Working While Sick

Nurses Stress 101

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Specializes in LTC.

If you were the DON or person in charge of staffing and couldn't find any nurses to come in to work the next day, would you ask one of your nurses to come to work the next day, knowing that they were already sick, even if it were just for half a shift? Or would you step in and take the floor for them? Just curious because I got called in to work for the next day, thinking that I was feeling better, but I really wasn't. Explained this to my DON when I came into work, but he said he was desperate and needed a nurse to come in the next day, just for half a shift.

This was not humorous to me at the time it happened many years ago. I was ill and had been off work, called in. Told by a supervisor to bring doctor's note. Spent money to see a doctor who kept me off work for one or two days longer than I had told them I would be out for (only the next day at the time). It cost me money to see the doctor and I lost income because the doctor's note kept me off work longer than I had been planning. I was a CNA at the time and could not afford all of this, but it certainly felt good to get back somewhat at the supervisor who thought she was ruining my day by telling me to bring a doctor's note.

I do not go to work if I give the appearance of still being ill because I do extended care and go through the Spanish Inquisition every time I get ill and somebody thinks I might get the patient sick too. Of course this concern does not go in the opposite direction.

Specializes in Infusion.

It's really a catch 22 for us. We are already all working short staffed, and when we get sick, there is no one to take our place. I think supervisors should step in. But I don't know of anywhere where they do.

Specializes in retired LTC.

Then there's always the possibility (a REAL possibility) that they'll need you to stay for the whole shift.

"Well, you're here already, what's the difference we really need you, there's nobody else to take over for you, yada, yada, yada".

And this REALLY REALLY does happen waaaaay too many times!

Once you're there, you're suckered in!

Specializes in LTC.
Then there's always the possibility (a REAL possibility) that they'll need you to stay for the whole shift.

"Well, you're here already, what's the difference we really need you, there's nobody else to take over for you, yada, yada, yada".

And this REALLY REALLY does happen waaaaay too many times!

Once you're there, you're suckered in!

SOOOOOO true!!! Once again, they knew I still wasn't feeling well, asked me to work AGAIN the next day!! I was hoping to just stay fornthe first haldlf of the shift, DON was supposed to come in. NEVER saw him that day because apparently he got snowed in.

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