do you go to work sick?

KaroSnowQueen, RN · Mar 3, 2008

I used to go to work sick all the time. Knowing others would work short, mgmt would give me a guilt trip when I did come in, etc. Also for years and years and years, up until just seven years ago I did not have a job that gave me sick days, so had to either go in sick or do without needed dollars!!! :twocents:

Now I am older and wiser, and I take my sick days. No one is expendable. Most faciliites are run by large corporations, and they don't give a rat's hat about your personally welfare, and could care less if you are sick, well, whatever, and will not hesitate to terminate you if they thought it saved them 15 cents.:angryfire Sorry, a bit cynical in my old age!

So my answer is NO, H-E- DOUBLE HOCKEY STICKS, NO! I will not ever again go to work sick. I will stay home and take care of myself. Spreading my germs whether viral or bacterial will not help anyone else in the long run. I will keep my germs at home under my blankets with me!!

Nicky30, BSN, RN · Mar 3, 2008

For me it really depends on how sick and what with....

If it's gastro then I stay home (although it hit at work one day and I stayed :uhoh3: ).

If it's a minor cold then I go (and try not to spread germs). If I look worse than the patients then I stay home. :lol2:

Nicky.

Valerie Salva, BSN, RN · Mar 3, 2008

I called off sick Friday. I'm still sick but I worked today.

DutchgirlRN, ASN, RN · Mar 3, 2008

no! stay home! do not subject others to the flu, period.

jayne109, RN · Mar 4, 2008

no! stay home! do not subject others to the flu, period.

:yeahthat:

stay home and feel better soon!

Blee O'Myacin, BSN, RN · Mar 4, 2008

Sitting here with the flu, yuck. debating on whether or not to call in sick. what is wrong with nurses that we give work notes to hangnails, but don't take time off for ourselves if we're sick?
how do you decide when to stay home? i have not called in sick for many years, and dread doing it today but due to fever/cough etc don't think i have a choice....... and, i bet that i caught this bug from another nurse!!

Do you want to share a phone and a computer with someone who is sick? Neither do I. Rest up, and feel better soon.

Blee

pirap · Mar 4, 2008

My entire family and ME got strep throat the Wednesday before Thanksgiving and I got "double points" for calling out 24 hours prior to a holiday. The EMPLOYEE HEALTH DOCTOR told me to stay home..had a confirmed rapid strep test, etc. I got in trouble for calling out. I work with newborns and moms and you can bet next time I truly may consider going on in...

Long Term Care Columnist / Guide · Mar 4, 2008

I used to call in under only two conditions: if I couldn't get my head a) OFF the pillow, or b) OUT of the toilet.

Now I'm a little more sensible, if only because I'm a DON and have to be a role model for the staff. I don't want them coming to work with N/V/D or the flu, so I don't either. Fortunately, I don't get sick very often, and I certainly won't stay home if all I've got is a head cold---I can wear a mask if necessary to prevent my residents from catching it. But if I feel terrible, I'm not going to try to tough it out; usually only a day or two of rest is all I need to be back in fine form.

Starr1966 · Mar 4, 2008

hi,

i try very hard not to go to work when i'm ill. i work in a ltc. i had been sick with a respiratory illness for about 3.5 weeks. went to the doctor, got an antibiotic. was better for about a week, then it came back. i ran a fever from saturday until wednesday.

i had called in on monday and tuesday still had a fever. well, they couldn't find anyone that would cover my shift on tuesday and the don didn't want to work all night. so i was basically told that i would have to come in and work. they did find someone to cover my part of shift from 5p-10p, then i had to work from 10p-6a.

i felt awful and in my opinion i shouldn't have been there because i was still running a fever. when i returned to work for my next scheduled shift after that, the facility had a sign posted by all the doors to visitors saying if they have a cold, sore throat or flu symptoms, to please delay their visit until they were better. i had to laugh at that.

we have many residents that are ill with respiratory illnesses and now the flu is coming around there. not surprising when they have the staff come to work ill.:angryfire

i lost a bit of respect for the facility and the don after that, it also proved to me that all they care about is having a warm body there to cover the shift, not the residents well-being. :angryfire

pfongk · Mar 4, 2008

if it's contagious then yes I'll call in sick but if I've just got a doozy of a case of hay fever or if I'm having an eczema flareup that's not on my feet or hands I'll go in.

spiritmagejkt · Mar 4, 2008

Its a toss up. If its a cold I generally go in. If I have a fever I don't. Puking definetly not.

WHen I was working LTC there was an issue in that I made so much on the shift differential that I ran into problems financially with sick or vacation pay. I would sometimes even have to take 10 hours to cover 8 when it was winter and I was trying to pay for oil heat.