Calling out sick. How much notice?

[Kitty Hawk]

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?

[flashpoint]

It's sad...we encourage patients to speak up when they don't witness us washing our hands....we encourage patients to refuse their meds if we don't check their ID bands prior to administering...patients can refuse nurses based on their age, weight, skin color, or whatever, yet we never encourage them to speak up if the nurse looks too sick to be there. Maybe someone should start a campaign about that...

Patients could wear buttons that say...

"Are You Healthier than Your Nurse? Speak Up! Request a Healthy Nurse! Demand a Healthy Nurse!"

"No Masks Allowed Unless the Patient is in Isolation!"

"Are You Sick? Get Out...Go Home...Get Well Soon!"

"I am Supposed to Make You Sick...You Aren't Supposed to Make Me Sicker!"

[pippylockstocking]

I just found out today that is our police all year long. It was my weekend to work, so apparently now I need a doctor's note. So I drug myself intoday hacking, sneezing, coughing up mucous, and blowing my nose every 5 minutes. I was temped to show them the receipt for the parts & repairs on my truck. It's sad when employers can't trust their employees and look out for the well being of their employees. I was always taught it's better to call out than to bring the germs to work and risk infecting patients and other co-workers. The sad part is that even with being sick, I still would have come in. Even though my truck broke down, I would have gotten someone to give me a ride and a pick-up. But my kid was really sick. It was a combination of the 3 issues that was my decision to call out.

[pippylockstocking]

you make excellent points steelydan... I had to excuse myself from a patient's room today because I was coughing my brains out! How embarrassing for me, and I bet the patient and her husband were thinking OMG?

[caliotter3]

I've had family members make comments to me when I coughed. I have had the most terrible time trying to convince them that I suffer from bad allergies instead of contagious URIs. If I stayed home because of my allergies, I would never get to work.

[nursel56]

caliotter3 said:

I've had family members make comments to me when I coughed. I have had the most terrible time trying to convince them that I suffer from bad allergies instead of contagious URIs. If I stayed home because of my allergies, I would never get to work.

Allergies are the worst for that!! Hey, we know it's not a contagious disease, but we still get that "look" that broadcasts uh-huhhh suuure. . . and Lord help us if we're doing things with two hands and that little trickley feeling in the nose starts. But last week I was orienting a new nurse that turned away and coughed every 10 seconds until I finally asked "you have a cold?" while actually thinking "you have tuberculosis?" yes it was allergies so I guess I'm a little guilty of judging, too.

[pippylockstocking]

allergy sufferer here too... Unfortunately this time, it's is a bad URI. I was wearing a mask. But the hospital has the heat cranked on, and the air is so dry, that I just couldn't control my coughing.. starting having a hacking spell. Had to walk out of the room.

[pippylockstocking]

you have TB! laughin my ass off... Nursel you are really a hoot! :))

[3ringnursing, BSN]

Call ASAP. This let's your supervisor know that once you are off orientation and in the same circumstances (because let's face it, odds are that we all eventually will have to call off at some point) that you will make every effort to give as much notice as possible to give them time to find a replacement.

There is nothing worse than calling off at the last minute when there just is no time to find a replacement - let your manager know you are not that person.

This is one if the nastiest cold & flu seasons I've ever witnessed - it makes me think of Stephen King's, The Stand. I hope you feel better soon!