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Discussion

Feeling so guilty about calling in.

Hi all,

I think I'm just looking for someone to tell me not to feel bad here, but my goodness, I just feel awful. I try not to call in unless it's really bad. I take my job very seriously and don't want to make it any harder for the staff with one less nurse.

Last night was my third shift out of three 12's for the week. I woke up at 2pm after only 5 hours of sleep, which usually isn't a big deal for me. I can work fine on less than 7-8 hours of sleep. At 4pm I started feeling a little crummy, little cough and scratchy throat but no fever. I figured I can work through it. Then at 6:15pm I started feeling a little nauseous, but still no big deal. Then, as I'm walking to my car to leave at 20 til 7pm, I started vomiting. If I felt better afterward I think I would have stomached it and gone in, but I still felt like crap. So I called in, feeling so guilty I was almost to the point of crying and the CNL couldn't understand what I was saying. So embarrassing. He was very nice about it and said they would manage, but they are always nice about it until they hang up. :)

I was up all night vomiting, finally feeling better now. I just feel so incredibly guilty for screwing over my coworkers at such last minute. Also, we have a policy that if you call in after 5, it's considered a no-call, no-show, which I understand to a point but I couldn't really predict how bad I was going to feel.

Anyways, this is way too long a post over a sick call, but I'd appreciate some feedback. Thanks guys.

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    • Featured Replies

    Life is short. Sickness happens. Sickness can occur without notice. No matter what you do, someone somewhere will likely have a snide comment to make. Let them own their comments and their attitudes. You do what is best for you and your patients!

    In general, nurses are notorious for not taking care of themselves. Make no mistake about it, if you get down sick or injured and can't work, that old hospital machine will keep on humming just like you never existed. In all likliehood, Hospital management won't be dropping by your house with kleenex, popsicles, suppositories, or a sack of groceries to help you get by. Take care of yourself, dear nurse.

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    • Experts
    I just feel so incredibly guilty for screwing over my coworkers at such last minute.

    I understand that you feel guilty for calling in. However, you can best believe that the people who employ us do not feel one shred of guilt when they cancel our shifts due to low census. It's all about business.

    Please do not feel guilty for calling off. You must take care of your body because no one else will.

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    When I was doing charge at night, I once got a call-in at about 6am, she'd fallen in her shower, might have a broken elbow, and had actually called in before she even woke up her husband to take her to the ER. No way I was going to let anyone fuss about her calling after 5!

    I understand the 2 hour rule. Especially since we're supposed to call people off or put people on call at least 2 hours before the shift if census is low. But a lot of people that live closer to the hospital than I do don't even wake up until after 5a/5p. How can you know you're sick if you aren't even awake yet?

    I think most managers, at least reasonable ones, see it as a guideline more than a hard and fast rule. If you're going to call in for being "sick" then try to give at least 2 hours notice. If you're calling in because you're SICK then try to give 2 hours notice, but please don't come in sick. Then you make everyone else sick, and it's easier to find coverage before the shift starts usually than it is to cover for someone that has to leave and hour after they get to work.

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    • Experts

    Do you think it would have been better to drive in an unsafe condition? When you strike that pedestrian or that kid on a bike, then what?

    I understand why you're upset. Bosses put the fear of God in you about calling off, especially at the last minute.

    Yeah, you're right about them being nice when in earshot. Sometimes they are rude and don't say they hope you feel better soon or take care of yourself or anything. Be glad you got a little "nice".

    If you're sick, you're sick. I hope you are better soon.

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    • Experts
    When I was doing charge at night, I once got a call-in at about 6am, she'd fallen in her shower, might have a broken elbow, and had actually called in before she even woke up her husband to take her to the ER. No way I was going to let anyone fuss about her calling after 5!

    I understand the 2 hour rule. Especially since we're supposed to call people off or put people on call at least 2 hours before the shift if census is low. But a lot of people that live closer to the hospital than I do don't even wake up until after 5a/5p. How can you know you're sick if you aren't even awake yet?

    I think most managers, at least reasonable ones, see it as a guideline more than a hard and fast rule. If you're going to call in for being "sick", then try to give at least 2 hours notice. If you're calling in because you're SICK then try to give 2 hours notice, but please don't come in sick. Then you make everyone else sick, and it's easier to find coverage before the shift starts usually than it is to cover for someone that has to leave an hour after they get to work.

    If the rule is 2 hours, they need to follow the rule. You can't require others to call by 5 but not these to call by 5. Disparate treatment.

  • Quote
    • Experts
    Life is short. Sickness happens. Sickness can occur without notice. No matter what you do, someone somewhere will likely have a snide comment to make. Let them own their comments and their attitudes. You do what is best for you and your patients!

    In general, nurses are notorious for not taking care of themselves. Make no mistake about it, if you get down sick or injured and can't work, that old hospital machine will keep on humming just like you never existed. In all likliehood, Hospital management won't be dropping by your house with kleenex, popsicles, suppositories, or a sack of groceries to help you get by. Take care of yourself, dear nurse.

    Uh, well, they can keep the suppositories. :lol2: :yeah: :jester: :lol2:

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    If you're sick you're sick! You are not suppossed to be going to work anyway.

    Managers always have contingency plans - they can call on their pool staff, or call in an agency nurse.

    I am agency so it's more work for me when this happens :)

    Hope u feel better too.

    Add: one agency I worked for neede 5 HOURS NOTICE if you were calling in sick, and if you called in less than the 5 hours, they fined you $50AUD. Now that really WOULD make you feel sick!

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    Uh, well, they can keep the suppositories. :lol2: :yeah: :jester: :lol2:

    KK, don't get me wrong I don't get a thrill from a suppository, but I have seen the day that a vomiting marathon would make me beg for a phenergan suppository. ;)

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