Calling out Sick on a Holiday

[pirap]

How tough is your facility on you for calling out on a Holiday? Just wondering. I had a positive Strep test yesterday in Employee Health at our Hospital. The doctor told me that I couldn't work today(Thanksgiving). My 3 year old was positive for strep and spent 4 hours in the ER-after being sent there from her peds office-receiving IV fluids and an IV antibiotic. Before being discharged she also received an IM injection of an additional antibiotic. My 7 year old had a positive strep test and is on antibiotic as well. This all happened yesterday. I have an excellent attendance record here and EVERYWHERE I have worked. I feel awful for not being there today because I feel that our current scheduling of holidays is so FAIR to everyone. I received an IM injection of PCN and as of work time this morning I felt good enough to go in but was not allowed to because of employee health. My kids are feel better this morning but are certainly not 100% yet. Should I feel guilty about this? I want to say "Sorry" but I could not prevent myself from getting strep and I was told "You cannot work until Friday." Thanks all and Happy Thanksgiving..Oh yea-even though I am home we have NO TURKEY..Since I was supposed to work and hubby is working too, I didn't shop for Thanksgiving--the kids were supposed to go to Grandma's to eat!!!!

[Elvish, BSN, DNP, RN, NP]

I had strep on Thanksgiving one year too. I had the MD note as well as a big ol' knot in my butt from the Bicillin they gave me in case they needed proof. If you are sick, you are sick. If it's a holiday, so be it. You need to take care of yourself first. The hospital will still be standing when you get back.

[AlabamaBelle]

At our facility, if Employee Health says "no", that's final - it's also an excused absence will not be counted against you. We get a slip to give to our manager and a slip to keep for our records.

Keep your germs at home and take care of your kiddos! Some things aren't meant for sharing.

[rita359]

Employee health says you can't work until Friday, you are home free. It is those people who get in the habit of calling in sick multiple holidays or weekends who get looked down upon by managers and fellow employees. Your share of holidays and weekends go with the job. Unless you are lucky enough to have one of those jobs that do not require holidays and weekends you need to show up when scheduled unless you really do have some communicable disease.

[Elvish, BSN, DNP, RN, NP]

Where I am, even if you are sick and covered with a note from God in heaven, if you call in sick, you will not get paid but you'll get hours deducted from your time off bank.

[nurseinlimbo]

No matter what you did you would probably be wrong as some would say "ya right it's strep" and others would give you grief if you came to work and gave it to them.

I was once very very ill as a prn worker (no sick leave pay) and called in two evenings in a row. The third evening I still felt like crap but couldn't afford to stay home any longer. The head nurse called in the afternoon to see if I was coming and then switched me to nights to limit my exposing others (pts). When I got there, the unit manager had worked my evening and gave me grief saying "oh I thought you'd have a relapse", I could hardly talk! She told me to wear a mask and wash my hands.

In our union, we are not allowed to be harassed if we call in, and they are not allowed to call to see if we answer the phone, but of course you still get the gears when you go back to work.

[SICU Queen]

If you worked at my hospital, you'd be working Christmas Day as a make-up shift, even WITH a note from Employee Health!!

One of our nurses came in SUPER sick today so she wouldn't have to do just that. She was very conscientious about covering her mouth when she coughed, washing hands, etc, etc... but I just can't help but think that management's harsh attitude towards this has an overall negative effect. Not only can other staff get sick, but so can her patients!!

Yet another reason why I am disgusted with nursing. We're not even allowed to be sick without harassment and guilt. :angryfire

[bethin]

I think you have a valid excuse. You have a dr's note stating that you cannot work. It's not like you're calling in pretend coughing and lying. If someone has a problem with it, refer them to the MD.

Besides, I HATE strep and would rather not catch it from an employee. I get enough things from patients.

[Agnus]

I want to say "Sorry" but I could not prevent myself from getting strep and I was told "You cannot work until Friday."

No apology should ever be needed. I do not understand why you are upsetting your self over this. Sounds like you are being awfully hard on yourself for something you have not control over. Get over it. Your employer will and likely already has.

[SICU Queen]

Get over it. Your employer will and likely already has.

Eh, that's debatable. Mine wouldn't be over it - not at all.

[DutchgirlRN, ASN, RN]

It seems it's the same employees who call out on holidays or big game days. Almost predictable. I called out once on Christmas and was sick. They believed me but if they hadn't, it woud have been their problem. Had hours been taken out of my PTO account I would have called administration, the labor board or anyone else who would listen.

[galenight, BSN, RN]

Yet another reason why I am disgusted with nursing. We're not even allowed to be sick without harassment and guilt. :angryfire

Does anyone else see the irony in the fact that we CARE for sick and injured people, and yet, we are not ourselves expected to get sick or injured??? Off topic, but same goes for health care.. some of health care workers medical insurance is the worst of the working world. go figure. Additionally, at my facility, we have only vacation days, and holiday days (8 hours each even though we work 12 hours) but no sick days. Duh.. as previously stated.. we are human. We get sick.. JUST LIKE THE PEOPLE WE ARE PAID TO TAKE CARE OF!!!!:angryfire