"You can't return to work until you're afebrile for 24 hours!"

Nurses General Nursing

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Specializes in Critical Care.

That's the command I got from my physician. I have a neat little virus that, in immunocompromised people, can make them need a vent quickly. Since I work ICU, all of my pts are compromised, hence the order. As it is, my gas exchange is impaired (O2 sats 90% when I'm normally 96%)because it physically hurts to breath, my temp is 102F, my eyes are about to fall out of my head, and every time I cough, I nearly vomit. Ugh. So commanded time off isn't too bad, but I can't afford to be away from work, so I want to get better (i.e., afebrile) as soon as possible. As it is, I'm for sure off tomorrow, and unless I can get my temp under control, may miss the rest of the week (today is day 3 of a temp of 101+).

My physician prescribed my a medication that, when I went to the pharmacy, I found out the manufacturer no longer makes. So I called the physician's office to get an order clarification/ modification. I know how long it takes to get an order clarification. Pull the doc aside between patients, talk for 5 minutes, call the pharmacy. 10 minutes max. I've been waiting 4 hours and no word. No prescription. But I'm so sick that I can't work. Last time I called the doc., I told them that I could not work until my temp was down, and they were jeopardizing my job. That was an hour ago. I'm going to call again, complain about the fact that they took a walk-in for a renewal of Adderal that was not even a scheduled appointment while I was in the office, and demand my medications. Grrrr.

Anyway, I was just venting. I'm off to call the office again.

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i'm sorry you're feeling so poorly.

but as you know, there is no cure for a virus.

it will leave when it's good and ready.

time for more juice and motrin?

wishing you a speedy recovery.

leslie

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Specializes in ob/gyn med /surg.

i hope you feel better soon. did you finally get your script filled?? i want you to get a nice bowl of chicken soup and a warm blanket and drink lots of fluids and sleep. watch a movie and get well. you'll feel better in a few days and be back in the grind of work.. so take the time to take care of yourself. give yourself a hug for me.

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Specializes in Critical Care.

I finally got my script filled at 5:30 this evening. Turns out the reason that the physician's office didn't get the new script to the pharmacy sooner was that the front desk told the physician's nurse that it was ME calling in requesting the change. I don't know how I feel about that . . . .i.e, if there's a prescription problem, they'll ignore me for hours, whereas if they thought it was a pharmacist, it would have been taken care of earlier? I'll have to sort that through.

I'm going to take my sleep-inducing med now. Time for bed. Thanks for the kind words.

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Specializes in NICU.
it physically hurts to breath, my temp is 102F, my eyes are about to fall out of my head, and every time I cough, I nearly vomit.

Fever or no fever, I wouldn't want to go to work feeling like that. Nor would I want anyone that I work with to be at work feeling like that!!

Rest up and feel better soon.

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Specializes in Day Surgery, Agency, Cath Lab, LTC/Psych.
Fever or no fever, I wouldn't want to go to work feeling like that. Nor would I want anyone that I work with to be at work feeling like that!!

Rest up and feel better soon.

Exactly.

I hate it when people come to work sick and expose everyone else to their bug. I think you should try to get some good R & R in while you are sick. Sleep. Push fluids. Watch some movies. Relax.

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Specializes in RN, BSN, CHDN.

Afebrile How I love that word-nobody uses it or understands it where I work so I presumed it was just used in England. Sorry I stole thread I hope you recover quickly

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Specializes in FNP, Peds, Epilepsy, Mgt., Occ. Ed.
Afebrile How I love that word-nobody uses it or understands it where I work so I presumed it was just used in England. Sorry I stole thread I hope you recover quickly

You're kidding! I've known and used afebrile for the entire time I've been in nursing and never encountered anyone not familiar with it!

To the OP: I hope you feel better soon. I think I'd have a talk with my doc on the prescription issue.

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Specializes in ED, ICU, Heme/Onc.
That's the command I got from my physician. I have a neat little virus that, in immunocompromised people, can make them need a vent quickly. Since I work ICU, all of my pts are compromised, hence the order. As it is, my gas exchange is impaired (O2 sats 90% when I'm normally 96%)because it physically hurts to breath, my temp is 102F, my eyes are about to fall out of my head, and every time I cough, I nearly vomit. Ugh. So commanded time off isn't too bad, but I can't afford to be away from work, so I want to get better (i.e., afebrile) as soon as possible. As it is, I'm for sure off tomorrow, and unless I can get my temp under control, may miss the rest of the week (today is day 3 of a temp of 101+).

My physician prescribed my a medication that, when I went to the pharmacy, I found out the manufacturer no longer makes. So I called the physician's office to get an order clarification/ modification. I know how long it takes to get an order clarification. Pull the doc aside between patients, talk for 5 minutes, call the pharmacy. 10 minutes max. I've been waiting 4 hours and no word. No prescription. But I'm so sick that I can't work. Last time I called the doc., I told them that I could not work until my temp was down, and they were jeopardizing my job. That was an hour ago. I'm going to call again, complain about the fact that they took a walk-in for a renewal of Adderal that was not even a scheduled appointment while I was in the office, and demand my medications. Grrrr.

Anyway, I was just venting. I'm off to call the office again.

I hope you feel better soon. Sick with a doctor's note, not being allowed to work until afebrile for 24 hours, means just that. No one can fire you for that. If there's any doubt, have your doc's office fax a note to your nurse manager. That's why there are per diem and agency nurses. Can you imagine the fallout if you return early against medical advice and a patient dies? You can guarantee that the hospital will claim that you acted alone (under no pressure to return from management, of course...LOL) and you could be held responsible.

So rest up and feel better!!

Blee

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Specializes in Med/Surg and Wound Care, PACU.

i know how you feel, i am just now ( after 9 days) getting rid of my virus, same thing had a fever for 8 of those days, fortunately i do not have to work, i am prn anyway

so i stayed home under my blanket and let my husband take over the house

feel better soon

nici

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Afebrile How I love that word-nobody uses it or understands it where I work so I presumed it was just used in England. Sorry I stole thread I hope you recover quickly

oh my lord...I cannot believe that you say that no one uses the word 'afebrile' - where do you work. It is commonly used in the UK and Australia as part of general medical language.

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