Contagious CNA showing up for work!!!!

Nurses General Nursing

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What a crazy place I work in.:madface::angryfire The night CNA told me that she has a doctor's excuse to not work. She has a temp of 102, has the flu and is contagious and her doctor told her to not go to work. She told the RN supervisor what the doctor said. She told the newly hired CNA to show up for work and to wear a "mask." She strongly hinted to the CNA that she would lose her job if she didn't show up for work. What to do?:madface::madface::madface:

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Specializes in LTC.

I've had management tell me simular on more than one occasion.

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Specializes in RN- Med/surg.

I see both sides of this. As short as we worked when I was a CNA..I showed up regardless if I was physically able to work. I used really good hand hygiene and just didn't breath directly on residents.

Of course the other side is...it's prabably better to work short with well residents...than to work the next 2 weeks....short staffed AND with sick residents.

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That's awful,casi.

:madface:I had no idea that this kind of thing was going on in other places too. :angryfireWhat a disgrace! I work in an assisted living facility where there are mostly elderly residents. None of them have received their flu shots yet.

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Specializes in LTC.

Yep, this was an Assisted Living Facility too. You couldn't call in sick without getting hassled. I had gone to work more than once when I should have called in due to not wanting to deal with manangment. They'll demand a doctors note for the stomach flu. What doctor wants to see a patient for a 24 hour stomach bug?

I've seen employees stay at work puking because management doesn't think they are sick enough. A pregnant lady with a sky high blood pressure that the DON checked forced to stay at work, and numerous other things as well. Honestly I've seen at least one leave via ambulance.

It's ridiculous that management expects people to provide personal cares to people with vulnerable immune systems when they are sick!

Heck, I won't even go into the rant of what happens when the residents start getting sick.....

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Specializes in FNP, Peds, Epilepsy, Mgt., Occ. Ed.

It's ridiculous.

The employees need to not work sick, period. And, if their job is threatened, make noises about lawyers. And make noises about the local news media. "Facility forces caregivers to work sick, thus exposing the residents to illness...."

If I give someone a work note and the work place does not wish to honor that, I'd love for the patient to let me know. I expect I'd find the supervisor or manager quite tasty.

Oh, and the vomiting employee needs to choose his or her target carefully. The manager's shoes would be just about perfect!!

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Yep this happened where I work and now all of my elderly pt's have it. One is 102! Don't get me wrong the place I work at is really great, we just don't have enough staff to cover people who get sick.

Oh and I have it to :(. And my boyfriend. And all the other caregivers, And the people at my school. YAY!!!!!!!!!!!

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Specializes in IM/Critical Care/Cardiology.

I called my manager and told her to get the masks out for me. Sick for 4 months. Had undiagnosed whooping cough.(as it turned out)

When I crashed at work, boy were they nice to me, even w/c'd me to the hospital!

Who knows how many people I infected even with good handwashing!!!

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Happens all the time. The last time the staff all came in (including me) and some were told to wear masks 5 residents got URI's and 3 cases turned into pneumonia.

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Specializes in IM/Critical Care/Cardiology.
Happens all the time. The last time the staff all came in (including me) and some were told to wear masks 5 residents got URI's and 3 cases turned into pneumonia.

Sad Situation.

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Specializes in School Nursing.

Where I used to work, we had a CNA try and call off with diarrhea and the supervisor told her to come in an bring a change of clothes in case she needed them. And this was an oncology unit!!!!:angryfire

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Specializes in Too many to list.

I am strongly in favor of staff staying home when sick.

https://allnurses.com/forums/f8/sick-day-251588.html

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