Does anyone else feel guilty when your sick?

flightnurse2b, LPN · Nov 15, 2007

I got up this morning, went into work. Got there and started throwing :oup right after I clocked in. Talked to my manager,( I work on a med-surg unit in hospital) and she wasn't upset told me to go home.
Why do I feel guilty for being sick? I even feel guilty for sleeping most of the day! I feel like I should have pushed myself and stayed.
Does anyone else feel like this???

I know i do. i worked for the past 3 weeks with a growing nastiness of strep throat, laryngitis and bronchitis. there is only me, a CNA and 2 RN's in my unit and finding coverage doesnt happen... i feel bad for the patients.

i laid my head down on the desk the other day and started crying because i felt so bad, and it seemed like no one even cared... i was practically communicating with sign language i was so hoorifice and i sounded like a train whistle when i inhaled.

one of the docs practically dragged me into his office and gave me some prednisone, antibiotics and an inhaler and told me to go home... reason being "you need to be tough and get better. i need you."

:trout:

Hellllllo Nurse, BSN, RN · Nov 15, 2007

I have rarely called off sick- I've worked on Christmas Day wtih a temp of 102 (I wore a mask all shift, changed it frequently, and used excellent hand hygeine). Yet, I feel guilty calling off sick, too! :uhoh3:

hikernurse · Nov 15, 2007

Better feeling guilty for calling in sick than feeling guilty for staying at work and infecting patients/other staff, etc. Hope you feel better soon :).

But yeah, I feel guilty, too.

FireStarterRN, BSN, RN · Nov 15, 2007

If healthcare administrators maintained more depth in their nursing staff, then people would would not have to be made to feel like the whole facility will fall apart if the healthcare provider calls in sick. It's absurd. It's called poor management of human resources to not plan for the eventuality of employees being sick.

Silverdragon102, BSN · Nov 15, 2007

Used to feel guilty but now if I am sick and can't work then I don't drag myself in and pass what ever I have onto others. If management supported better then probably would feel guilty but these days you have to look after number 1 as no one else will

muffie, RN · Nov 15, 2007

nope.

nightmare, RN · Nov 15, 2007

Sick? Sick?! You're a nurse you're not supposed to get sick,have a home life or a social life!You belong body and soul to the management to use and abuse until you are a burned out shell.Then and only then can you leave and feel free to be sick by which time you probably are really sick!!(Hope you feel better now:lol2: :lol2: )

Don't feel guilty about being sick or give in to emotional blackmail,it's their job to fill in the gaps,you being there makes it easier for them but does you no good at all(or your patients)

EmmaG, RN · Nov 15, 2007

No, I don't.

wooh, BSN, RN · Nov 15, 2007

I don't feel guilty. I feel pissed off since I more than likely caught it at work. And more than likely caught it from one of coworkers who wouldn't call in.

Years later I'm still a little mad about one time that happened. RN calls in sick with strep. House super talks her into coming in since we were desperate for a charge nurse that night. I ended up not only getting strep, but the whole rash/scarlet fever to go along with it. I had to call in and lose pay because they talked someone into coming in sick.

nuangel1, BSN, RN · Nov 15, 2007

as matter of fact this happened to me today also.i woke up sick -nausea vomited x2 diarhea several times abd pain and cramps .but we are to call in 2 hrs before the shift starts this was less.so i called work because it made me late i told them i'd be in about 1/2 hr late cuz i was sick.i took meds thought i'd be ok .i worked 2 1/2 hrs miserable so my boss came to me said she could cover the shift for me if i needed to go home.she actually encouraged me to leave.she wasn't upset at all.so i was home by 3pm i was to work till 1115pm.i work 1045 am to 1115 pm.i would have felt guilty yrs ago but not now.i am sick and now comfortably in bed .

Elvish, BSN, DNP, RN, NP · Nov 15, 2007

Not anymore.