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.
When i was a CNA in LTC we were always grilled when we called in. Once....my eye had been itching on an overnight shift/ friday night. When I work up saturday afternoon I was wondering if I had pink eye, but there was no eye matter...just a very pink watery eye. I went to work...and lived with it. When I woke up that afternoon....my eye was literally SWOLLEN shut. I've never seen pink eye that bad before. I called in and they told me I had to have a DR note to not come in. (this was sunday night) My dh had to drive me to the ER. When i brought the note in...I could tell the charge nurse was ready to chew me out....then she took one look at me..apologized....grabbed gloves and a plastic bag...and taped my note into a bag since I had been holding it.
My new job....they tell me "take care of yourself" if I need to call in sick. It's SUCH a nice change.
Nursing is not a job you can "coast" through on a sick day. A shift is generally 12+ hours long and on your feet most of the time.I wouldn't be suprized if sick calls were more common in nursing. In many other jobs you can take it slower and catch up another day, or you can go into the office for just a few hours. Nursing is all or nothing. If you cannot make it through a shift, skip the guilt.
Specializes in ICU, SDU, OR, RR, Ortho, Hospice RN.
I never feel guilty if I call in sick because it is the truth.
I would not want to be sick and working with my patients that are so sick anyway. It is not right to pass on these bugs to anyone especially the immuno-suppressed etc
You cannot help getting sick, we do not plan it. I am sorry you were given such an awful time but I do hope that you stayed home and looked after yourself.
AprilRNhere
699 Posts
When i was a CNA in LTC we were always grilled when we called in. Once....my eye had been itching on an overnight shift/ friday night. When I work up saturday afternoon I was wondering if I had pink eye, but there was no eye matter...just a very pink watery eye. I went to work...and lived with it. When I woke up that afternoon....my eye was literally SWOLLEN shut. I've never seen pink eye that bad before. I called in and they told me I had to have a DR note to not come in. (this was sunday night) My dh had to drive me to the ER. When i brought the note in...I could tell the charge nurse was ready to chew me out....then she took one look at me..apologized....grabbed gloves and a plastic bag...and taped my note into a bag since I had been holding it.
My new job....they tell me "take care of yourself" if I need to call in sick. It's SUCH a nice change.