"I Don't Care if You are Sick...Come to Work Anyway!"

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Last evening I was woring as the charge nurse in my small town LTC (I'm done with MDS...they wanted an RN in the position). Anyway...at about 8:15 PM, the phone rings...I pnder not answering, but we all know that would go over like a ton of bricks, so I pick up. One of the night aides (night shift starts at 9:45 PM) informs me she is sick and won't be able to come to work...she also informs me that she has called "everyone" and no one can work for her. I ask why she waited so long to call and she says that she kept hoping she would feel better, but finally decided it wasn't going to happen. So...per policy (which I honestly disagree with) I tell her she needs to come in and be assessed by a nurse (me) and that she should plan on working anyway...she can wear a mask whenever she has contact with the residents and since nights are quiet (ha ha ha ha ha) she can rest in between lights and rounds. She starts screaming and calling me names and swearing...she also says she is going to sue me and that she will not only have my nursing license, but my house and my car and my savings account (I'm shaking in my Birkenstocks). I again remind her of the policy and she slams the phone down.

About ten minutes later the phone rings again...it is the DON, who says that she talked to the sick CNA and she told the CNA she can come in at midnight so she can get some extra rest...after that she can wear a mask, etc.

I had to stay late to finish some medical records (not my job, but the medical records person quit and I am the only one left who knows the computer system) and when I left at 12:30 AM, the CNA still had not arrived. The CNA that was on duty told me that the night before the sick CNA was calling everyone on the schedule asking them to work for her and that she told her that if she didn't find someone, she would be there, but she would not be happy about it. I didn't remember until I was ready to leave last night that when I pulled into town, I had seen the sick CNA at the local drive-in type burger joint pigging out on burgers, onion rings, and a shake. And...one of the CNAs from my shift remembers seeing the sick CNA in the facility around two in the afternoon and heard her talking on the cell phone saying something like, "Yes I will be there...cough, cough, cough,,,I sound sick don't I?"

And people wonder why so many managers are suspicious when people call in sick.

Personally I HATE the idea that people are expected to work if they really are sick, but I hate the fact that people who just want a night off have a way of getting time off and making things a lot harder for the rest of us.

Thanks for listening!

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Specializes in Utilization Management.
Last evening I was woring as the charge nurse in my small town LTC (I'm done with MDS...they wanted an RN in the position). Anyway...at about 8:15 PM, the phone rings...I pnder not answering, but we all know that would go over like a ton of bricks, so I pick up. One of the night aides (night shift starts at 9:45 PM) informs me she is sick and won't be able to come to work...she also informs me that she has called "everyone" and no one can work for her. I ask why she waited so long to call and she says that she kept hoping she would feel better, but finally decided it wasn't going to happen. So...per policy (which I honestly disagree with) I tell her she needs to come in and be assessed by a nurse (me) and that she should plan on working anyway...she can wear a mask whenever she has contact with the residents and since nights are quiet (ha ha ha ha ha) she can rest in between lights and rounds. She starts screaming and calling me names and swearing...she also says she is going to sue me and that she will not only have my nursing license, but my house and my car and my savings account (I'm shaking in my Birkenstocks). I again remind her of the policy and she slams the phone down.

About ten minutes later the phone rings again...it is the DON, who says that she talked to the sick CNA and she told the CNA she can come in at midnight so she can get some extra rest...after that she can wear a mask, etc.

I had to stay late to finish some medical records (not my job, but the medical records person quit and I am the only one left who knows the computer system) and when I left at 12:30 AM, the CNA still had not arrived. The CNA that was on duty told me that the night before the sick CNA was calling everyone on the schedule asking them to work for her and that she told her that if she didn't find someone, she would be there, but she would not be happy about it. I didn't remember until I was ready to leave last night that when I pulled into town, I had seen the sick CNA at the local drive-in type burger joint pigging out on burgers, onion rings, and a shake. And...one of the CNAs from my shift remembers seeing the sick CNA in the facility around two in the afternoon and heard her talking on the cell phone saying something like, "Yes I will be there...cough, cough, cough,,,I sound sick don't I?"

And people wonder why so many managers are suspicious when people call in sick.

Personally I HATE the idea that people are expected to work if they really are sick, but I hate the fact that people who just want a night off have a way of getting time off and making things a lot harder for the rest of us.

