Called in... Feel guilty.

Nurses General Nursing

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Went to bed last night at 1am after going to see a movie. Yea pretty late considering I was scheduled to work today. So I woke up this morning at 2:30am sweating and feeling nauseated. My stomach hurt really bad but I never vomited or had diarrhea. At 4:00am I still hadn't fallen back to sleep and I decided to call in. I never call in. Having only done so 2 other times in my career. Finally fell asleep around 5:30am. Now I feel fine. Not sick at all. I was sure I was getting the big bad stomach bug that was going around. I guess not. Anyway, I know this is silly but I feel so guilty sitting here feeling fine when I'm supposed to be at work. :uhoh3:

Am I crazy? I want to go out and enjoy the day but then I really will feel guilty.

tencat

1,350 Posts

Don't feel guilty! Your intentions were honorable, in my opinion, and it's a bonus that you didn't get the creeping crud, so take your unexpected day off and relax. It doesn't sound like you got enough sleep, so snuggle up and relax.

Specializes in ED.

Awww, don't beat yourself up and you don't have anything to feel guilty about.

I felt guilty about calling in when my daughter was sick once but after seeing how much other people call out I got over that pretty quickly.

Consider it a mental health day and get some rest and have a nice meal tonight.

m

chinacatSN

144 Posts

I agree with the other two PPs. You probably wouldn't have been the best nurse possible, anyway - not getting enough sleep and all. And I'll bet that most people at your work call in more often than you!

Specializes in chemical dependency detox/psych.

Weird...the same thing happened to my hubby last night.

agent

777 Posts

I understand feeling guilty i know my unit is super busy today but i felt getting sick yesterday and last night my whole chest was tight and body hurt all over.. i called in this am cause i think I have the flu. How much more miserable the already sick patients would be if they got the flu! And I just got my flu shot! ugh!@$%%#

Sparrowhawk

664 Posts

Specializes in LTC.

Don't feel guilty..you thought you were getting sick.

KarmaWiseRaven

251 Posts

Wow i thought i was the only one really. I would hate to call in. It feels like your letting people down. So i as a dummy would show up sick. I know i know how stupid but i would feel so guilty if i didn't show up crazy it sounds. I would show up with a temp and all because of the guilt i felt. And with all the nurses around if i started to feel really bad i could get aspirin or throat spray. Or if i was bad enough my RN Supervisor would send me home.

Some people would say don't feel bad but it's something i couldn't shake. So i say to you for the both of us just go enjoy your day it might be away your body is telling you that a break is needed from the stress and all. These are my thoughts use them as you wish

sunnycalifRN

902 Posts

Definitely do not feel guilty! Once, I had some sort of food poisoning or stomach bug with vomiting and diarrhea . . . I called in . . . after retching my guts out, I felt much better . . . . So, I thought . . . I can probably work . . I called back and told them I was coming in. BIG MISTAKE!! Once I was at work and working . . . the smells, the sounds, whatever . . . I was nauseous, vomiting, multiple trips to the restroom . . . I felt terrible . . . I managed to work 6 hrs out of 8 and finally had to go home.

Once you call in, relax, get better, forget about work . . . they'll get by . . . people call in all the time.

JacknSweetpea

149 Posts

Specializes in drug seekers and the incurably insane..

I used to feel guilty too....even if it was one time in a year. Then I got to thinking that they don't feel guilty when they write their damned near impossible attendance policies or when they try to call you in after working 12-16 hrs. the day before. Try not to feel bad. You need the rest. *wine

lkwashington

557 Posts

Specializes in Tele, ICU, ED, Nurse Instructor,.

I believe where I work, you may call in up to 6 times a year. So there is no need to feel bad about. If you feel bad stay home. We take care of sick patients. We dont want to make them even sicker.

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