How much detail do you give when calling in sick?

[remotefuse]

Last week I had to call in sick for a very personal situation. I feel comfortable sharing online since it is anonymous. But occasionally I have severe spasms in very delicate areas. They stared getting worse about a week ago and I went to ER at a different hospital. I got a note there excusing 3 days of work. It's been an on going issue for me and no one can really tell me what's going on with it. But anyways, i was not going to be able to come into work because it was really bad. I called nursing supervisor to call off and they really pressed for details. This was my first time calling off so I was totally not expecting that. She stated she needed specific details to document this and really pressed me. Towards the end of the conversation, some might say I was rude because I refused to tell her exactly what my symptoms were. It was just a big surprise to me that they demanded to know very personal medical information. Is this the case everywhere?

[sweetmya]

As long as you have a doctors note to excuse your sickness, by law they can not ask you in details for your sick call. That is my understanding. When I call in sick, they ask what is the reason, I tell them its personal and I just can't share. You leave it at that. You should also check your employee handbook for sick call rules, I'm sure you will find something resourceful.

[OlivetheRN, ADN, BSN, RN]

They can press all they want and I still them I'm sick and won't be there. It's really none of their business. Where I work it really depends on who answers the phone as to how pushy they get. Some of the charge nurses just say "ok, feel better!" and others get super pushy and want specific details...how long you've been sick, symptoms, do you have a fever, is anyone else in your family sick, color and consistency of BMs, etc.

[Extra Pickles]

When I call in sick the manager I'm calling will ask if it is GI related or Flu related since they track those for the Health Department. I can refuse to answer but I'm going to have to go to Employee Health before I can return to work. It's not that I'm required to answer what I am specifically sick with it's that they want to keep track to see if they have an epidemic cropping up. If it's not GI or not Flu symptoms then I just say No when asked. That's it! They don't have a right to my medical information but Employee Health does just to make sure it's safe for me to go back to my unit after being out with Something.

[SarahMaria, MSN, RN]

I simply say, "I'm calling out for 2nd shift." No elaboration.