that I'm not at home living it up. Plus, I'm sure that the DON and the nursing supervisors don't feel guilty when they call out.
Specializes in FNP, Peds, Epilepsy, Mgt., Occ. Ed.
Stop feeling guilty for being sick!!!
As has already been said: we are human. Humans are prone to illnesses. It is not the staff's problem if more than one person on the same unit happens to be ill!
I once had a supervisor "guilt" me into working sick. Never again! This one was notorious for acting as if every call-in were a personal affront to her. She also insisted on talking to the employee personally. A co-worker had her husband call in for her once, as she was otherwise occupied in the bathroom. The supervisor insisted that she speak with the employee. So, hubby took the phone into the bathroom; the supervisor got an earful of the nurse retching, gagging, and upchucking into the toilet. I think she was a little less insistent after that.
It's ridiculous that we're working to take care of other people's health, but aren't supposed to take care of our own.
XB9S, BSN, MSN, EdD, RN, APN
1 Article; 3,020 Posts
We don't have sick days in the UK so find this discussion really interesting, we also have really strict guidelines as to how sickness is dealt with by managment, you are not allowed to ask if they are sure, could they try to come in later, we are not allowed to phone a nurse at home when on the sick to ask when they are likely to be back either (although this does sometimes happen)
We also have really good sickness benefit, you are able to self certify for 7 days then need a drs note, but after I think 12 months if you work in the NHS you are entitled to 6 months full pay if off sick and after than 6 months half pay.
When you say sick days are these paid days that you are entitled to, what happens if you need long term sickness?