Jessie-

I also wanted to say I am very sorry to hear of anyone else who has experienced domestic violence. Nobody deserves to go through that xx

Something I wanted to reassure her of. There has never been any absenteeism and absolutely no impact on my performance. I am happily married to a police officer husband who will at no point show up irate in my workplace ever.

Thank you everyone for your comments and concerns. To explain a bit more - I am happily married with two young children. The reason for my bruising is very complicated to explain, and to be honest explaining it is very personal and makes it sound like DV when it is not, there are doctors and specialists involved so it's fine, I am perfectly safe and happily married. This is just something we are dealing with as a family. I don't wish to explain details to anybody because I am aware of how bad it sounds. Whoever said about me being "embarrassed", yes, it is embarrassing. Nobody wants to rock up to work in a professional job with a black eye - even if it was completely innocent people don't always believe that and you still have people wondering behind your back. I covered it best I could with make up and got on with it, it's really nobody business and I'm not into making up stories to make it sound less embarrassing, as I already explained I'm also not comfortable telling the truth. Anyway, I wasn't concerned about mandatory reporting or anything. I am in Australia and well aware of our laws. I am an adult so no need. My managers concern was purely for my safety. I decided to approach her again, apologise for my knee jerk reaction when she first asked me. I explained as best I could that I really appreciated her concern however it was difficult and complicated to explain but I am perfectly safe. I was able to have a much calmer conversation because I was prepared to answer her as honestly as I could without getting too personal. She did not ask for details and I did not give them. I feel much better and I'm glad I had another chat with her about it. Thanks again for all the input and concern.

I am a new grad RN 9 months into my first year and 3 months into my current rotation. A few weeks ago I had a black eye. Being in my first year though it was just not possible for me to take off from work for a week or so until the bruising went down so I covered it with make-up best I could and got on with it. Nobody said a single thing over the week or so that I had it so I thought I had gotten away with some A+ make up skills. Turns out everyone was just too polite to mention it. On my most recent shift my nursing manager called me in to her office to ask me about it. She was so sweet, but the bruise is long gone and I was not prepared. I smiled and laughed and played it off with a "haha oh no I'm fine really thank you though but I'm totally fine etc etc". She offered me EAP and I basically ran out of there. Now I feel so guilty, she was genuinely concerned and trying to help, it was hard for her to ask and I laughed it off because I was in shock. I don't want her to think I am some irresponsible wit who got into a bar fight or something (not true at all). I am really touched that she offered her support. Should I approach and apologise, offer some sort of explanation? Or just leave it now to not make it worse? I want to be seen as responsible and trustworthy, I want to be employed at the end of my new grad year and I LOVE my job so much. What would you do?