Working while sick- what do you think?

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Specializes in Telemetry.

So I have a massive cold/flu- basically a bug that makes me feel like hell. I'm coughing, hacking, (and at times its a productive cough), sneezing, nose is red and cracked from blowing and am completely stuffed up. My ears included- everything sounds "foggy". I'm dizzy, running a low temp at night, sore throat, scratchy voice, etc. I have clinical tomorrow and I personally feel like its not good for the already sick patients to be taken care of by a sick person, especially coughing and hacking like I am. I could probably suck it up and suffer through, but I'm on the fence about whether or not to go. It wouldn't be a problem if I didn't, I just would have to make it up. What would you do? I'm leaning towards if I don't feel any better tomorrow morning, I will stay home.

Secondly- it got me thinking about when I'm working (I finish in May). In most cases in my working history I have just gone to work sick... but that was never in a health care setting. So whats the general feeling about working while sick- I feel like its bad for the pts, but on the other hand, most times it puts your unit in a tough spot having to find someone to cover your shift. Would you go to work feeling like I do now- basically with a really bad cold?

Up Vote Up Vote ×

In my clinical, students are sent home when they're sick, esp if they have a fever or are just outright sick (e.g., flu or any other nsaty bug).

I know that in the facility one of my family members, a doc, works in, they really discourage nurses from coming into work when they're sick. The fact that they could give a nasty bug to an already compromised patient overrides any benefit from their coming in.

I've heard it does happen where a health care provider comes in despite being ill and then the bug goes around a unit, including the patients.

I guess, to put it into perspective: would you like a contagious, hacking nurse, doc, CNA, PT, phlebotomist, what have you, tending to you while you are sick, or to one of your sick, enfeebled family members? I guess that sounds a little ethically questionable?

You ask a good question, though - I've asked the same thing about sick policy since nursing's so different from a non-health-care setting where you can keep to your office with closed door if you have a mild cold and just tell others to stay away.

In health care, yes, it's so different, since you're constantly intereacting with others, and enfeebled, likely immunocompromised others at that - others you're supposed to help get better, not give a bug to.

Anyway, you wouldn't want it on your conscience if you spread around a bug in a health care facility.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Don't go to work sick, your co-workers don't want your bugs, your patients are dealing with enough bugs of their own with out having to deal with yours as well and when you are sick things always go wrong and you might not pick it up quickly enough. Stay home drink up and rest.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in critical care.

running a temp, yes I'd stay home, but sorry I have had a sinus thing for 3 weeks now, and no I didn't call in, I suck on Halls, take, tessalon perles for my cough, and sudafed, and work. It isn't that I don't care about giving my patients my germs...but tho hospitals may frown on coming in sick, they certainly will not excuse the absence even if you are doing it for patient safety. besides i probably picked it up from a patient or a family member coughing on me without covering there mouth, or washing their hands.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in OB, M/S, HH, Medical Imaging RN.

My advice to anyone who is decideding whether or not they should work while they're sick is....Stay home and take care of yourself. Do not subject already sick people to another illness. If your employer doesn't like it too bad, they'll get over it.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I'm sick, now, too.

I work 2 jobs and I'm calling into both of them.

I don't feel good, got a runny nose, temp, achy, sneezing.

I know I caught it from people on one job, but I feel I shouldn't spread it any further so I'm not going into work at either job.

I wish more people would stay home with their colds and viruses.

I hate being sick. Plus, I lose out on pay from my part time job and I don't like that. I guess it's bound to happen sooner or later, but,

no, I won't work when sick.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
besides i probably picked it up from a patient or a family member coughing on me without covering there mouth, or washing their hands.

The above point isn't really that relevant. The fact that you may be contagious is the only relevant thing.

Yes, I do worry about the "what if I get sick" issue re: health care as a career choice. One can't help it usually if one gets sick; but it still doesn't have a bearing on the fact that contagiously sick people should stay away from patients, and from co-workers who also care for patients.

Maybe your doc can tell you if you're still contagious?

Sorry you've been feeling ill for so long.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in critical care.
The above point isn't really that relevant. The fact that you may be contagious is the only relevant thing.

Yes, I do worry about the "what if I get sick" issue re: health care as a career choice. One can't help it usually if one gets sick; but it still doesn't have a bearing on the fact that contagiously sick people should stay away from patients, and from co-workers who also care for patients.

Maybe your doc can tell you if you're still contagious?

Sorry you've been feeling ill for so long.

No I'm not, my point is that my cough sounds a bit bad, and that really looks bad when you are at work, I mean you know the kind of cough, sometimes I start it is hard to get it under control. Believe me if I am feverish, achey etc. I can't go to work there is no way I can be on my feet that long. It has been a bad winter, sinus infections, flu bugs, and everyone has been sick in every household, as well as the patients that come in (families too). I don't worry about what I pick up at work too much. Sometimes you sound sicker than you actually feel, in those cases I go to work even hacking, and sniffing.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I absolutely think nurse's shouldn't work when they're sick. Everyone else is right about the patients are either immunocompromised or dealing with other health issues and don't need the exposure to your illness. Also, your co-workers don't need it either.

Working around sick people, the chance that you are going to catch a bug rises some. I don't care how much you wash your hands and wear gloves.

That being said, I just want to say that it frustrates the heck out of me that at my facility, you get written up for more than 2 sick days in a 90 day period.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in NICU.
That being said, I just want to say that it frustrates the heck out of me that at my facility, you get written up for more than 2 sick days in a 90 day period.

Me, too. It doesn't make sense to have such stringent sick day policies when we're working with an already at-risk population.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I missed 6 shifts (2 weeks) of work last month for this flu-like snifflin' snotin' coughin thing. I stayed home til I was well. I got over it faster than the ones dragging themselves in every other shift and calling out intermittently.

But....I can only say that because I have sick /PTO time. I know its not like that for everyone. My question is why not? It is healthcare. but that is a whole another thread.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in L&D, M/B.

Where I work if you call off more than 5 times in a year you will NOT get a raise that year. Most everyone works sick cause you just never know. They even count if you are a pt. in the hospital.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment