Feel so bad for calling out :(

[ntvan07]

I work in LTC as a CNA and on my weekend to work, I work 12 hr shifts, to help out. So I work 7 pm- 7 am. I'm on an antibiotic and it's making me so sick! I barely made it through Saturday night and I got up for my Sunday night shift and I just started vomiting and had severe nausea.

I felt terrible calling out. I feel guilty! I'm sure it's just this antibiotic being a pain in the butt making me sick but still. Been at this new job 4 months and my previous job as an aide, I was there 6 months and called out once, I had the stomach flu that was going around. I feel like I shouldn't have to worry about being sick. I always work and don't ever call out, but they have a way of making you feel bad for calling out. Almost makes you feel worse

I'm going to look for a nursing school soon... But does every employer make you feel so guilty for being sick? I've been an aide for almost a year and people call out much more than me. Idk why I feel so bad!

[HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD]

People get sick. Employers are responsible for factoring this into their staffing plans. Don't let anyone 'guilt' you about taking care of yourself. It would be far more irresponsible to work while you are sick - possibly transmitting the illness to others, including vulnerable patients.

[psu_213, BSN, RN]

If you're sick, you're sick. You are the only one who knows if you are able to make it through your shift. If you know you can't, you have to call off. They (your employer) may try and make you feel guilty…well, let them try, but don't give in to the guilt trip. As the PP stated, if you have a contagious dz. then you have a responsibility to call off. If you use your call offs wisely, which it sounds like you do, then you really have no issue when you do call off.

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

I have never felt guilty for calling out when I am not feeling well.

I look at things in this manner...my managers felt no guilt during the times they've cancelled my shifts, so I felt absolutely no guilt when I've called in sick. It is merely business as usual and a mechanized transaction between two employees. There's no reason to feel guilty about anything related to work, IMHO.

[amoLucia]

It's not you personally, the facility probably makes everyone feel guilty, esp on the weekend. Weekends are especially, very much a terrible time to call out. (Not like you planned it or anything just to make your workplace miserable !). The fact that you're pretty new on the job makes them more suspicious.

Like other posters said, if you're sick, you're sick. Only YOU know when you're too sick to go in. Don't feel guilty. Suggestion: if it would make you feel better, take in your new prescription bottle and show them to verify your illness (give THEM a dose of the guilties!). You really don't have to, but it might make you feel better to have shown them.

One thing though - an antibiotic shouldn't be making you sick-sick. Sometimes you may get some mild stomach flip-flops, and antibiotics are notorious for causing diarrhea, but you shouldn't be getting really sick with them.

I know because I had BAD GI reactions to a new antibiotic. I now list it as an allergy. You might want to check with your doctor as I did if you're still having problems with the med and take hls/her advice.

Hope you feel better and hang in there!

[Whispera, MSN, RN]

What did your employer do that led to you feeling guilty?

I bet whoever you called was responding to the worry that it would be difficult to get someone to cover your shift. That's often a biggie. It could be it had nothing to do with you, except you were the trigger for his or her stress in this situation. If he or she did say something that hit you wrong, shame on whoever said it.

Or, is it that you feel guilty anyway? I always did, whenever I had to stay home.

We do have the right to take care of our own health, though, and it's not good to spread those little creepy microbes to other people! Besides, how efficient are we when we're ill? How clearly can we think?

[psu_213, BSN, RN]

Or, is it that you feel guilty anyway? I always did, whenever I had to stay home.

I know I do too, especially if I feel marginally better through the day and start to think "I guess I could have." OTOH, if I call off it is because I feel like (a) I am too sick to do my job effectively and/or (b) I'm contagious. It does really stink when you come in and another nurse (who may have no idea that you called off) says "wow, we really got slammed yesterday." Such is life.

[NurseGirl525, ASN, RN]

The problem is not you. It's the fact that so many people call off for not being sick is the issue. Especially on the CNA level. People call in for dumb things and take advantage and so it makes it hard for everyone who is truly sick. It's a sad state of affairs but it's the truth.

[RNKPCE]

The problem is not you. It's the fact that so many people call off for not being sick is the issue. Especially on the CNA level. People call in for dumb things and take advantage and so it makes it hard for everyone who is truly sick. It's a sad state of affairs but it's the truth.

Absolutlely! Do you think the people who call in sick and " just want the day off" feeling guilty. I've seen it happen. Someone wants the day off and asks around to swap and there are no takers and what do you know they are "sick" that day. Do you think they feel guilty? Don't feel guilty for calling in when you are really sick! You either don't feel well enough to work and/or could be contagious. Yes you may feel better before your shift would have been over, just be glad you do. I also hate it when someone comes in sick because they missed the cut off to call in and then they are vomiting at work and have to go home anyways. Post about guilt when calling in sick are all too common. We need to take care of ourselves first.

[Dranger]

I call in because I just want to call in sometimes, I don't bat an eye. This job is draining and work conditions at my hospital have degraded severely over the last couple years. Our staffing is terrible as well as our patient population. Sometimes I get scheduled 5 days in a row because the schedule roles over after Saturday and it's not uncommon for me to say screw it on day 4/5.

Better me to stay home then be exhausted and ****** at work all night....

[TU RN, DNP, CRNA]

Don't ever feel guilty for calling out. If the facility gives you sick time or PTO, they're signing on to the possibility of your call out and should be prepared. It's on THEM, not YOU. Ever got pulled to a floor you didn't know, then get dumped on with the worst assignment? That's because somebody decided to call out. Now it's somebody else's turn to get pulled to your floor because you called out, and the universal balance is restored. Then again maybe there won't be somebody available to pull. Well then that's a management/administration problem with inadequately staffing/providing the necessary personnel to handle call outs. Don't YOU feel guilty because of THEIR lack of preparedness. End of story, really.

[Dranger]

Don't ever feel guilty for calling out. If the facility gives you sick time or PTO, they're signing on to the possibility of your call out and should be prepared. It's on THEM, not YOU. Ever got pulled to a floor you didn't know, then get dumped on with the worst assignment? That's because somebody decided to call out. Now it's somebody else's turn to get pulled to your floor because you called out, and the universal balance is restored. Then again maybe there won't be somebody available to pull. Well then that's a management/administration problem with inadequately staffing/providing the necessary personnel to handle call outs. Don't YOU feel guilty because of THEIR lack of preparedness. End of story, really.

Exactly, I can almost hear the disdain emitting from staffing workers when I call in. But guess what? At night they get to return home to comfy beds and wake up the next day to their cubicle and comfy chair without dealing with the stuff I would have dealt with the night before. They could care less really about what we do.

Sorry not sorry, it's not a me problem