Sick on a holiday

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Specializes in DOU.

Thursday, my throat became scratchy towards the end of my shift at work.

Friday, it was actually sore. I told my charge nurse that if the census went low and someone needed to leave, I'd appreciate getting to go home early because I thought I was coming down sick. I ended up working all day.

Today (Saturday), I am off, and of course I am sick with an upper respiratory infection.

Tomorrow is Easter. I voluteered to work because I don't celebrate this holiday (I'm Jewish), but now that I am certainly sick, I am afraid to go to work because out patients are sick enough without me breathing on them. (Bad enough I already did on Thursday and Friday!) On the other hand, I know if I called in sick, people would be really upset since it's a holiday. Also, I am a new nurse (since January), and I don't want to give the impression I am unreliable so soon into my career.

Do any of you go to work when sick? What should I do? Wear an isolation mask all day?

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Specializes in RN, BSN, CHDN.

Dont go to work. Recently I caught a bad infection from a collegue who came to work sick so stay at home at get better.

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Specializes in MS, Hospice, LTC.

I worked with a nurse who would come to work sick and put on a isolation mask. She was an awesome, dedicatied nurse, and the perfect coworker, but this would freak out the patients, she was sluggish and just not totally with it due to being sick. Not to mention, the other staff were afraid of possibly getting sick too. Anyway, our head nurse would allow her to do this, and one day our director saw her doing this and complained. That nurse, was thanked for her dedication, but was sent home right then and there, and told to use her sick days because that's what they're there for. My advice would be, if you're sick, you're sick and to stay home. I know its a holiday but if you don't feel better, you should call in. I know as nurses we're well aware of the census, and nurse to patient ratios, but we're also human and need to take a sick day for ourselves when we need it. Good luck.

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Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.

Holiday pay? I'd have to have some serious GI issues to miss that. :D

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If you are sick you are sick, no one plans to short there co-workers.. Take care of your self - Feel better! Lots of tea and a good moive always helps me

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Specializes in DOU.

Thanks guys.

I actually don't know if we get holiday pay or not, especially since I waved the benefits package the hospital offered, and this was the first holiday I've been scheduled to work. I certainly don't get sick pay.

Anyway, I ended up calling the charge nurse and telling her my situation. She told me to stay home, and didn't anticipate a problem getting a replacement. I think I'll tell her she can call me in later in the week if someone else gets sick.

Thanks!

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I understand your concern. I am the same way. I would rather go in even when I am feeling absolutely horrible than to let people think I let them down by missing work on a holiday. In the end, however, you have to do what is best for you and your patients. Take the day off if you are truly not feeling well, and save your patients and coworkers from possible infection. Don't worry too much about it. Pamper yourself so that when you go back to work, you will be ready to give 100%.

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I'm glad things worked out for you in the end. I have always wondered what I would do if I got too sick to work on a major holiday when I was scheduled to work... especially Christmas Day. You KNOW they would think you were just calling in to get out of it, especially those who do celebrate it! Luckily, that hasn't happened yet.

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Sorry the hear you are sick - it happens. Glad you aren't spreading the germ. :wshgrt: Hear is some majic farie dust help you get well.

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Specializes in amb.care,mental health,geriatrics.

There are two answers- the right one and the real one! The right one is, if you're sick you shouldn't be around patients and coworkers, and you should take care of yourself so you can function 100% when you return! You're more prone to make errors if you're not on your game. Also, by nature of our profession, we advocate that people should take care of their health- sad that that often seems to mean "everyone but us." The real one is, yes, you run a chance of having people think you weren't really sick; (especially the supervisor who has to find a replacement!) I'm impressed that your supervisor was gracious about it and didn't make you feel guilty! I'm glad that you did the right thing!:yeah:

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