I am GETTING out of hospital work! This is BULL!

Nurse2Doc2008 · Nov 9, 2008

About 6 weeks ago, I got a horrible GI bug...I was totally dehydrated, orthostatic, and every few hours, I'd go down to the ER and get a bolus of fluids. I vomited twice on rounds, and kept having to run away to the bathroom throughout the day and night. And I had to take a 30 hour call during all this. The chiefs basically said that there's no one to back you up, and if you leave, you screw over your fellow interns/residents in to having to cover 12 extra patients and take an extra call. If I would have left, I would have taken so much crap from my fellow residents for being "soft."

I think it's ridiculous that there's not a sick call back up person available for both nurses and doctors....and it's particularly ridiculous that there WAS someone to back you up, and who ever was in charge wouldn't let it happen. Further, I think it's even more crazy that we in healthcare give eachother so much trouble about taking sick days! I mean, the manager at the Gap, where I worked in high school, was more reasonable/understanding!

allnurses Guide · Nov 9, 2008

"...and really it was too late to call in anyway."

You may not want to hear this, but you brought this on yourself.
Nurses always do this...go to work when they feel ill.
There's no such thing as, "too late."
If you go in, then expect to be treated like any other nurse. Of course, it would have been nice if she sent you home. But what if you came in and the floor had not been overstaffed, who would then have been the focus of anger?
Stop being the selfless nurses who feel that it's your job to provide staffing policies. If you're sick, stay home...if not, go to work. Management, needs to worry about having intelligent policies for sick calls...not you...
And to AimeeJo RN, you have no breaks because everyone fails to regularly take them.
Expect your breaks and take them. But, ironically, you'll have to have the courage to take back what's rightfully yours since you've pretty told management via your behaviors that you don't need breaks or lunches.
Stand tall, set an example for others, and stop perpetuating bad habits that only guarantee the same for new nurses.

I agree, and I actually DID feel kinda bad for going in. It all just hit me SO suddenly... well, I'm going to go ahead and take off tonight. Was HOPING that after maybe staying in bed all day I would feel better. But, lo and behold, when I got home last night my husband was in bed (of course), but he says to me "Well, I'm sick too. I've been throwing up all evening"

So now he's in bed while I'm out here with our toddler because my husband ALWAYS gets hit with this stuff a lot worse than I do. :angryfire

(our toddler had this too, though to a lesser extent, maybe because he has had his flu shot, I don't know. But, his having been sick too is the reason why he's here and not at grandma's)

mscsrjhm · Nov 9, 2008

If I'm sick and call in, or leaving work, I'm not asking permission. I'm sick, and that is that.

Nursing jobs are a dime a dozen, I'm an adult, and management is not my mommy.

I think attitude has a lot to do with it. I don't ask, I tell.

(It is not a stretch for me to apply Stanley Milgram's research to every situation.)

It is amazing when management goes into that controlling "I am all powerful" mode. Lots of that in nursing though.

Hope you all feel better

sissiesmama, ASN, RN · Nov 9, 2008

Heh, well I am home now. They pretty much had no choice but to send me home after I barfed ALL over the hallway.
I had been drinking Sprite, but still feeling like I really needed to throw up. Tried to make myself throw up even; no dice.
Took ONE sip of sweetened tea... ONE little sip... and the dam broke.
Most other jobs, decent jobs, let someone go home when they are feeling that bad.

Hey! I am like you, and after 17 years of working in the hospital setting, I had just had enough and was burned enough and my physical health had been affected enough that I sold my uniforms, scrubs, even my stethescope, everything on ebay. I did work with a supervisor like the one you worked with and she was at the nurses station when I tried to run to the bathroom to throw up. She was between me and the bathroom and I tried to make it around her. Didn't make it, I puked on her, on myself, and on one of the computer stations nearby. Finally, I got to go home, and she had to go to surgery to find scrubs to shower and change. She should have listened!

Anne, RNC

Hope you feel better, RNW!

grandee3 · Nov 9, 2008

Feel better soon!

Pag, I noticed you have a "Guide" on your profile. What is this? Been away for a while. Thanks, C

cherrybreeze, ADN, RN · Nov 9, 2008

I agree, and I actually DID feel kinda bad for going in. It all just hit me SO suddenly... well, I'm going to go ahead and take off tonight. Was HOPING that after maybe staying in bed all day I would feel better. But, lo and behold, when I got home last night my husband was in bed (of course), but he says to me "Well, I'm sick too. I've been throwing up all evening"
So now he's in bed while I'm out here with our toddler because my husband ALWAYS gets hit with this stuff a lot worse than I do. :angryfire
(our toddler had this too, though to a lesser extent, maybe because he has had his flu shot, I don't know. But, his having been sick too is the reason why he's here and not at grandma's)

Well, the flu shot would have nothing to do with it, since influenza is an upper respiratory infection and not GI. But anyway.

My question is, how did you approach management in regards to going home sick? I think the difference needs to be in not ASKING, but TELLING...not, "if you are covered for staffing, is it ok if I leave, I don't feel well," but, "I am sick and I have to go home," KWIM? This doesn't give them the option to send the overtimers home ahead of you. Not that this necessarily works, I know it's still harder to get out the door once you are there. I know if I am not doing well, I have asked that if they have float help to cover I'd like to leave, and it hasn't always worked out. If I KNOW I couldn't stay, I've said, "you need to find someone to cover the night for me, I am too ill to be here."

