Is anyones facility so short staffed that they feel guilty calling in sick?

Nurses General Nursing

Published

:rolleyes:

I never call in sick no matter what. Even if I were dying I would probably never call in sick (lol). I am so sick and tired of these people that call in sick because they have a hang over or just simply dont want to come to work and call in 5 minutes before the shift begins. Well I live 20 miles out of town! and If I am called into work I never refuse it. The other day I had food poisoning but I didnt call in, and I came to work, and it was my offday. It was the worst day ive had. I was throwing up non stop and I felt like I was going to die, but I stayed for the whole shift, while 2 other girls were gone with a hang over. I know what it feels like to only work a 2 hall in a place with 70 some patients. It is not safe and it can cause burn out. I don't want to get burned out, but I don't want to call in sick and leave everyone shorter staffed than we already are. hat should I do? :stone

If you cannot safely function and are putting your patients at risk by reporting to work sick, you should stay home. Period. Yah, I know, hospitals manipulate us into coming in when we're sick.

We should not let them drive our ethics in this matter. I have to say I resent nurses who call in for a personal, non emergent, non illness reason.(and I work with a few) One should find a balance with work/play without harming coworkers by calling in whenever the mood strikes, as some do.:(

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Nope, I don't feel guility. If I am sick, I'm sick (or my kids are sick). I will not go to work feeling like a piece of crap. My health and well being are worth more to me than that. And if my kids need me at home, you better bet I am staying home to take care of them. That is what I am called to do as a mother. My first priority in life are my husband and my kids. I don't owe my life to my employer. They don't go out of their way to bust their butts for me, so why should I bust mine for theirs? :confused:

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Absolutely NOT! Staffing isn't my problem; that's an administrative function. If they wanted back-up or PRN staffing, they'd sign a contract with an agency. But, they don't, so it's their problem to deal with when I'm sick.

If they have cut staffing too close to the bone so that there isn't ANY safety margin for a call-in, then they aren't staffed enough to take care of the patients during those numerous days when everything happens at once (like full moons and barometer changes!) :)

So, if things are that bad, they can get their little hinneys out from behind their desks and go work the floor. They can only be better for the experience.

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Specializes in Hospice.

I feel very guilty when I call in sick, I just hate to put my co-workers short. But, I have asthma, and usually once a year I have a severe case of asthmatic bronchitis or pneumonia........and usually end up in the hospital for a few days.......and I feel gulity as hell!!!!!!!!!

But......when they call me to come in on my days off.......oh NO.......I have worked for the same place almost 13 years.......and in the beginning I always went in.......no matter what........even if I had plans w/ my kids, family, whatever.......I went......holidays......etc......but.......they abused that..........and didn't even bother to try to get anyone else........because they "KNEW" i would come. Now.......I don't feel bad about saying NO.......I usually do go in.........but now, if I've already made plans.......or promised my daugher something.........I won't go in.

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Future, see what mr. Donmurray wrote, as usual right to the point, plus I might ad, you are on your way to a big, big burnout!!

You take care and don't flame others when sick (or whatever, a hangover IS being seriously sick), it would be better for you too to call in.

Renee

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I HATE TO BE RUDE OR DISRESPECTFUL BUT YOU ARE SHITTING ME WHEN YOU SAY THAT YOU FEEL GUILTY ABOUT CALLING IN SICK? I TAKE CARE OF MYSELF, AND MY FAMILY BEFORE MY JOB...IF I AM SICK YOU CAN BET YOUR A$$ THAT I WILL CALL OFF IN A HEART BEAT, W/O ANY GUILT.....IT IS NOT MY RESPONSIBILITY TO WORRY ABOUT STAFFING.....THAT IS WHAT THE PEEPS IN THE STAFFING OFFICE HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT, AND IT IS WHAT THEY GET PAID FOR. I CANNOT BELIEVE THAT YOU ARE WORRIED ABOUT LEAVING YOUR CO-WORKERS SHORT STAFFED.....I BET THEY WOULD NOT HAVE TO THINK TWICE ABOUT CALLING OFF AND LEAVING YOU SHORT?

MY MOTTO IS "YOU SICK? YOU STAY YOUR A$$ HOME CAUSE I DON'T WANT TO GET WHAT YOU ARE GIVING OUT"

SOME PEOPLE REALLY NEED TO GET A GRIP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME VENT :):):):):)

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Darn tootin! If I'm ill, I stay home and don't feel guilty one bit. They'll find someone to take my place... My family and I are #1 and will always be #1. I'm all for taking care of the sick and elderly for a living, but when I'm ill, no facility in the world will pay me enough to take care of them INSTEAD OF ME! And how can you take care of them when you're busy vomiting and feeling like you're going to die??? You went in on your day off to do that???? In all due respect Mandi, I'm {{{scratching}}} my head here. How in the world did you function? I'm no martyr, and never will be.

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I often wonder if those who come in sick (fever, coughing,sneezing, hacking, barfing) have their priorities all screwy. YOU WILL NOT GET AN AWARD OR MEDAL FOR COMING IN ILL. Furthermore, no one (NOBODY) will remember or acknowledge your sacrifices. YOu and you (and me and me) alone have to have the moxie to take care of our priorities, our selves, kids and families! Work is work is work.

Bottom line: In 5 or 20 years, will you really feel as if coming in ill was the best thing for you to do? Or will you be dead because you worked yourself to death for those greedy bas8ards?

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Originally posted by FutureRN_Mandi

Well I never do go to work contagious, but if it's something like my Ulcer or food poisioning where I am just hurling my guts out, I dont call in sick, but if its something like the flu then I would stasy home, but I havnt been contagiously sick in a long time.

HOW DO YOU KNOW YOU ARE NOT CONTAGIOUS? Food poisoning is CAUSED by BACTERIA!! Emesis will contain that, and now you have a potential spread of the bacteria to other surfaces etc. etc.

Call in sick. Do not subject your patients to illness.

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Employers want us to feel guilty. Bottom line is staffing is not my problem.

I am not involved in hiring. I did not create the staffing matrix. I did not hire those who don't want to work. I am not the administrative nurse who won't work the floor because it would mean I'd have to work extra hours on salary.

She accepted the salaried job. She is an RN she is capable of working the floor when needed. That is the risk of salary.

I have been considering a salaried job. Filling in on the floor when needed has not been mentioned. However, it is something I am thinking about as I make my decision.

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Specializes in LTC,Hospice/palliative care,acute care.

There are no victims-only volunteers....and I pass on the guilt when they try to hand me the plate.....

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Specializes in Psych.

As I sit here reading these posts, I nearly got sick. Pulease! I call in when I'm sick and sometimes when I just can't face another day at work. It's my right and I've earned the time. When is the last time one of your dying patients said "I wish that I had never called in sick to work." Or "If I could have only worked more." There are better causes out there to associate yourself with.

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