Nurse calls in because of herpes outbreak

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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..

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

I read somewhere recently that the only difference between Type I and Type II is that Type I hangs out in the upper part of the spinal cord, and Type II hangs out in the lower part of the spinal cord, which explains where they break out.

The same article explained that it was silly that society treated people with Type II so differently than the millions more that has Type I, because under an electron microscope, the virus is virtually identical.

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Specializes in LTC, Acute Care.

I thought the same thing about menstrual cramps not so long ago--how can someone call in for them? Then about 3 months ago I started having terrible perineal/rectal pain wtih my periods that I never had before. They were so bad I could not stand or walk. I could crawl slowly. Darvocet helped a bit, but APAP and ASA did nothing at all. I am no wuss. I gave birth to a 10 lb child and a 9 lb 1 oz child without any medication (for pain reference). I remember saying, "NOW I know why people call off work for menstrual cramps." If I was working outside the home, I would have most definitely called in. It felt like I was pushing one of my babies out all over again--that's how bad it felt. However, from age 11 to 28 rendered me nearly cramp free unless I was around the time of giving birth, so I didn't understand it then, either.

However, I think it's terrible that he felt he had to tell why he was calling off, but I've experienced bosses who won't believe a sick person who does call off appropriately. I see why he may have felt he needed to give a reason, albeit TMI!

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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.

Thanks. I had an ovarian cyst when I was 14 that required emergency removal of my right ovary. Ever since I have had increasingly bad menstrual cramps and PMS symptoms related to scar tissue and endometriosis. There are two days that I can't even be on my feet because I will pass out. Any cramp that motrin can cure should not in any way be described as "severe."

I can't take rx painkillers of any type because they make me violently ill. I had foot surgery on both my feet last year and had to go it both times without painkillers, which isn't fun. Motrin, naproxen, ketoprofin, etc do nothing whatsoever for my menstrul pains.

I totally appreciate that herpes is a painful illness and can understand why someone would call in sick because of it, but don't assume that my cramps are "silly."

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Specializes in Home Care, Hospice, OB.

one little event that made my life worth living again..."tah/bso"

:yeah::redpinkhe:yeah::redpinkhe:yeah::redpinkhe:yeah::yeah::redpinkhe:yeah::redpinkhe:yeah::redpinkhe:yeah::yeah::redpinkhe:yeah::redpinkhe:yeah:

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Specializes in L&D, QI, Public Health.

This was a really interesting thread. I hope we all learned something today about our prejudgices and general lack of knowledge about certain health conditions.

As we continue to care for our patients, let's not forget to be compassionate towards each other.

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Specializes in IM/Critical Care/Cardiology.

Going back to possible transmission of the Herpes Virus: I have seen a herpetic eye before and it was bad. I know that the potential for blindness is there. Of course good handwashing is a must for all of us but what about breakouts and working with patients? Do any of you with the Herpes Virus have breakouts on other parts of the body? I think maybe beside the pain the guy suffered is real, but I wonder if he was thinking about patient safety. Definetly think the charge nurse should be reprimanded.

I had 8 surgeries for endometriosis in 18 months. The political bull at work was relentless. But I was one sick pup. I had a colon dissection, my bladder scraped, fainting, horrific pain and kept returning to work the best I could.

No one side life would be easy, but it certainly doesn't help when you have a superivisor displaying bad behaviour!

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Well to be fair, when I worked there he let us all know that he had it. He also called it in to the HUC and left the message with her. He isn't (nor should he be) ashamed of it, it's just the rationale leaves me perplexed. Can I call in for PMS?

Some people really need to cll in for PMS. do themselves and all of us a favor and recognize that they have a legitimate medical need to take care of themselves for a few days. Burns the sick time up too fast, though.

Herpes can be very, very painful, very devilitating. Not to mention debilitating. :D

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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.

It violates the law, probably in every state, to be forced to tell what brand of sickness you have. And the one who drags it out of you and then spreads it around is really breakig the law.

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whether his herpes is common knowledge or not it should not have been shared especially by management. bottom line......herpes IS isolated in hospitals....he is a risk to any patient he takes care of. the virus sheds regardless of any precautions he might take.:o

I should think it would shed in his drawers! So unless he's working naked and shakin' that thang wantonly about the room, aren't "the shedded" safely contained?

:eek::jester::confused:

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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)

One call to somebody like OSHA or the ACLU or the state Labor Board should make that illegal practice cease at once.

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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.

I shouldn't be surprised at the ways some employers try to "discourage" employees from calling out, but all I can say about this "solution" is: :eek: :angryfire

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Specializes in ER.
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..

:omy:

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