Not falling for that old trick

Nurses Relations

Published

You know when they beg you to come in sick making all kinds of promises. You can leave if it is too much, we won't give you a big assignment, the charge nurse will help you. Just for a few hours, or just until 11. Well you know what? I fell for it once before and you know what i got? Berated for being too slow, admissions dumped on, and when I started vomiting I was not allowed to go home because "there is no one else you just have to stay". 12 hours is just TOO long to suck it up when you are not well. The person on the phone that makes all the promises, well she leaves at 7pm. We have all witnessed this happen to each other time after time and well, it does not give you incentive to try to suck it up.

Specializes in Med-Surg.

Where I'm from, unions do nothing at all to prevent this kind of thing from happening. All hospital nurses are forced to unionize, and mandates are very very frequent. But I understand they might be more effective here. Just thought I'd point out, unions are not always the answer...

Unionize is a nice theory, but I live in the South where even saying the word Union gets you fired faster than you can finish your sentence. And not for saying union of course, they find another reason.

Specializes in geriatrics.

We have allotted sick time. We can call in sick. "OK thanks. Goodbye." The end. If there were guilt trips though, I wouldn't be fazed by it. When you're sick, you're sick. Spreading germs at work is not helping anyone.

Specializes in Public Health, L&D, NICU.
Really? My work place is the opposite. If you are sick you are told to stay home.Usually you can't come back until you have been symptom free for 48 hours. They will send you home if you come to work sick.

Treasure this experience, because it's definitely not the norm! I now work outside the hospital, and we are also encouraged to stay home when sick. My last hospital job? A call-in was treated like a betrayal and you were made to feel guilty. To the point that supervisors might call you at home for an in-depth review of your symptoms so they could try to change your mind. And I worked L&D, where no sick nurse should ever be!

Specializes in Med/Surg,Cardiac.

My workplace doesn't encourage you to come in when you're sick, but our attendance policy is so ridiculous that if they wanted to, they could find a way to fire you for calling in if they needed you. I haven't ever picked up an extra shift since I flip back to days when I have a couple of nights off in a row. I'd say no.

~ No One Can Make You Feel Inferior Without Your Consent -Eleanor Roosevelt ~

Specializes in Dialysis. OR, cardiac tell, homecare case managem.

Amen to reconditioning the way one thinks! I will take this to heart!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Specializes in Infusion Nursing, Home Health Infusion.

Do not go into work unless you can function normally. If you are ill you cannot do this no-one in their right mind wants to work with an ill coworker

Only take an extra shift if you want to do it then do it with a good heart...need the money....want to help out...are bored or whatever. No one wants to work with someone who comes in to help and then resents it. If you take an extra shift and want the schedule changed on a future shift make the deal BEFORE you agree to come in if it is contingent on your desired change.

DO NOT ever feel quilty if you do not want to work extra or if you cannot work ill,it is unfair to even ask you to do this. Ignore any quilt trip ploys....you should not be the only resource or solution

Learn how to say NO and be assertive and not aggreesive in your response. If you are not good with this then do not answer the phone at all.

Specializes in Medical Surgical Orthopedic.

I got talked into working once when I was feeling unwell, and there was no mercy for me. Not only did I get a ridiculous patient load, but I also got floated off my home unit and to a higher level of care (medsurg to tele). I will never do it again. I'm just too smart now! I even called in once when my cat was sick. And I was honest about it. The cat is fine now. Meow.

Really? My work place is the opposite. If you are sick you are told to stay home.Usually you can't come back until you have been symptom free for 48 hours. They will send you home if you come to work sick.

Which is the way it should be :yes:

Until now I have never had a job where I didn't get a guilt trip for calling in sick. My current supervisor is very understanding and trusting, and asks no questions if I call in, but I have been so nearly traumatized from my past experiences that any time I realize I am not well enough to work the idea of calling in fills me with dread and tears. The last thing someone needs when they are physically unwell is emotional turbulence on top of it. I am so glad this isn't something I have to worry about anymore!

The worst is when i cant decide if i am sick enough to call off or not. i just feel tired and some symptoms but no fever etc. where if this were an office job i could get through it. or if i got easy pts i would be fine. but then i start to consider well i might get awful pts, tons of turn repos, and time consuming pts that i dont feel i can physically handle. then i alwAys debate over and over what to do and usually end up going in . ugh. i will answer my phone and gleefuly say, "no" to comming in. i have worked plenty of ot. the only pro is the money, there is no recognition for it and management is not appreciative of it. doesnt even factor it in evaluations .

OMG. Your post had me laughing so hard. :laugh:

(orange tree)

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