I rarely call in sick. But last night I had to call in very last minute (about 45 minutes before my shift) and I feel so guilty. I work nights so I work up with what felt like heartburn and took a tums. I was getting ready to leave when I had an episode of diarrhea but didn't think it was a big deal because I felt better after. Then I got in my car and was driving to work. As I was driving the cramping in my stomach got worse and worse and I felt so nauseated. I knew I wasn't going to be able to care for patients that way....
SO I called my charge and let her know and I apologized PROFUSELY cause I felt so bad because it was so last minute!! I turned my car around and on my way home I had to pull over because of the pain and dry heaving. I spent my night on and off the toilet and in misery...but I still feel overwhelmingly guilty...I feel like everyone is so mad at me. Especially since the call in was so last minute and my fellow nurses had to work one man down...I feel terrible.
I should also mention that I am a new grad, I've been working for about 7 months on a postpartum/pediatrics unit. Also, since I have started working nights I have never been more sick, Ive had to call in one other time thanks to a fever and a bad cold. I hate having to call in, I always feel so guilty.
Should I feel this way? Is this normal to feel like that? Has anyone else experienced more sicknesses as they are working nights?
You will never be able to do enough, please enough, and make things fair enough. You could drive off the road and die due to feeling sick and not being able to focus...the hospital will find a replacement at some point, however your family will never find a replacement of you. You were legitimately sick so don't feel guilty dear...your health is more important. At the place I work, they let sick nurses leave mid shift but never me, i guess I am not one of their favorites..hmm o well. I try to do things right and call in sick ahead of time only to be threatened with a write up. Go figure...
New grads unfortunately tend to get sick more often their first year. Those of us who have been nurses for a while have the immune system of an ox, but that means that it takes an especially evil form of microbial life to make us sick. The fact is we get exposed to a lot and people do get sick. Watch your nutrition and make sure you get enough sleep and of course hand hygiene always
Most patient care jobs where I have worked staff I would be made to feel guilty even with a doctor's note stating that I had Influenza A (and proof of my flu vaccine being current). I only call out when I literally cannot walk (because I'm THAT sick). Now, agency shifts, as long as I gave notice within the time frame that they required (most 4 hours), there was no issue, no attitude, just, "I hope you feel better"...but then again, they were not the one being short staffed. Non-patient care nursing jobs I have been told that if I'm contagious and really sick to stay away and not share that crap with the rest of the office.
Nurses are human and are going to get sick. Working while sick will only make us sicker longer and risk spreading it to our patients and co-workers. Yet it seems to be what is expected of us lately.
As for overnights, I have done it in a non-nursing role and I will say that I was sick a lot more when I worked those hours. The overnight shift paid a lot better but I always felt like crap and in the end the co-pays for the doctor's office visits and medications ended up costing more than the differential was paying.
I agree, don't come into work sick. I can't stand the martyrs that do that, no sympathy from me, plus you are spreading your germs to, already, compremised patients, and to staff. Stay home, it's ok to miss work, that's why we have sick leave.
I wouldn't want you there in that state. Personally, I don't want to catch whatever you may have, nor would I want any of the patients to be exposed to it. Nobody can really pick when they are sick, unless they're lying. No guilt if you were really sick. It has happened to me at least 5 times in my career and it may happen again. If anyone said anything to me about it, I would sarcastically tell them "yeah, I hopped a plane to Disney World at the last minute." Sick is Sick... you are human.
I hate to be sarcastic, but well you would have to know that 2 hours prior to your shift that you will have a car accident, heart attack, broken ankle. People have to stop being so black and white about these policies. Yes, gastroenteritis can come on "that quick."
Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.
Eh you did what you had to do. Guilt is useless emotion and a waste of time. Don't make a habit of it. You are still new, and too many call-outs will put a bull's eye on your back and you will be out. Attendance is a big deal in most places.
Iknowwha2du
91 Posts
You will never be able to do enough, please enough, and make things fair enough. You could drive off the road and die due to feeling sick and not being able to focus...the hospital will find a replacement at some point, however your family will never find a replacement of you. You were legitimately sick so don't feel guilty dear...your health is more important. At the place I work, they let sick nurses leave mid shift but never me, i guess I am not one of their favorites..hmm o well. I try to do things right and call in sick ahead of time only to be threatened with a write up. Go figure...