Do you go to work when you're sick?

Bonosgrrl · Nov 6, 2010

How sick do you have to be before you'll stay home from work? Do you get the mixed message of "you should stay home if you're ill", but then get reprimanded if you actually do?

I stay home if I am sick. I was actually told when I took this job to stay home if sick. I work with nursing home residents.

pedspnp · Nov 6, 2010

i stay home when sick, i only see children, and parents do not appreciate bringing a newborn in for a well check and have the provider coughing and sneezing. On the few occasions I have had to call in all the parents were understanding and the comment most often heard when explained why they needed to reschedule, was gosh I hope she feels better soon.

yelnikmcwawa · Nov 7, 2010

I have an NP friend who goes to work when sick...even with a fever. I said shame on her, and she said, "I prefer to use my sick days for when I'm not sick. Why ruin perfectly good time off from work with illness?" I'ts kinda hard to argue with that, LOL!

Bonosgrrl · Nov 7, 2010

I have an NP friend who goes to work when sick...even with a fever. I said shame on her, and she said, "I prefer to use my sick days for when I'm not sick. Why ruin perfectly good time off from work with illness?" I'ts kinda hard to argue with that, LOL!

:confused:

VivaRN · Nov 7, 2010

At my workplace it's a bit more complicated. I haven't been sick enough to stay home, but my co-workers regularly come when ill and even when they have other major obligations (like sick children, or one came in when a family member, whom she was very close to, passed away the day before).

It's because when the front office tries to reschedule people they often can't get ahold of them - for various reasons. Cell phone got shut off due to lack of funds. Or they've already left home to come for their appt.

The end result is the majority of your patients showing up and then getting dumped on your co-workers. No one wants this and there is a subtle pressure that you had better be dying before you allow this to happen.

allnurses Guide · Nov 7, 2010

Viva, my workplace is like yours. They pretty much want to see your obituary before you call out sick. We start seeing patients at 8:15 AM, but there's no one there to take your sick call until 7:45 AM. They try to shuttle patients to Urgent Care if there's openings, but patients end up showing up and then are told they have to reschedule. It's not a great system. And of course, no one will let you go home if you get sick while at work. Last summer, I developed cellulitis that got progressively worse throughout the day, til by 3 PM I was sweaty, febrile, and in pain. I was told to see my last 4 patients before I could leave to get treatment. After that I had no qualms about staying out for the rest of the week!!