Hey there new nurse for 6 month's. Worked at my unit for 5 1/2 months. I have worked in healthcare awhile prior. Been exposed feel like to almost every germ out there from my time working with adult, pediatrics, in the ED, and in psych. Rarely called out. Think can count 6 times called out with exception of times pulled out of work for injuries.
4 months in as a nurse called out 6 times already. Two to three days due to COVID-19, once for a sinus infection, twice for this respiratory/flu like virus (still dealing with after effects after 3 weeks), and another time forgot was on as they moved me on the schedule I didn't sleep for my shift. Now have the norovirus day 3 torn to call in or not. I'll be at 5 points where anything over 8 is a concern. 5 you get a verbal, then a written, and one final verbal. I am close.
Think be selfish load myself up with messages go to work to avoid getting in trouble. Be best to not be selfish call put for patients health and my co-worker's health?
My advice is to protect yourself & others by calling in sick or requesting Cancellation. It's hard to care for patients when you are not feeling well. Don't set yourself up by going in sick & spreading a virus to patients & coworkers. Explain that you have a virus to your staffing coordinator/Lead RN. Good Luck to you. Wishing You A Safe & Speedy Recovery.
I didn't realize I had a pattern until someone showed that every 3rd Thursday of the month I was calling out, just happened that my older kids were still babies and bringing some bugs at home while knocking me out during that time.
So after few months of this and then having to speak with manager and showing me a pattern, I came in looking like 💩 and supv (I worked nights then) sent me home.
Kids got older, stopped being crap home, and no1 gave me crap since.
In Washington State and I'm sure the same is true in others. If you knowingly come to work ill and infectious. You are subject to disciplinary action by the State Board of Nursing.
In Washington state, also, if you use needles and shoot up in a city park, all's well. Children don't need parks, homeless drug addicts do.
Specializes in Pediatrics, Acute Care, Home Healthcare.
beachynurse said:
I think that she needs to check on the attendance policy. As long as an MD note was produced, the absence would be excused and not count. The hospital I had worked at kind of expected new grad nurses to be out a lot the first year because of the exposure to various illnesses.
In my state, and have worked at a few major hospitals in my state, it was always the same a call out is a call out. It may be a state by state thing.
JohnHood said:
In Washington State and I'm sure the same is true in others. If you knowingly come to work ill and infectious. You are subject to disciplinary action by the State Board of Nursing.
This is not a thing in my state. It almost feels like you are expected to come to work sick or not. It's almost encouraged and your rewarded to come in sick with all the compliments and wow you must be so dedicated
I wish people who are sick would STAY HOME. One issue is management will write you up for it. Sick person spreads their germs everywhere. It has gotten me sick many times. Nursing in a hospital. Setting is a ridiculous job..
In the US our work ethics are messed up and it's even worse in healthcare. Everyone is expected to work until you can't anymore litterly work until exhausted. But then put extra restrictions on healthcare workers but without compensation. I like going to work and being productive. But it's back breaking. In healthcare I support taking time off to recharge. Before I was a nurse I would be fine with a week vacation once a year if at all (mechanic/Emt/firefighter) but now I need a 4 day in a row atleast once a month or a week off every 3 months of I can't get the days off for the months before. (Even unpaid). The burnout is real and so is the physical drain. I don't recommend working yourself to death or into a early grave.
Look at some EU countries labor law requiring minimum weeks paid vacation and how they are treated and job satisfaction.
Specializes in Critical Care, ER and Administration.
Emergent said:
In Washington state, also, if you use needles and shoot up in a city park, all's well. Children don't need parks, homeless drug addicts do.
One has nothing to do with the other. The State Board of Nursing has nothing to do with the lack of police enforcement. The State Board does have a concern about Nurses infecting patients. It is an actionable offense.
Specializes in Critical Care, ER and Administration.
HayBugThePedsRN said:
In my state, and have worked at a few major hospitals in my state, it was always the same a call out is a call out. It may be a state by state thing.
This is not a thing in my state. It almost feels like you are expected to come to work sick or not. It's almost encouraged and your rewarded to come in sick with all the compliments and wow you must be so dedicated
I understand about hospital policy. I've worked in multiple hospitals in multiple states. They all had the same attendance policy. However, their policy does not trump the board of nursing. In both Washington and Mississippi, if you came to work with a fever, diarrhea or other infectious symptoms, you are in violation. It is an actionable offense. I've seen infection control point this out to several nurses.
maggie0, BSN, RN
90 Posts
Please don't come to work sick! You had a bad stretch but hopefully this is over now. Feel better!