Most Humorous Call-In Excuses

catlynLPN · Jul 22, 2008

Here's some weird excuses I, MYSELF, have had to give!!

One night, in my sleep I turned over and my hand ran down the headboard of my bed and caught a piece of splinter up UNDER my thumbnail!!

Oh, man, was I in pain! I had to go to the Emergency room at about 2 AM to get it out. My thumb was swollen about twice the normal size! I didn't go in to work that day. {Got rid of that old bed, too}

I didn't go to work the day my 15 year old Dachsund had to be put to sleep. I was heartbroken, in addition to being up about 24 hours with him, those last few hours of his life. Didn't go to work that day.

Then the dog I have now, got out of the gate one night, and when I got home he wasn't here. I stayed awake all night looking for him, all over town, riding around in my car, or walking up and down the streets around my house. I stayed awake all night. The dogcatcher found him for me the next morning, about 11 AM. I didn't go to work that evening either. I'd been awake too long, couldn't function, giving meds like that.

So those are my three weird excuses. I don't have to wait to make up a lie....something strange will happen to me, sooner or later.

jeffrey_rn · Jul 22, 2008

Here's one that could be "dual threaded" to the cell phone thread.
We had a CNA call out a week or so ago with ... "I dropped my cell phone in the toilet and am too upset to come in."
Just curious, I am an extern working nights, what is an acceptable time to call in sick (or whatever). We work 7-7 and since I am basically an "extra body" I wouldn't think it would matter, but for a RN or CNA how much "warning" is appropriate?

There's two answers:

1. Your hospital most certainly has a time frame (ours is 2 hours before work).

2. As a charge nurse, the appropriate amount of warning is AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE! If you are sitting at home before you go to sleep and realizing you're not feeling too well or you're just not up to coming to work the next day; pick up that phone. If you wake up in the morning and decide you feel ok, call and say you are good to go. I'm sure arrangements can be made to get you back on the schedule. Trust me.

jeffrey_rn · Jul 22, 2008

Here's some weird excuses I, MYSELF, have had to give!!
One night, in my sleep I turned over and my hand ran down the headboard of my bed and caught a piece of splinter up UNDER my thumbnail!!
Oh, man, was I in pain! I had to go to the Emergency room at about 2 AM to get it out. My thumb was swollen about twice the normal size! I didn't go in to work that day. {Got rid of that old bed, too}
I didn't go to work the day my 15 year old Dachsund had to be put to sleep. I was heartbroken, in addition to being up about 24 hours with him, those last few hours of his life. Didn't go to work that day.
Then the dog I have now, got out of the gate one night, and when I got home he wasn't here. I stayed awake all night looking for him, all over town, riding around in my car, or walking up and down the streets around my house. I stayed awake all night. The dogcatcher found him for me the next morning, about 11 AM. I didn't go to work that evening either. I'd been awake too long, couldn't function, giving meds like that.
So those are my three weird excuses. I don't have to wait to make up a lie....something strange will happen to me, sooner or later.

Well, those aren't very humorous but they are all very good excuses. My dog passed and I was out of commission for several weeks!

But back to funny... :clown:

PeachyERNurse, BSN, RN · Jul 22, 2008

I still laugh about this years later. Mostly because it is so gross it is so funny.
A CNAs hubby called her off "Um...she can't come in today...she has a really bad yeast infection..it smells alot and hurts"
Um...you had me at "she can't come in tonite"
I still work with this CNA and have to chuckle.

WAY too much information:lol2:

skittlebear · Jul 22, 2008

had a cna call in on the weekend( fri-sat nites) to say she couldn't come in because her cat of 5 years died!
we took bets to see if she would be at work on that sunday nite or if she would call in because of the"veiwing/funeral" sure enough at 1500 on sunday afternoon she called to say she wouldn't be in again cause she had buried her poor cat and was still upset and crying!
what's wrong with calling in because your beloved pet dies? i haven't done it yet, but if either of my dogs died, i'd probably be too upset to come into work as well. i think that's a valid excuse!!!

jadu1106 · Jul 22, 2008

just the other day, an employee decided to call-in on his last day of employment with our hospital. his brother is a nurse on my floor so that's how i know he called in with the following excuse:
employee: "i'm not coming in today."
nursing services: "and your reason?"
employee: "i have ass blindness."
nursing services: "excuse me?"
employee: "i have ass blindness. i can't see my ass coming into work today." hangs up phone.
now, i've heard this one before. but this was the first time i had actually heard of it being used. only recommended on your very last day on a job at a place you never plan on returning to!
so what's the funniest excuse you've ever given or heard about?

[color=#483d8b]too funny!!!! thank you so much for sharing!! :icon_hug:

Mara123RN · Jul 22, 2008

you do not have to name your illness. all you need to say is you are sick or you have a sick child or your transportation is messed up or you must tend to a personal matter. you do not have to say what it is (the personal matter).

yeah? tell my boss that. in fact if you call out you have to call the boss first even if you call her at home at 2am. yes i am sure we could fight it but then you are marked for termination, who needs that?

had a cna call in on the weekend( fri-sat nites) to say she couldn't come in because her cat of 5 years died!
we took bets to see if she would be at work on that sunday nite or if she would call in because of the"veiwing/funeral" sure enough at 1500 on sunday afternoon she called to say she wouldn't be in again cause she had buried her poor cat and was still upset and crying!
what's wrong with calling in because your beloved pet dies? i haven't done it yet, but if either of my dogs died, i'd probably be too upset to come into work as well. i think that's a valid excuse!!!
i agree it is a valid excuse. in fact i have called out when my dog died and my old boss gave me three days bereavement. i had the dog for 15 years and i was very upset. i didn't ask for 3 days, she offered it. the boss i have now would tell me to come to work-not a dog lover

jezbo537 · Jul 22, 2008

Never heard of ass blindness before, that is sooo funny!:nuke:

Kevin RN08 · Jul 23, 2008

Thanks Jeff, I figured "as much as possible" would apply but was curious what the standard is. Having worked office jobs where it was simply "before your report time". Before that I was in the Navy and there was no calling in, and if you were going to be late you needed to call well before report time, or go to medical if you were sick.

PICURN74, ASN, RN · Jul 23, 2008

"I can't come in because my favorite scrubs are dirty and the dryer is broken"

correctlywrong · Jul 23, 2008

Prior to nursing, I once had a co-worker call in with:

"I'm drunk in Sharon, PA (a small town an hour or so away) and I don't know how I got here, so I can't come in."

I work with a nurse who had to call off once because there were thugs with guns having it out on his street and he didn't want to stand at the bus stop until the shot guns were put away. Not funny, but unusual.

Someone I went to nursing school with once called in because she had set her scrubs on fire trying to dry them in the microwave.

AussieTina · Jul 23, 2008

There is a thread on this topic in the humour section that is 24 pages long...