I'm sick...Missing clinical tomorrow

Aneroo, LPN · Dec 2, 2004

If you're running a temp, I DON'T think you need to be caring for patients. I would take some tylenol, go to bed, and see how you feel when you get up. If the temp is gone, you might have to tough it out. Do you guys have make up clinicals? -Andrea

akcarmean, LPN · Dec 2, 2004

I agree if you have a temp you shouldn't be attending clinicals. We never got to make up any clinicals we only had so many hours we could miss a semester and if you missed more than that you failed your clinicals. Hope you feel better soon.I know how you feel except mine is just a terrible cold.

Angelia

wonderbee, BSN, RN · Dec 2, 2004

Just what you didn't want or need. Maybe you can write a paper instead of making up clinical. I saw our instructor handle an absence that way.

You really shouldn't be around patients. That's a pretty respectable fever. Not much you can do but let yourself be sick and stay in bed.

Hope you're on the mend soon.

Kat

NurseFirst · Dec 2, 2004

I cannot believe this... only four more days of clinical left in my first semester and I am so sick! It started last night with head cold symptoms; today I have a temp of 102.7 and I think I have a sinus infection. I am so miserable right now.
I called my clinical instructor to see what she wants me to do. I honestly don't think I should be around pts (you know that point when your nose is constantly running and if you sneeze... forget it!)
I did attend lecture today and I don't think my classmates were too thrilled to have me there :uhoh21:
I just wish I could fall asleep and sleep for days...

If you start within 24-48 hours of first detecting cold symptoms, sucking on zinc lozenges helps to either prevent the cold or to lessen the symptoms. Fortunately, there are companies out there that make flavored zinc lozenges.

hmmm....I'm trying to think of what else I saw recently that you had to take within the first 24-48 hours of cold/flu symptoms--and I was surprised...if anyone knows, please let me know (by priviate mail--don't want to hijack the thread.)

If you are running a temp, a physician visit is probably warranted. It may be that some antibiotics would help, in this situation--esp. if you feel you have a sinus infection.

Otherwise--home remedies abound--drink those plentiful fluids, take your favorite NSAID for fever, and rest......Or, forget the NSAID and take NyQuil--when I used it in the past, it helped knock me out and let me get the sleep to allow my body to defend itself!

NurseFirst

maliat · Dec 2, 2004

Also the when your throat is scratchy and you think you're coming down with something, try gargling with salty hot water. Kills the bugs.

checkers · Dec 2, 2004

Awe, I know how you feel! I suffered for 3 weeks before i finally went to the dr. for my sinus infection. I had same head cold sypmtoms, plus each week I'd get a severe sore throat that lasted only 1 day each, and then a fever one night. I think my body was telling me to go to the Dr. but I would put it off.

I felt so awful, while I was taking a test during all this, i just wanted to fail my test and end it. Don't let yours linger on! Hope you get better quick!

RedSox33RN · Dec 3, 2004

I hope you're feeling better soon, Michelle! I know how much it must stink to miss clinical, but people do get sick, especially those caring for those who are sick.

Luckily I only missed 4 hours of clincal this semester, so I didn't have to do any make-up, but a classmate of mine has to make up 2 days, and we get charged $50 make-up fees for each day missed.

NewEnglandRN, RN · Dec 3, 2004

Thanks so much for the replies. I did not go to Clinical today... my instructor was very supportive and told me not to worry about it... just get better. When I asked about doing a make up assignment, she told me to rest, get better and then we'd figure it out. She is so awesome!

I am feeling a little less terrible, but believe it or not, today I could not move out of bed to get to the Dr! How weird it that, too sick to go to the Dr???

I am feeling better, temp is controlled with Tylenol, but now it's going into my chest. I have asthma, so I am definetely going to the Dr tomorrow. This seems to be a very fast moving cold I have. Normally it doesn't settle in my chest until after a week.

Thanks so much for listening to me whine. It honestly helped!

NewEnglandRN, RN · Dec 4, 2004

I ended up missing today, too :crying2:

This cold has gone to my chest and considering I have asthma, that is not good!

I am so afraid of what is going to happen... I missed two consecutive clinical days. My Clinical Instructor told me not to worry, but the rest of the Nursing Dept is not as understanding as she is... I have a 95% average in Fundamentals and now I'm worried they are going to drop me from the program.

Now, not only do I feel terrible, I have to worry about my status in the program, finals and make-up assignments. All right before Christmas. Now, my ten-year-old says he has a sore throat...

I just want to crawl under a rock! :sniff:

SCmomof3, RN · Dec 4, 2004

{{{hug}}} I hope you feel better soon and that everything works out ok for you!!! I am sick as a dog now too but luckily am not in clinicals til next Fall.

NewEnglandRN, RN · Dec 4, 2004

Thanks, {{{Jennifer}}}

Get some rest this weekend... you should be fine by clinicals.:)