What is your opinion on calling in "sick"

[Goofaroo]

Do you ever call in sick to work just to take a day away from the job because its so stressful and you are on the verge of tears every time you go in?

[mushyrn, BSN, RN]

Plus when i have to stay late it stresses me out i already have to drive nearly an hour home.

Easy fix: don't stay late. "Here's what I've done, here's what is left... bye"

[amoLucia]

In days gone bye, we used to call them "mental health days". Sometimes a day off would be needed to just recharge - sometimes work was overbusy, but it wasn't debilitating or misery that reduced one to tears.

If you're stressing that significantly, there's a deeper problem. Short term avoidance or a job change may not help the deeper problem. And we all know that a new job may not be better, but indeed worse. Nsg is TOUGH and NOT for the faint hearted.

I always tried to use my sick time judiciously. There could come the day or days that I really needed to take off and time wasn't available.

[angeloublue22, BSN, RN]

Yep, they're called mental health days. I've worked in a couple places where employees were encouraged to take mental health days if needed and it was great. We would literally be able to say we are taking a mental health day. It's better than having employees burned out, that's what PTO is for. Of course this was in mental health.

[NightNerd, MSN, RN]

I have done it. Not often at all, because I make sure to schedule regular days off throughout the year so I've got built-in metal health days to look forward to. But yes, there have been a couple times when work stress and life stress had me so distracted and distraught that I could not function. Don't elaborate on it with coworkers and only use it as a last resort, but you know you and you can recognize when you're not safe to do this work. If it happens on the regular, you need to tune up your coping skills or (possibly) find a new job. I don't know if you're a new nurse, but if you are, I noticed that my mental health days dropped off remarkably after the first year on the job. It may just be a matter of giving yourself more time to get acclimated, and then you may not need to do this.

[blondy2061h, MSN, RN]

Any nurse that actually works the floor that tries to deny this is a liar. You bet we do.

I can honestly say I've never done it, but the hospital I work at has sane ratios and the floor I was on had supportive staff.

[evastone, BSN, RN]

Any nurse that actually works the floor that tries to deny this is a liar. You bet we do.

I tend to schedule my days in a way that it feels like I am taking off. I have never called out for a mental health day. Not when I was on tele and not now in the ER. I have no problem with people doing it, I just like to save them for when I need them.

I do call out though if family matters cause me to get less than three hours of sleep because then I am a true danger to my unit.

[gpsrn, MSN, RN]

I am sorry that you are having problems with work. The one thing about nursing, is that you can always identify a different job. I think it would be wise to try to get another job, even if it would be a little less pay. You need to be happy or at least like your job because there are always going to be difficult times. When you need to take off, it is necessary; however, be cautious of too often because it could be detrimental to your job. I hope you will be able to identify what is best for you.

[kbrn2002, ADN, RN]

A long as those days are few and far between I see nothing wrong with it. If you just need a day away that's ok, but once you do it once it'll be easier to do again and that could be a problem. You have a couple choices here, just take a day if you need it as long as it's only a day and that doesn't become a habit or look for another job. Just whatever you do don't quit your job until you have another one.

[CCU BSN RN]

If you can't bring your best self (or her close cousin, your almost best self) to work, you have no business being there.

Just like I don't want you coming in with the flu and spreading that plague amongst the patients and staff while whining about how crappy you feel all night, I also don't want you walking in the door already dreading the day, or when your mind is clearly elsewhere.

Whatever you call it: a sick day, a personal day, a mental health day- TAKE IT IF YOU NEED IT. ALWAYS.

Like with any illness, if you take so many that your boss wants to talk about the attendance policy with you, then your illness is impacting your day to day life, and needs professional treatment. Or you need a new job.

I think most of us have some kind of a code, or set of guidelines, about times it is absolutely not okay to do this. Some of mine include:

1. I won't take a personal day if I know we have a critical staffing situation already (e.g. floor is full, we are going to be short 4 nurses already and everyone will have unsafe assignments even if we get every float nurse in the hospital.)

2. I won't take a personal day on a holiday or the days before/after holidays

3. I won't take a personal day on an overtime shift that I signed up for recently

4. I'll do my due diligence when taking a personal day in the summer during vacation/wedding season (double check staffing or census)

5. I won't call out if I'm in charge and there is no one else scheduled to work who has been trained as a charge RN, unless I can get a buddy to pick up a shift and cover for me. It's not safe or fair to expect someone to be in charge of a busy CICU with no training

[SpankedInPittsburgh, DNP, RN]

Heck yeah I do it and so does everybody I've ever worked with. Where I work when you leave the job you get nothing for accrued sick days. You can cash in your vacation time but not sick time. This being the case when people know they are quitting or retiring they use a bunch of sick leave. The alternative is to essentially work for free & this nurse don't do that. Further, staffing problems are the problem of management. That's why they make the big $$$ so let em manage it. In fact I'm taking off next week cause I have some work to get done on my DNP. I feel fine physically and no guilt what so ever for doing it

[clarkheart]

You need to find a new job. Life is too short to put yourself through torture every day you work. I have been there myself and left positions that became too stressful. Nothing is worth compromising your physical and mental health. I bet the moment the turned in your resignation you will feel a ton of relief.

[HalfBoiled, BSN, RN]

If its once in a while, I don't see why not?