was i wrong to call in sick?

Nurses General Nursing

Updated:   Published

I work night shift on an oncology unit and was supposed to work last night. well when i woke up to go to work I found out I have lost my voice this was around 5. Nothing came out except squeals and whispers and sometimes nothing. i've been off orientation for about 3 weeks. I was contemplating whether or not i should go into work because i figure the lost voice was just temporary since i just woke up. but around 545 i decided to call in sick. our policy is two hours before shift so i should have called around 5, needless to say staffing was sort of irritated and i felt guilty but on the other hand my voice didn't disappear until fourty five minutes ago so what could i have done. i told them i would come in if they wanted me to but i just wanted them to be aware that I couldn't speak. did i do the right thing?

do nurses go to work with laryngitis? how do you get through the shift without speaking? how do you give report when NOTHING comes out? what if someone codes and you can't give report cause you can't speak? I'm nervous cause i work in four days and hopefully it will be gone by then, but if it doesn't then that means i still have to go to work and i don't know how I would get through the shift. advice would be much appreciated. did i do the right thing?

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Specializes in CNA, Surgical, Pediatrics, SDS, ER.

Our ER doc came to work w/ laryngitis, he had a fever and chills, but only because he had too. The ER docs work 24hr shifts and one of them recently quit and the other doc couldn't be expected to work 48hrs in a row. He saved his voice and wrote us notes and did his best to spit out what he needed to say to the pt's.

I guess I have gone to work before when unable to speak it's very frustrating. I think that you should focus on getting well during your time off. Hope you feel better soon!

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that's a tough call.

but if i didn't have a temp, i would have gone in.

if unable to do my job, let them send me home.

hoping you feel better.

leslie

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Specializes in midwifery, NICU.

It is possible to work if you have laryngitis and no other symptoms of fever etc. I've done so, hve seen co-workers do the same, rather than leave the shift short. If that was the only thing I had wrong, nothing infectious then I'd go to work.

How did you call in sick if your voice has completely gone?

Hope you feel better and are able to return to work soon!

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Specializes in Staff nurse.

This is a tough one, you are impaired, and prob. carrying all kinds of germs. Wearing a mask and pantomining may do it in some circles, but how would this go in court if there was a code? If you fully can't function, are you legally safe for the patients? Co-workers? I am interested to see if anyone worked in health setting with loss of voice...was it safe?

It is difficult to work with all the "what-ifs" of nursing, but our licenses and our patients' LIVES are on the line. We can't just close shop. So, how has your facility worked around laryngitis?

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danissa said:
It is possible to work if you have laryngitis and no other symptoms of fever etc. I've done so, hve seen co-workers do the same, rather than leave the shift short. If that was the only thing I had wrong, nothing infectious then I'd go to work.

How did you call in sick if your voice has completely gone?

Hope you feel better and are able to return to work soon!

it was a very long and interesting phone call. I was basically speaking in whispers and trying the best i could since there was no one around to call for me. I thought it may have been better for me to call in so they can replace me rather than getting there and being sent home and having other nurses divide my workload.

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psalm said:
This is a tough one, you are impaired, and prob. carrying all kinds of germs. Wearing a mask and pantomining may do it in some circles, but how would this go in court if there was a code? If you fully can't function, are you legally safe for the patients? Co-workers? I am interested to see if anyone worked in health setting with loss of voice...was it safe?

It is difficult to work with all the "what-ifs" of nursing, but our licenses and our patients' LIVES are on the line. We can't just close shop. So, how has your facility worked around laryngitis?

my co-worker has laryngitis last week and called in sick. I didn't have a temp but i was coughing up alot and feeling that "sick of the tired". If I didn't feel unsure about how i would give report and communicate in case of a code, or needed to call a doc I would have gone in.

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Specializes in Rural Health.

If you are sick, you are sick. I would much rather pick up the slack of a co-worker that calls in sick than for them to come in, spread their love and their germs and then I be sick for days on end.

We've all been sick, we've all been there and done that and I've worked sick and it's no fun for anyone involved.

Concentrate on getting better on your time off.

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Tough situation, but I'm betting that your immunocompromised patients appreciate not being coughed on. Rest up!

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Specializes in Trauma/ED.

The only time I've called in in the last 3 years was when I blew my knee out which I got grief over. With just laryngitis I personally wouldn't have called in but I know nurses who call in frequently and use excuses like, "My dog is sick" or "I threw up last night".

If you feel guilty about it, it sounds like maybe you should have went in and been sent home like a previous poster said. Calling in is an easy habit to form, next time just go to work and let them send you home.

If you are concerned about being contagious, where a mask, there is plenty in the department you work in I'm sure.

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perhaps someone could answer the last portion of my post, as i am curious. thanks!

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Specializes in Trauma/ED.
kaeky said:
perhaps someone could answer the last portion of my post, as i am curious. thanks!

You whisper!

If you are looking for this nurse to tell you it's ok to stay home only because you don't have a voice you will not get it. Three weeks after orientation you are looking for reasons to call in...not a good sign as to what's to come if I was your co-worker.

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