Does anybody else feel guilty about calling off?

I always feel guilty too. I feel bad because I know somebody else may have to come to work in my place or the other nurses may have a heavier day because of me. Because of this I hardly EVER call in. Last time I did was 2-3 years ago when I pulled a rib muscle from coughing so bad during a bad case of bronchitis. I took one day.

I usually only ever get sick with colds or sinus infections so I feel like absolute crud but know I'm not TOO sick so I just load up on medicine and go about my day.

My husband gives me crap too, he doesn't think anything about calling off (not that he does it very often). I have to remind him that my calling off will possibly ruin the night of 5-6 other people. I have called off before but it has been for pretty good reasons

I always feel guilty, too.....I've never really examined the reasons for this, but maybe it comes from knowing that my co-workers will have a heavier work load. I have called off to stay with an ill elderly family member, but haven't been ill for years, myself (thank goodness).

Hope you and your little ones are feeling better soon!

I'll probably get flamed for this but unless you're sick I don't know why you're calling off. Is your husband unable to take the kids to the doctors while you're at work? No one in healthcare should work when sick, but I think calling off when you aren't is unfair to your coworkers.

2 weeks ago I had to miss clinical for school and a whole weekend of work due to strep. My fevers were high and I was so dehydrated I had to go in the hospital for IV fluids and lopressor because my BP and heart rate were just way too high; despite the temperatures coming down.

I wasn't going to go. I was going to try to make it to clinical, but my husband took me to the ER.

I actually cried on the phone to my instructor and apologizes to my charge nurse over and over.

I was sick; very sick, but I still felt guilty for missing clinical and work.

Well I guess I did call off a day in December (forgot) because we found my grandma unconscious and she was on her death bed (literally). But don't think I'd get flack for that excuse either....

2 weeks ago I had to miss clinical for school and a whole weekend of work due to strep. My fevers were high and I was so dehydrated I had to go in the hospital for IV fluids and lopressor because my BP and heart rate were just way too high; despite the temperatures coming down.

I wasn't going to go. I was going to try to make it to clinical, but my husband took me to the ER.

I actually cried on the phone to my instructor and apologizes to my charge nurse over and over.

I was sick; very sick, but I still felt guilty for missing clinical and work.

I caught H1N1 during my peds clinical when I was in school. Could barely function and felt horrible calling out, especially since we could only miss 2 days of clinical the entire program. But being that sick I couldn't risk infecting anyone else, just like you. Your hubby did the right thing taking you in!

If you are sick you are not guilty of anything. Take care of yourself. Call

as soon as you can and then forget it.

Sionainn......My husband is a police officer so he isn't in the best call in position either....so we take turns, when we must be off for the kids he was off the previous 2 days....now the kids 12 and 13 both have 102.4 degree fevers and worsening symptoms so it's time for the doctor and my turn to be off.

I caught H1N1 during my peds clinical when I was in school. Could barely function and felt horrible calling out, especially since we could only miss 2 days of clinical the entire program. But being that sick I couldn't risk infecting anyone else, just like you. Your hubby did the right thing taking you in!

When I was a new nurse there was a GI virus running rampant, I was at work projectile vomiting with a fever that struck half way into my shift and was told I could not leave my charge nurse handed me a mask and gave me a shot of zofran in the behind and sent me on my way......I now realize this was wrong on so many levels!

I'll probably get flamed for this but unless you're sick I don't know why you're calling off. Is your husband unable to take the kids to the doctors while you're at work? No one in healthcare should work when sick, but I think calling off when you aren't is unfair to your coworkers.

Do you think it's fair to leave your children home Ill and unattended so you don't let your coworkers down???? When push comes to shove my kids come before my coworkers.

Yes, I feel guilty. I feel guilty for the position I put my coworkers in b/c I know there's a good chance they will be working short. That's why I only call in when I am absolutely so sick I cannot function. As far as sick kids go, I'm blessed to have a husband who works straight days, M-F and I work weekend nights. I'd prefer not to work weekend nights but we've done this so that one of us is always available for our kids. However, If my kids were ever sick enough to require hospitalization, you better believe I'd call in sick to be at their bedside. I'd still feel bad for the position I put my coworkers in but ultimately my kids take priority over anything else in my life.

I can sympathize w/ the OP. If my husband were in a job where he worked swing shifts, it would be hard to always work out the schedule so one of us was always available. We have no family where we live.

OP....is there a childcare place that has a sick bay? There is a place here that specializes in caring for sick kids. It is run by nurses. I've heard good things about it. I know I'd have a hard time dropping my kids off w/ someone else if they were sick but if it came down to that or facing discipline at work, I might do it. MIGHT....