Ever work with a broken finger?

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I broke my finger yesterday. Got stitches and a splint. I work Tuesday and just wondering how this is going to go over. I want to work, but when I call them tomorrow to give them a heads up I have a feeling they are going to tell me I can't. I don't know how I would give shots, change dressings, put in IVs, wear gloves etc. It's my index finger on my dominant hand so I would require a lot of assistance from other nurses. I want to work, so I'm bummed. Anyone ever broken a finger? What happened with work?

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Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.

You need to defer to your treating physician and/or employee/occupational health. You will require medical clearance to work. And if it isn't an on-the-job injury and you cannot do full duty, it's likely you will be off until medically cleared for full duty.

The fact that you also have sutures (=increased risk of infection d/t impaired skin integrity ) increases the likelihood that you will be off until fully healed and medically cleared.

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Specializes in Trauma-Surgical, Case Management, Clinic.

I've never broken a finger but I say go to work and just see how it goes. Most things that you use your index finger for can probably be substituted with your middle finger and thumb. Charting may be a bit difficult tho if it's your dominant hand.

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Specializes in Family Medicine.

I don't think they'll let you work with a broken finger.

Is it bad I want to break my finger so I don't have to work?

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Specializes in Orthopedic, LTC, STR, Med-Surg, Tele.

Your index finger on your dominant hand?! My immediate thought is, how will you be able to click a mouse?? See if you can get out of work. Don't be a trooper. Think about being told in a month that your wound cultures grew out MRSA. *feeling dramatic*

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I think it will be impossible for you to maintain proper hand hygiene with stitches and a splint. You'd be risking infection and also risk transmitting it to patients in my opinion. I understand that you want to work but I believe it's best if you stay home and let your finger heal. This of course is just my personal opinion.

I think you need ask your physician and your manager about policy on matters like this. Good luck!

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I went to work with a broken ankle once winter (walking cast, long scrub pants, nobody but the cleaning lady noticed the sock over my toe or they would have sent me home for sure, and I was prn so I had no sick/vaca time). But a finger? Nah. Stay home, do something else.

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A nurse on my unit recently came to work with a broken finger with splint and they sent her home.

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Specializes in retired LTC.

Stay home!!!!

You risk further injury or infection to yourself. (NOT WORTH IT!) Also, if you were to sustain new injury while on the job, there would be difficulty in determining how much was New vs Old injury when it came to claiming workers comp/disability/unemployment and lite duty. Risk Mgt would have problems with that.

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Stay at home think of all the germs you are exposing yourself too. Plus it will take longer for your finger to heal. If you have to work does your job have any light duty that's not direct patient care? I had a patient fall on me and needless to say my back was (is) pretty messed up. I did chart audits for 2 months.

Sent from my iPhone using allnurses.com

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Specializes in Emergency.

Call in ASAP and stay home. Your charge will thank you for not forcing her to find a last minute replacement because I can't picture them letting you work. Relax, you have a legit excuse!

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Specializes in ICU, CM, Geriatrics, Management.

Not a finger, but a broken toe... a week after it occurred.

Gotta say, it wasn't that bad at all... and I did two doubles in a row. Do-able.

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