Nurse calls in because of herpes outbreak

Nurses General Nursing

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My good friend is a charge nurse at the hospital I used to work at. She told me that a nurse called in sick because he had a herpes outbreak (genital). What the blank? Is that legitimate? I think I would rather have made something up like a cold rather than that..

I once was a CNA in a nursing home that was amazing to residents and staff with one exception - whenever you called off it was posted on the board next to the schedule with the reason. And they would put all the details - like one of my coworkers did call and say she had diarrhea and would not be able to come because of that, and that was posted for all to see.

Glad I never called off. I am a firm believer it being not anyones business why a person calls off. (Unless it is excessive and needs medical documentation)

Gee whiz:no:

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I am on my last two weeks. I gave notice in may. Moving to a large teaching facility and pursuing my RN! When I do my exit statement that situation will be included!

I'm glad you will address your grandfather's funeral. Calling you in besides being rude is insensitive and unkind. The proper response is, "I'm sorry for your loss. How may I help?!" I'm sorry you had to deal with such disrespect after the death of your grandfather.

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Well, it's not a HIPAA violation because the nursing supervisor is acting as an employment supervisor and not as her personal healthcare provider or responsible for her care.

However, some people just need to know when it's ok to lie...I would have said ANYTHING but that.

It was also very unprofessional and it makes you wonder if she told others.

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Specializes in Med surg, Critical Care, LTC.

Okay, here goes, I contracted herpes at the age of 36 from a boyfriend of 5 years. I am not embarrassed about it because I trusted him, and he lied to me. However, I have to deal with the consequences.

Having Herpes is NOT like PMS, and I do take offense to that.

When ever I have an outbreak, I get prodromol symptoms, similar to those who develop shingles (another herpes virus). I become febrile, and generally feel ill. I develop pain all the way from my buttocks down the back of my bilateral thighs, and just having cloths touch my legs can be agonizing.

If I catch the outbreak before lesions develop, I can usually fudge my way through work. But if they develop, the pain can be incapacitating. I have to urinate sitting in the tub to decrease the pain, can't do that at work.

I rarely get outbreaks anymore, maybe once to twice a year, don't judge a person until you've walked a mile in their shoes.

I have heard persons call in for "menstrual cramps", that to me is ridiculous. I've have sever menstrual cramps for years, and motrin takes care of the worst of them.

Try not to go "EWWW" when talking about herpes. That is offensive as well. How many of you have "cold sores" "EWWW" hate to tell you, but you've got herpes - a more mild form, but herpes just the same.

Enough said

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Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.

ihave heard persons call in for "menstrual cramps", that to me is ridiculous. i've have sever menstrual cramps for years, and motrin takes care of the worst of them.

try not to go "ewww" when talking about herpes. that is offensive as well. how many of you have "cold sores" "ewww" hate to tell you, but you've got herpes - a more mild form, but herpes just the same.

enough said

i have had shingles 7 or 8 times in the past four years, and it's miserable. it's miserable on my nose -- i cannot imagine having that sort of pain on my genitals, and i can certainly understand someone calling in sick because of it. furthermore, the the only thing that seems to make the pain bearable if i get a full-fledged outbreak is a narcotic. can't come to work with vicodin on board!

and you're right -- the ewwww is offensive.

but it's just as offensive to me that you would ridicule calling in sick for menstrual cramps. if someone has garden variety menstrual cramps ok -- that is rather silly. but i've had endometriosis for decades and my periods used to a bit worse than "garden variety." despite the prescription pain meds i took and the prostaglandin inhibitors and the pill, my cramps would sometimes be so bad i'd actually pass out from the pain. a couple of times i passed out at work . . . not fun.

my point is, unless you've walked a mile in someone's shoes, etc. etc.

and that charge nurse was definitely in the wrong. she shouldn't be blabbing about the reason someone called in sick. but it makes me think -- we should start a thread about the most interesting reasons someone has called in sick!

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Specializes in Med-Surg, Tele, DOU.

Interesting topic:

Herpes is currently classified as Type 1 and Type 2. Both can be from sexual contact. Both are excrutiatingly painful and can be quite embarrassing.

Type 1 seems to like hanging around the mouth. Type 2 seems to prefer the gentalia though either one can be cultured where ever it chooses to breakout.

As far as the charge nurse "sharing" all that wonderful information, that was way out of line. The charge nurse should be more careful as anything construed as slander by the offended person may end up in court.

My compassion to all who quietly suffer from herpes. The bug just isn't very nice and can be easily shared.

gentle

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Specializes in Med-surg; OB/Well baby; pulmonology; RTS.
originally posted by babs0512

ihave heard persons call in for "menstrual cramps", that to me is ridiculous. i've have sever menstrual cramps for years, and motrin takes care of the worst of them.

try not to go "ewww" when talking about herpes. that is offensive as well. how many of you have "cold sores" "ewww" hate to tell you, but you've got herpes - a more mild form, but herpes just the same.

enough said

but it's just as offensive to me that you would ridicule calling in sick for menstrual cramps. if someone has garden variety menstrual cramps ok -- that is rather silly. but i've had endometriosis for decades and my periods used to a bit worse than "garden variety." despite the prescription pain meds i took and the prostaglandin inhibitors and the pill, my cramps would sometimes be so bad i'd actually pass out from the pain. a couple of times i passed out at work . . . not fun.

i have taken care of patients who happened to have a herpes outbreak while hospitalized and i definitely saw how painful it could be. and i do agree that "ewww" is offensive.

but i too take offense to the "calling in due to menstrual cramps being ridiculous" statement. i too have endometriosis and no matter the times i have had surgery or the amount of motrin i can take along with a narcotic helps the pain (can't do anything hormonal anymore due to htn). besides the pain, 9 times out of 10 i have severe dizziness along with n/v/d. if my hubby has to be away from our home and i am alone with my small children, it is not a picnic. if i can't take care of my own family then i definitely can't take care of patients.

where i work, sometimes just saying "i'm not feeling well" isn't going to cut it either. it just depends on who you talk too. but i know i would be very upset if the reason i called in was shared with others.

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Specializes in ER.
don't judge a person until you've walked a mile in their shoes.

I have heard persons call in for "menstrual cramps", that to me is ridiculous. I've have sever menstrual cramps for years, and motrin takes care of the worst of them.

Ahhhh, an oxymoron. :banghead:

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Specializes in Cardiac Telemetry, ED.
Interesting topic:

As far as the charge nurse "sharing" all that wonderful information, that was way out of line. The charge nurse should be more careful as anything construed as slander by the offended person may end up in court.

It's slander if it's false. Otherwise, it's just gossip.

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Specializes in ER/EHR Trainer.

If we don't write on a note why a patient is out from work-what gives that or any CN or manager the right to share privilaged information? In NJ it is illegal....PERIOD! I would definately report that facility.

Maisy

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Specializes in Med surg, Critical Care, LTC.

My apologies to Ruby for my statement regarding menstrual cramps, your right, they too come in a variety of severity and a variety of reasons for them. I stand corrected.

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Specializes in oncology, trauma, home health.

I consider myself a tough person, pain wise. I never really had cramps or pms. Now at the ripe old age of 37, I have excruciating (as in take morphine) pain with my ovulation, the aftermath lasts a few days. Then comes the joyous week before my period of pms. I was not kidding about the "can I call in for pms?" statement because that week I am a fuming wench and I can't stop crying, ever. If the manager has to talk to me I cry, if a patient is angry I cry. And its's that really ugly trying-not-to-cry kind of cry. Then I am so humiliated for crying so I cry some more. How flipping obnoxious is that? So really, I wasn't kidding.

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