Since I'm still in orientation, I'm not leaving anyone short staffed.
I haven't been sick like this in over a year. I've learned when I'm sick, I'm not pushing it...it only goes to something worse and takes that much longer. I used to practically need to be on a stretcher before calling off, but that's ridiculous...still working on the guilt part but getting there.
Unless a miracle happens between now and then there's no way I can make it. I'm scheduled to go in tomorrow at 7am. Do I call tonight sometime or wait until 6am tomorrow?
Definitely as early as you know you're going to be out so they can fix staffing. The latest I've called in is 425p for having to be there at 630p and that was considered a late call in. I woke up sick as snot so there really wasn't anything I could do about it.
The first hospital I worked at it was 2 hours across the board. The hospital I work at now it is 4 hours for evening shift and 5 hours for night shift. It's pretty unfair.
That is really unfair, pippylockstocking. What reasoning (if any) does your hospital give for the policy? (Sorry for hijacking your thread OP, maybe I'll start another one instead)
We are supposed to tell them why we are reporting off (symptoms included for illness) and I will do this during flu season since sick pay kicks in right away during those months. The rest of the year however, you can't use sick pay till after the second day and after three you need a doctor's note. So during flu season, they get to know why but the rest of the year I remind them that we have a no fault policy and calling off because of a stomach virus counts the same as calling off to go shopping. The only exception I make is if it is a death in the family as we do get bereavement pay.
Every once in a while a supervisor will try to tell me that I have to tell them and they are required to write it down. Because I am familiar with our attendance policies I tell them they are free to write down whatever they like as it doesn't matter in my evaluation. When my manager goes over my absences for the year I always get a good laugh at whatever the supervisor has made up. I keep accurate records at home and know I have never called off with PMS! Guess she thought it would explain what she viewed as attitude? lol
what I don't understand about the "call back later, closer to the shift to let me know if you still can't come in" mentality:
When I called in sick several hours before my shift because I was sick, I would then go to bed and try to sleep as much as I could - after all - that's how we heal, right? So if they think I'm going to set my alarm to wake up if I've finally fallen asleep or I'm going to grab for my phone in mid-vomit to let them know that "yes, I am still sick," then they're nuts.
Not only that, if I'm scheduled to work day shift on Tuesday morning, but I was sick as a dog all Monday evening until the wee hours of the morning, even if I do feel physically better by start of shift Tuesday, do they really think someone who only had three hours sleep because she was puking until 3 a.m. would be effective at work?
By the way, I'm of the "it's none of their business what I'm sick with, I'm sick" way of thinking.
Specializes in Peds/outpatient FP,derm,allergy/private duty.
OttawaRPN said:
Many facilities keep track of certain symptoms for infection control purposes, ie) N/V/D or cough, temp, etc... otherwise it's none of their bleeping business.
Besides... every single nurse has, at some point in their career, called in sick without actually being sick, and I wouldn't believe anyone who tried to tell me otherwise.
I've done that - but I didn't inhale. Hahaha-- wait - was that lame? (Official lame monitor away at college) But seriously, I've never done that. I've only called in sick without being sick once in my life and that was when I worked as a waitress in a coffee shop. I'm still wracked with guilt because the person who went in that night cancelled her plans for the evening so while I "enjoyed" mine. I don't think it's a sign of virtue on my part, but the tenacious Catholic Guilt Syndrome.:)
I agree with you. At my work, they always ask what you are sick with. Well th is weekend I had to call out Sat & Sun because on Friday - 1) my truck broke down 2) late at night in the rain / cold 3) with my toddler child. My kid was pretty wound up from the long day we had already had, and then the truck had to break down to make matters worse. With being in and out of the elements, the cold, the damp, my kid got sick... fever, crying, wouldn't go to bed. The next day I was sick too. Now I got the fever, the coughing, the congestion, etc. Finally got my truck back up and running... and the supervisor who I called off to yesterday we giving me a hard time saying I need a doctor's excuse.
Whatever! My doctor is closed on Sundays. My truck was broke down, no way to get to work even if I wasn't sick. My kid is sick. As a nurse, I know there's nothing the doctor can do for a virus. Only time, and rest, and fluids, are all we need. So why should I waste my doctor's time?
Specializes in acute care med/surg, LTC, orthopedics.
pippylockstocking said:
I agree with you. At my work, they always ask what you are sick with. Well th is weekend I had to call out Sat & Sun because on Friday - 1) my truck broke down 2) late at night in the rain / cold 3) with my toddler child. My kid was pretty wound up from the long day we had already had, and then the truck had to break down to make matters worse. With being in and out of the elements, the cold, the damp, my kid got sick... fever, crying, wouldn't go to bed. The next day I was sick too. Now I got the fever, the coughing, the congestion, etc. Finally got my truck back up and running... and the supervisor who I called off to yesterday we giving me a hard time saying I need a doctor's excuse.
Whatever! My doctor is closed on Sundays. My truck was broke down, no way to get to work even if I wasn't sick. My kid is sick. As a nurse, I know there's nothing the doctor can do for a virus. Only time, and rest, and fluids, are all we need. So why should I waste my doctor's time?
Speaking of wasting a doctor's time... at the LTC facility I was held hostage in, they had a policy during the summer that if you called in sick during a weekend or holiday shift, you either brought in a dr's note or you were taken off the sched until you brought in the dr's note. No note? Then you were fired. No joke, several were fired, with no support from the union they paid into.
I'm still going to be off tomorrow. I still feel like I was run over by a truck. I went to the doctor's and was told I have a bad URT possibly sinusitis leading to bronchitis, b/c my cough is much worse today. I got a bunch of scripts, and a doctor's note, but I still feel lousy about missing, esp in orientation.
I talked to my NM, she definitely doesn't want me coming in wearing a mask, so the places that have their nurses do that, that's out. She'd rather I stay home. Of course I don't think she's too happy about any of this either, even though she's being nice.
Well here's to hoping I can be better by Wednesday and not have a relapse b/c I didn't allow for adequate rest. I got some cough syrup w/codeine so maybe I'll finally get some sleep, 2 days and I haven't really slept decent.
I miss the days of when you were a kid and could be off for a good amt of time to really get better. I don't miss being a kid...just the ease of not having to worry about job security b/c of uncontrollable circumstances.
We all seem to forget that we work with SICK people, and as such are at higher risk for contracting illness. no mater how much we pride ourselves on our highly developed immune systems! No need to feel guilty for being ill, OR calling in.
i would think calling in earlier is better, who knows your ability to function better than you? And if I was lying in that bed, I would'nt want a coughing, sneezing or obviously drained nurse caring for me.
NeoNurseTX, RN
1,803 Posts
Definitely as early as you know you're going to be out so they can fix staffing. The latest I've called in is 425p for having to be there at 630p and that was considered a late call in. I woke up sick as snot so there really wasn't anything I could do about it.