Thanks for listening!

Two things: IMO, your policy violates HIPAA--the employer is not the PCP.

Second--I'm surprised you have staff at all with a policy like that. I'd quit.

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Two things: IMO, your policy violates HIPAA--the employer is not the PCP.

Second--I'm surprised you have staff at all with a policy like that. I'd quit.

Yep...the policy sucks...the former DON (we got a new one in the first week in June) didn't enforce it, so we worked short sometimes but we never had people coughing and sneezing and puking and pooping all over the place. I have friends in most of the facilities in the area and most of them have pretty similar policies, so it's not like it wold be better anywhere else.

That is one reason that I rarely say 'no' when someone asks me to cover their shift...I thinkit improves my chances of them being willing to cover for me. I tried to find someone to cover my shift today so I could stay for her last night but that didn't work either.

I keep hoping that someday I will be forced to go to work sick and I will manage to throw up on somone who makes the rules...LOL...I hope they are wearing white cashmere or silk that day.

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I totally see your point here. I wouldn't like someone pretending to be sick for whatever reason, and I also don't see why someone should be required to work when they are really sick.

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Yep...the policy sucks...the former DON (we got a new one in the first week in June) didn't enforce it, so we worked short sometimes but we never had people coughing and sneezing and puking and pooping all over the place. I have friends in most of the facilities in the area and most of them have pretty similar policies, so it's not like it wold be better anywhere else.

That is one reason that I rarely say 'no' when someone asks me to cover their shift...I thinkit improves my chances of them being willing to cover for me. I tried to find someone to cover my shift today so I could stay for her last night but that didn't work either.

I keep hoping that someday I will be forced to go to work sick and I will manage to throw up on somone who makes the rules...LOL...I hope they are wearing white cashmere or silk that day.[/quote]

I love this!! I think I'd throw up on some managers desk, hopefully close enough to their lunchtime that they lose their appetite.

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So why wasn't she fired for screaming and calling you names and swearing and threatening you? Or at least disciplined.

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My biggest problem with this policy is that it sounds like I would be required to find my own replacement if I was ill. That what would make me quit.

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Specializes in LTC, Med-SURG,STICU.

All we are allowed to do when someone calls in where I work is say o.k. and put the call in slip under the DON's door. Of course, we have to find a replacement for that employee also. You can not even ask the chronic call-ins if they are sure that they want to call in that day or if they are sure they are sick. I think that is wrong too. If I have to run behind in my work finding you a replacement then I should be able to question you a little when you call in every weekend.

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Specializes in MED SURG.

This is ridiculous! The bossess are acting like god. Everyone has a right to call off if they dont feel good nurses should know that pain and feeling sick is subjective not always objective. I would quit. I wouldn't put up with this.:down::down::down:

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Specializes in Hospital Education Coordinator.

it is almost impossible to "prove" that someone else is faking and who wants that responsibility anyway? Our facility allows a number of calls in (for whatever reason) then you are terminated. There are some people who just cannot find the time to work. It interferes with life.

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Specializes in Neuroscience/Neuro-surgery/Med-Surgical/.

Having past experience working in long term care, it is often the policy to find your OWN replacement if (God forbid!) you called in sick.

Where I work now, (hospital), there is a special number I call (nurse staffing office) and let them know that I will not be working tonite due to illness/family emergency/ etc. Luckily the hospital has an in-house float pool group of nurses that can be called upon to fill in. This is not the case in LTC...;(

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Specializes in LTC, Med-SURG,STICU.
Having past experience working in long term care, it is often the policy to find your OWN replacement if (God forbid!) you called in sick.

Where I work now, (hospital), there is a special number I call (nurse staffing office) and let them know that I will not be working tonite due to illness/family emergency/ etc. Luckily the hospital has an in-house float pool group of nurses that can be called upon to fill in. This is not the case in LTC...;(

Most LTC facilities have a difficult time filling the shifts in the first place let alone a call in. It is difficult and overwhelming job and many nurses do not want to work in LTC. Getting a in house staffing pool would be great, but it will not happen at most LTC facilities. The facilities do not offer good enough incentives to keep good quality employees for regular shifts let alone in a float pool. It is sad because our seniors deserve much better than what they get for healthcare.

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