Boy did I have a night from hell lastnight!!!!! I worked my usual 11p to 7a and and the other nurse on with me did a 3p to 3a and then her replacement came in at 3a...obviously. Well...the 3a nurse came in sicker then a dog. It was clear to me that she was going to be worthless from the get-go. Anyways....she had 6 patients and I had 7. Well...immediately after report, she just sat down at the desk and said "I feel like I'm going to pass out"...I'm thinking, this is great!! Next..the house sup. comes around and says..."I think you need to lay down"...so she does....until 5:30am...then she gets up and sits back at the desk...holding her head...then she calls her bf and tells him how sick she feels. Meanwhile I'm running my orifice' off..trying to take care of my patients...plus hers. A load of 13 which includes 5 fresh surgicals, one going to surgery, two in isolation, one needy, crabby lady on the light every second, one that needs to be d/c'd asap so she can get to an appt. in another city, etc,etc...you get the picture. It was very stressful. Luckily the sup. stayed around and helped a lot...but still....it's like geeeeeeesssshhhh. I know that I've gone in too when I shouldn't have but man....I never just sat at the desk whining about how sick i was. Either call in or come in and expect to have to do the work.... I guess that's the moral of the story. It just makes it so much harder on your co-workers when you come in as "a fraction" of a nurse. Ok..I'm done...just really,really needed to vent on that one!!!!
Specializes in LTC, home health, critical care, pulmonary nursing.
Gosh....
I sure am sorry that so many of you get such grief for calling in....I feel bad about that. The girl that came in sick though...had called in the night before so it's not like it just suddenly came on. I suppose you guys are right...she felt pressure to come in. Our facility is very good about sick calls for the most part. I mean...there are some that call in all the time..and I mean all the time!! I think they have been talked to and maybe given a warning..but for the most part...our facility is really good and really wants you to stay home if you are sick.... Our infection control nurse is really good too..... We have way too many already immuno-compromised patients...we just can't risk getting them sicker. Also...I've noticed that our "nurses dropping like flies" thing comes into play after someone that had been visibly sick..showed up for work and infected the rest of the staff...it's just not good.
I guess I was just venting that morning and when I stopped to think about it....I'm really not much different with my "fears of calling in". I've missed my share of work..not usually because of "contagious stuff"..well..except the bronchitis I had a few months ago..lol...but from my stupid endometriosis. Sometimes..the pain is just so bad...I literally can't drag myself to work. Boy...do I feel bad when I call in....but then I also consider my patients and fellow co-workers...do they really want a "half orificed" nurse running around there...u know. Anyways....I do understand that some facilities don't have nice call-in policies like we do....I didn't mean to rub anyone the wrong way for that. I do, however, think it's stupid that a person can't just stay home and 'be sick". Just look at all the influenza ads...they clearly say "stay home from work if you are sick". Apparently some places just don't get it. Ok....thanks for listening..as always...
Luv,
Snoop
Awww, i don't think anyone took offense. Most people agree that you shouldn't come and share the wealth, but we all know how the higher ups agree.
Specializes in Geriatric, LTC, PC, home care, pediatric.
How about administration over staff so that if someone has to call in sick, then you wouldn't have to work short. And if they are worried that you wouldn't work hard enough if over staffed, they really haven't done the job before have they? Just the way it would be in my perfect world. :roll :roll :roll
I remember several years ago we had this awesome cna. She was in her early 60's. Both of her parents were quite elderly and lived about 2 hours away. Both got ill and died within months of each other. Instead of taking a LOA she would just drive to be with them on her days off and occasionally have to be there on her scheduled work days. When the end was near for each of them she had a stretch off. She got written up/counseled for taking too much time off. Other than these occurrence she was rarely ever absent from work.
We all encouraged her to bring copies of her parents death certificates with a statement to put in her personnel file for why she was absent. It never amounted to anything, but added to her stress. She retired about a year later.
I can't stand people coming in sick. Can't stand it. In my facility there is no excuse for it since our contract is very specific in terms of that. No employee can get fired for being ill...snip
Boy, I'd love to know where fergus works (snort!) :chuckle
When I worked at an LTC in West Virginia a CNA's house burned to the ground and her animals got killed in the fire. She missed 3 days of work and got written up for missing those 3 days of work!!!! :angryfire
Fergus, our union abides by the same rules. Our rules coincide with the unions and this is in the contract. Here, no one calls in on a weekend because you have to make it up in the next time up
"No nurse shall be disciplined for reasonable use of sick leave" (Article 19) I realize not all union jobs in California have the same contract though. I swear to God, let them try to discipline me for calling in sick..... Sick leave is a benefit of my job and I will use it when I need it.
Specializes in Geriatrics/Oncology/Psych/College Health.
OMG - the night nurse last noc was puking in between admissions. She looked like death warmed over. Sounded like she had TB in report this morning - couldn't get two words out without a cough.
I told her she needed to march down to the house super's office and tell her she was too ill to come in tonight. Probably is back at work right now. Fer cryin' out loud - the world will not end if you don't come in (and it was not a money thing - she just wouldn't call off.)
Yes isn't that wonderful when they come to work and expose us and the Residents :angryfire. The day nurse at the LTC was sick and coughing non-stop last week so she came in and exposed everyone. I'm sure that is just what our elderly people needed. What I don't understand is when management sees them coughing their heads off and doesn't send them home. :angryfire Management at our LTC saw her coughing her head off. :angryfire
:roll :roll
lovingtheunloved, ASN, RN
940 Posts
Awww, i don't think anyone took offense. Most people agree that you shouldn't come and share the wealth, but we all know how the higher ups agree.