Going to work sick?

Published

HI

I have had this cold for 2 days so far. Called of last nite hoping that a good nite sleep would help. Well it did not do much. Now I have to go in tonite. I do not have a fever but cant stop sneezing and have post nasal drip and ache all over.

I work on a med surg floor nite shift 8hrs but I have the next 2 nites off because our family is going up to the mountains for a couple days for a long needed vacation.

Any adivse?

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Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.

I don't call out sick unless there is GI involvement, lol, but I don't work with an immunocompromised population. Heck I'd bet I get all my colds from the kiddos to begin with. Hope you feel better soon.

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Have you ever been sick before so take a couple days off what is the big deal, you can't really be a good nurse if your sick

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If you are too sick to provide competent care you should call out. If you think you can plow through one shift I would drink lots of fluids and try to sit whenever you ca for a minute or two. Also, eat some protein and keep at it throughout your shift to keep you going. Feel better.

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Specializes in ER/EHR Trainer.

It really depends on how sick you feel, if you can handle the shift and feel that patient care won't be compromised then by all means go in.....I always feel if I am asking I am not that sick. Yesterday while in school I got that stomach bug that hits like a bullet, I have been down for the count and couldn't even get my head off the pillow without help-called out today, there was no way I could do it! I still have a whopper of a headache and feel weak, I have PALS tomorrow and will muddle through, but truthfully don't think I could pull a shift if I tried.

Feel better,

Maisy

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Specializes in Cardiac Telemetry, ED.

I really dislike it when people come in sick with a contagious illness. I view it as inconsiderate of the people that you work with, to whom you could transmit the illness. But that's just me. It is apparent by the number of people who come to work hacking and sniffling all over the place that my point of view is not universally accepted.

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Specializes in MSP, Informatics.

It depends on how sick you are. And look. You don't want to look like typhoid mary to your patients.... if your taking care of a post op pt, and sniffling, dripping and coughing while changing the dressing.... thats not good!

and also depends on your sick time usage. have you used a lot already?

basicly don't work if you are putting pts at risk.

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