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:

You know what . . . .there are state laws regarding how many sick days you get. And that is discussed during your interview for your new job. If there is a problem, don't take the job. And if you take a job with less than optimum conditions, then you really don't have a right to complain. You walked in knowing the truth. And if you find out that your place of employment is the kind of a place the interrogates you or forces you to stay at work with diarrhea . .then quit.

I don't need a union to stand up for me . . . it drives me crazy that people will not stand up for themselves.

I agree with vamedic4 . . . . .

steph

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Specializes in RN- Med/surg.

I called in sick monday at work...at my job at the hospital as an RN. I was BLOWN AWAY at the difference lol. They said "ok, thanks for calling, get some rest and take care of yourself"

At my old job...they wanted 2 symptoms, onset, and pushed for a dr's note.

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I called in sick monday at work...at my job at the hospital as an RN. I was BLOWN AWAY at the difference lol. They said "ok, thanks for calling, get some rest and take care of yourself"

At my old job...they wanted 2 symptoms, onset, and pushed for a dr's note.

That is great (see, there are employers who actually let you stay home sick) - hope you are feeling better!

steph

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Specializes in IM/Critical Care/Cardiology.

And then there are those who get sick from giving the care to the patient. These folks should not be punished, and it isn't always about proper handwashing, it could be saving a life through CPR with an infant of an unknown disease.

Then what do you do to stand up to management? I called my union rep!

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Specializes in Rodeo Nursing (Neuro).

Most previous posts seem (properly) focused on the risk to the patients, but I have another angle: How does it facilitate staffing to have multiple co-workers exposed? You see it every flu season. One brave trouper comes in anyway, and two days later half a dozen call off.

Me, I'd rather spend a day or two in bed, getting better, than run around sick for a couple of weeks.

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Specializes in Cardiology, Oncology, Medsurge.
Most previous posts seem (properly) focused on the risk to the patients, but I have another angle: How does it facilitate staffing to have multiple co-workers exposed? You see it every flu season. One brave trouper comes in anyway, and two days later half a dozen call off.

Me, I'd rather spend a day or two in bed, getting better, than run around sick for a couple of weeks.

If only we could tag the bugs and catch the culprit runny nose handed!

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And if you take a job with less than optimum conditions, then you really don't have a right to complain. You walked in knowing the truth. And if you find out that your place of employment is the kind of a place the interrogates you or forces you to stay at work with diarrhea . .then quit.

I don't need a union to stand up for me . . . it drives me crazy that people will not stand up for themselves.

steph

i agree.

can you imagine if we took this a step further?

that nurses quit r/t staffing, intolerable working conditions, pervasive disrespect?

wow.

if we ALL just said "no", imagine how our realities could change.

wow.

leslie

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Specializes in Rodeo Nursing (Neuro).
You know what . . . .there are state laws regarding how many sick days you get. And that is discussed during your interview for your new job. If there is a problem, don't take the job. And if you take a job with less than optimum conditions, then you really don't have a right to complain. You walked in knowing the truth. And if you find out that your place of employment is the kind of a place the interrogates you or forces you to stay at work with diarrhea . .then quit.

I don't need a union to stand up for me . . . it drives me crazy that people will not stand up for themselves.

I agree with vamedic4 . . . . .

steph

I guess I more or less agree--Lord knows, I'm not a great fan of unions.

As a nurse, I think my greatest leverage in dealing with management is that I have a valid nurse's license. I'm freer than most to "vote with my feet." That actually played a small part in my decision to become a nurse. In my previous, union position, my greatest leverage was that my employer had no desire to get rid of me. I showed up, worked hard, and didn't create problems. I used to say all the union ever did for me was keep someone else on payroll so I could do their work, too.

Still, not all employers are reasonable. For some, showing up and doing your job aren't enough. Quitting is still an option, but we all need jobs, and in some markets, those aren't easy to find. So I'm forced to grudgingly admit, sometimes unions have their place.

My main, point, though, is that I will defend to the death my right to complain, whine, *****, moan, and kvetch.

I used to say my only problem was not having enough to complain about. Now I'm a nurse, and my life is perfect.

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The first LTC I worked in, the night CNA came in sick as a dog - throwing up, etc. She hadn't even tried to find a replacement because the place had a reputation for NOT being nice about it!

By the next weekend, I was down with it - and the DON would not even answer her phone - so I called the administrator - I told her that I was throwing up and was NOT going to be there and she took care of it.

I quit that place not long after.

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Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.

No surprize. Most staff are too intimidated not to come to work. I work at the other end of the spectrum where most of us call in regularly, but for the most part, at my city hospital, they can't do much with us, because we have strong unions, and do not have an attractive starting salary, even with experience.

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When I was a CNA I was a very conscientious worker. Once I became too sick to work and called off one or two shifts. I called in and said I would be out for one more shift. The nurse taking the call got nasty with me and told me I would have to bring a doctor's excuse. So I went to the doctor, who promptly wrote me an excuse that kept me out for three more days. I did what the nurse wanted me to do, but it cost me the cost of going to the doctor plus two extra days of pay. At the CNA rate of pay, I really couldn't afford that just to prove a point to that nasty nurse. My feelings on the subject at the time, "Why don't you pay more attention to the people who habitually call out? Even over a boyfriend? Always on Friday night? Why pick on somebody who has almost perfect attendance?"

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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:

This is pretty typical in nursing.

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