How bad will this make me look if I call in tom?

leslie :-D · Nov 14, 2008

it's not outrageous...

don't want to encourage or discourage you, so enjoy.

leslie

nursedj09 · Nov 14, 2008

I'm a firm believer that you have to do what feels right - absenteeism is never good on your record but if you're that unhappy, sometimes a mental health day does you a world of good.. Use those feelings as motivation to find the job that is right for you before you get turned off from nursing altogether!

Good luck! :nurse:

pagandeva2000, LPN · Nov 14, 2008

I can't say what is best, but here are some considerations: are you still on probation? Are you in a union? I have no issues with calling in...heck, I called in sick the day after the election, knowing that I would be docked. But, one thing I do notice, is that when you are burned out, this can become habitual. If you do choose to take it, make it count. Plan to do you that day...something special, like take a nice long bath, get a good book and cut off your telephones. Make sure it is a day of rest and rejuvenation, or it will be a day that doesn't count for anything.

uscstu4lfe · Nov 14, 2008

2nd time in 5 months? no big deal. take the day off and enjoy yourself! i think our policy is like 5 max in a 6 month period. after that they question it. a while back i was on the fence about calling in for my first time after being there only a few months. no one cared, and no one even mentioned it. i can't believe i made such a big deal over it. soo... sleep in, watch some tv, go to mcdonald's for a mcskillet burrito, and then go back to sleep

Scrubby · Nov 14, 2008

I have only been here 5 months. If I call in tom, it will make the 2nd time.
I am getting burned out and I want to start applying for a transfer. Will 2 times in 5 months look bad?
The reaons I am getting burned out:
We rarely hear any praise from out manager, only what we did wrong.
If I want a PTO day, it has to be put in at least 6 weeks in advance.
I just need a ME day. But I feel guilty b/c 2 times in 5 months, that sounds like a lot?

twice in five months is pretty good. I don't know what your hospital policy is but if your full time you get 15 sick days a year. In five months I'd probably have more sick days than that. If I know there is an 8 hr case where I'd be made to scrub and I have scrubbed for too long the day before I simply don't come in.

And you better believe that if I need a mental health day then I don't feel guilty any more for taking the time off. Don't feel bad about it, your health is more important than any job.

al7139, ASN, RN · Nov 14, 2008

Hi,

I can't tell you what to do. Only your own conscience can tell you. I can relate to you in how you are feeling.

I started nursing last year, and when I started, I was gung-ho and ready to work. I soon realized the very real emotional and physical toll nursing can be. Especially at first as a new grad, it was MUCH harder than I thought...School did not really prepare me for "reality nursing" and I got really discouraged and down on myself, which made it hard to get up for work every day.

I had some call outs (yes I confess) that were not legit because I would get to a point where I knew another night would put me over the edge. I thought I was going nuts, because I have never done that before, and I felt guilty that I was doing it in a new job/career.

I have had verbal warnings about my call outs, but never have they been out of the ordinary (and recently they have really been legit).

I also feel that if you are at your breaking point, and you are not at risk of a write-up, then take a day, don't feel guilty and do something good for YOU, like a previous poster said already.

Hospitals will work you as much as you are willing to the point of burnout. They may say to call out sick when you are sick, but try to call out for a real sickness, and see how hard they try to guilt you into working.

Now, I just try to look at my schedule ahead of time, and bring any issues to the manager who writes the schedule, and I have learned how to say "NO!" to double shifts or staying late, etc. to preserve my sanity. I will help out still on occasion, but the management has learned that I am not the go-to nurse for extra hours.

Hope this helps!

Only you know what you need to do, but try to find the middle ground between work and your time without jeopardizing your job.

It does get easier once you find your feet in nursing.

Amy

RNperdiem, RN · Nov 14, 2008

Welcome to the world of work; sorry you have been having a difficult time of it.

Don't look to managers for praise. If you get it, be happy, but do not expect it.

PTO days are generally scheduled in advance with the rest of the schedule. If you really need a day off after the schedule comes out, find someone to switch with you. Repay the favor when someone else needs to switch days.

I do understand about needing a "me day" especially during the new grad year(if you are new?). The fact that you are on the forum asking about if calling in tomorrow will make you look bad suggests that you already know the answer to that question.

tencat · Nov 14, 2008

Taking one of these kinds of days today myself. I really don't care how it 'looks'. I'm emotionally and physically exhausted and not asking anyone else to pick up my slack for the day (home hospice work). We have to take care of ourselves. Management certainly isn't going to.

Keepstanding, ASN, RN · Nov 14, 2008

if you need a "mental health day" take it. you will come back refreshed and renewed. enjoy the day !

praiser :heartbeat

FireStarterRN, BSN, RN · Nov 14, 2008

What is 'tom'?

uscstu4lfe · Nov 14, 2008

trust me, it wont look bad! like someone just said, 2 days in only 5 months is pretty good! Don't debate doing it, just do it. FYI... can you get low census? Our hospital has a lot of it, so I get offered it a lot. At my hospital, I always take the no pay option instead of the PTO (save it for a rainy day). I think someone said we can only accumulate 400 hrs of PTO and then we have to start taking it... soo hmm, i don't know really know.