I'm sorry it took getting that ill for them to let you leave, if that's the case.

Lori75 · Nov 9, 2008

That's life when you work in a for profit industry. I would expect no less, really.

I thank God quite often that I am Canadian, and work in the Canadian Health Care system. Also my union is also so strong, that I can't imagine this happening here!

I am so sorry you had to go through this!! Last week I got a migraine on shift, at 0830 the visual disturbance started, then when that subsided the pain started at 0930, at this time I went to my supervisor and said "I think I wanna go home, I've had this twice in my life, and I have about 1 hour to get out of here" I offered to stay until a relief could be called in (as long as it was within the hour) and they were practically pushing me out the door right away, I've never seen anyone have a problem going home sick....God Bless Canada!

I will say one addition, I watched your presidential election with more interest than I ever have any Canadian politics, and actually cried when Obama gave his victory speech. I truly hope he does bring your country the much needed changes you need! Congrats!

ktwlpn, LPN · Nov 9, 2008

This is IT. By hook or by crook, I am getting out of hospital work.
I am SICKER than a dog right now. I didn't start feeling bad until about an hour and a half or so before my shift. At that time, I thought it was something I might get over, and really it was too late to call in anyway.
We are OVERSTAFFED tonight, but my ["*&%#@$"]*&%#@$[/supervisor will not let me go home! And WHY, you ask? Because we have people in OVERTIME that HAVE to go home first.
So she sent home a person on my floor that was in overtime. Okay, fine and dandy. She said that she might be sending yet another person home; we are still "one nurse over". Okay.
My charge nurse talked to her a little while ago. She offered to let me go to the ER. Uh, no, I don't need to go to the *ER*, I just need to go home and let this pass! What are they going to do for me in the ER, other than MAYBE give me some IV fluids???
She THEN says... that if she does let someone go home, it will be another person on another floor... and then she'll FLOAT one of us TO THAT FLOOR!
What kind of a PERSON does it take to be a house supervisor, anyway???
Screw this, I'm outta here! I'm bound and determined to find something a lot better.

There are no victims,only volunteers-You should have gone to the ER....that would have taught her a lesson (maybe) She does sound like abit of an orifice.

soulofme · Nov 9, 2008

One problem is...there are those that abuse the sick leave policy that it makes it hard for the ones that really need it.

Midwest4me · Nov 9, 2008

about 6 weeks ago, i got a horrible gi bug...i was totally dehydrated, orthostatic, and every few hours, i'd go down to the er and get a bolus of fluids. i vomited twice on rounds, and kept having to run away to the bathroom throughout the day and night. and i had to take a 30 hour call during all this. the chiefs basically said that there's no one to back you up, and if you leave, you screw over your fellow interns/residents in to having to cover 12 extra patients and take an extra call. if i would have left, i would have taken so much crap from my fellow residents for being "soft." you were severely guilted into staying while ill. i feel you were abused in that situation. what would've happened if you'd died? do you honestly buy the crap that there would be "no one to back you up" if you had to be hospitalized or had died?
i think it's ridiculous that there's not a sick call back up person available for both nurses and doctors....and it's particularly ridiculous that there was someone to back you up, and who ever was in charge wouldn't let it happen. further, i think it's even more crazy that we in healthcare give eachother so much trouble about taking sick days! i mean, the manager at the gap, where i worked in high school, was more reasonable/understanding!

we give each other a hard time at times in our hospital about taking sick days(especially those that seem to set a pattern of calling in)---mostly in fun but the undertone is serious---after all, we get 8 hours' sick time each month--and it is ironic how many take a "sick day" the very first day of every month or within the first 10 days. ironically the # of mandated employees(to work ot) equals the # of sick calls. it's maddening.

MadisonsMomRN, BSN, RN · Nov 9, 2008

She should have sent you home because now she's probably going to have MORE call outs because that stuff is contagious. I hope SHE doesn't get it!

Hope you all feel better soon! :)

Moneypitt · Nov 10, 2008

"...and really it was too late to call in anyway."
you may not want to hear this, but you brought this on yourself.
nurses always do this...go to work when they feel ill.
there's no such thing as, "too late."
if you go in, then expect to be treated like any other nurse. of course, it would have been nice if she sent you home. but what if you came in and the floor had not been overstaffed, who would then have been the focus of anger?
stop being the selfless nurses who feel that it's your job to provide staffing policies. if you're sick, stay home...if not, go to work. management, needs to worry about having intelligent policies for sick calls...not you...
and to aimeejo rn, you have no breaks because everyone fails to regularly take them.
expect your breaks and take them. but, ironically, you'll have to have the courage to take back what's rightfully yours since you've pretty told management via your behaviors that you don't need breaks or lunches.
stand tall, set an example for others, and stop perpetuating bad habits that only guarantee the same for new nurses.

people do go to work feeling okay, and may find themself sick as the day progresses. i don't think it is fair or helpful to blame the poster for being sick.

but i do agree that some nurses need to take their breaks, and to stand tall.