When do you call off work?

Nurses General Nursing

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Ugh. I'm going into the second or third day of a vicious head cold. No, I don't have a fever, but I have postnasal drip, a sinus headache, and already my brain is fried after being awake a few short hours.

I took a couple of Tylenol, ate something even though my stomach is somewhat queasy, and I think I have to call off because I'm not thinking clearly. :o I keep losing my train of thought.

I don't get an official day off for another few days. Should I take the chance that I'll feel better tomorrow and call off tonight? Or should I tough it out and be a warm body at work?

What would you do?

Would you try to go to work or stay home?

How sick to you have to be to call off? Dead on your feet or just off your game?

Specializes in Utilization Management.
I don't know that I would have called off in your circumstances.

When do I call off? When I'm dead.

Therein the source of my guilt. Even 5 years ago, I would've dragged myself in and muddled through it. But now....I guess I'm getting old. I just can't.

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Specializes in LTC, home health, critical care, pulmonary nursing.
How, exactly, do you call into your employer after you're dead? Just curious. :p

God delegates the task to an angel. So far that's only happened once.:uhoh3:

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I don't think it has much to do with being older, I think that you know what you can handle working with, and what you can't. If you can't concentrate and be there for your patients, you're not really doing anyone much good.

I hope you feel better soon.

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Specializes in LTC, home health, critical care, pulmonary nursing.
Therein the source of my guilt. Even 5 years ago, I would've dragged myself in and muddled through it. But now....I guess I'm getting old. I just can't.

Don't feel guilty. I'm 21 and scrappy. Talk to me in 10 years and that may change. And i'm a workaholic. If you call off sparingly, by all means, stay home and get well. It's the ones that call off all the time that piss me off.

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Specializes in Utilization Management.
God delegates the task to an angel. So far that's only happened once

Not to you, I hope! ;)

Anyhow, I would still love to hear the details.

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Specializes in SICU-MICU,Radiology,ER.

I think its natural to feel weird about calling in. Sometimes I feel a little guilty other times I dont.

The first time around when in the Army we could get alternate duty at times when over 101.1 or with a leg wound. I lived by that for many years.

In sailing they say one hand for the ship, one hand for yourself. My wife is an EMT. They say yourself first, your partner second, the pt third.

Now I just call in. Sometimes I go in and wear a mask.

I think if your record shows youre mot a malingerer then dont worry-

11

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Specializes in floor to ICU.

Patients just don't appreciate post nasal drippings on them when you are leaning over to do your assessment. (And stuffing toilet paper up your nostrils gets you strange looks.)

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Specializes in Utilization Management.
stuffing toilet paper up your nostrils gets you strange looks.)

:rotfl:

Stop, stop!! If I laugh too hard, I'll puke!!

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Specializes in Psych, M/S, Ortho, Float..

Guilt, Smilt.

I hardly ever feel guilty calling in sick, because I rarely do. I had my gallbladder out in August. The week before I was starting to freak from the stress. The last night I worked I made a med error and I suddenly realized that the stress was taking over, and I was losing it. I booked off the next two nights for my patients' sake. I really needed the cash because I wasn't sure how long I was going to be off, but I wouldn't jepordize my patients for a paycheck. 9 days post-op I was at work for a night 8. Two nights later, I tried a 12 hr night, but I got to 2330, and said, nope, going home. I was a mess. I took another 2 weeks off.

You have to take the time to help yourself before you can try and help others.

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Hang in there and take care of yourself! I agree that it's not the ones who call in legit -- it's the ones who seem to be sick every other weekend that they are scheduled to work. We are supposed to call off at least 5 hours before shift starts to give them ample time to find a replacement -- as far as I'm concerned, that is why we have a float pool.

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Specializes in ER/Trauma.

I just called in sick for the last 2 days, I cannot remember the last time I called in, its been over a year, I know that much. Last time was for a nasty viral infection, if I get to the point where I am throwing up, that pretty much does it for me. Now the last 2 days, my 4yo daughter has been sick. Knock on wood, she is a pretty healthy kid but since Sat has had a fever, sore throat, started throwing up water on Monday, so I called in and took her to doc. Has strep/scarlet fever so I am glad I did call in.

I would not feel guilty at all, but I know management has a way they make us feel that way. I always say, heck I am Catholic, there is nothing they can make me feel guilty for that I dont already feel guilty about! :chuckle

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Specializes in LTC, assisted living, med-surg, psych.

I call in if I can't get my head a) off the pillow, or b) out of the john. Otherwise, I go to work.......although there was one notable exception about a month ago when my fibromyalgia flared up suddenly and there wasn't one area of my body that wasn't screaming at me! I did call in sick that day, but only because I couldn't move. Thank goodness THAT doesn't happen very often. :stone

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