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.
well i look at this way.. you call in say your sick and your sick. you are not required to cover your own shift for a sick call . i also believe your employer has no business having you come and they decide wheter you are sick or not. i would of said no way.. you are not a dr and it is a HIPPA violation to disclose your health data to a employer. when i call in sick to the hospital i work in , all they ask is that you call the floor and tell them you on't be in , then call the house supervisor you won't be in. my house supervisor has never asked me why i was sick or what was wrong with me. it's a HIPPA violation.
i called in last friday because i was sick and they said was" feel better". they never asked me what was wrong with me or anything.
Until nurses stop enabling bad behavior by coming to work when sick, or even discussing whether they will come in when sick, these sorry-assed discussion will be repeated until the cows come home(and I've heard that the cows are never coming home).
i remember when i was still in school, i once had an instructor with that policy. she told us not to call her to call in sick for that day of clinicals. instead, we had to show up prepared to work... and if she felt that we were too sick to work, THEN she would let us drive back home and rest. lol....
i remember when i was still in school, i once had an instructor with that policy. she told us not to call her to call in sick for that day of clinicals. instead, we had to show up prepared to work... and if she felt that we were too sick to work, THEN she would let us drive back home and rest. lol....
I don't know what that instructors issues are, but I hope she has a student vomit on her, every time until she changes her policy. Sometimes, people are sick enough that they shouldn't drive.
I would have to agree with you that there are times when people are sick enough to not drive. However, when I am that sick I am also sick enough that I do not care what the instructor, boss, or whatever says, I tell them that I will not be in period. I deal with the fall out when I feel better. It is a amazing so far no fall out though. They can not force you to come in sick. Stay firm and do not call in unless you are truely sick.
I work in LTC as an aide. I'm very rarely sick. I've had the bosses throw attitude at me and try to make me come it. It makes me mad! Because if I'm sick I'm sick! Or if my daughter is sick then she's sick. If I know my mom or the baby's dad can handle her sick then I'll go in, but there comes a point, where I know that I won't go in (my daughter being sick enough). Yes, it sucks working short, but we've all done it, I figure if I can handle it so can they! I do wish they'd terminate people who are frequent call ins but sometimes all they want is a warm body!
I wish more folks would learn what HIPAA is all about.
Asking for information from an employee claiming to be sick is NOT a HIPAA violation. In very simple terms HIPAA regulates how medical records are handled by those in possession of the records.
The Administrative Simplification standards adopted by Health and Human Services (HHS) under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) apply to any entity that is
a health care provider that conducts certain transactions in electronic form (called here a "covered health care provider").
a health care clearinghouse.
a health plan.
An entity that is one or more of these types of entities is referred to as a "covered entity" in the Administrative Simplification regulations.
Whether or not an employer can ask for specifics and whether or not you are required to answer is determined by your State's labor and possibly health department rules.
Specializes in Gerontology, Med surg, Home Health.
I've never worked in a place that required anyone to find their own replacement if they were calling out sick. If they want a day off and the schedule is already posted then it is their responsibility to find a replacement. It is not, as the previous poster said, a HIPAA violation. When I get the call that someone is calling in sick, especially if they do it often, I'll ask them if they are really sick. One girl once said, "Oh, I'm not really sick. Do I really have to come in?" At least she was honest...I told her we really needed her and she came in.
By the way, HIPAA or not, I wouldn't want to be the one to check out a supposedly sick employee. It's outside the scope of most of our practices unless we're NPs.
:banghead:at my facility you get disciplined for your first call in and you are only allowed to call in 6 shifts per year. i had requested time off for my daughters surgery (the removal of the rods in her femur) and was denied i had to find my own coverage thank god for my supervisor and the awesome people (nurses) i work with. i wonder what type of people come up with the attendance policies universal precautions can only do so much
I do believe the health care field has a high rate of burn-out. Another aide and I were talking one day and wished when we were feeling burned otu and didn't have vacation anymore, we could tell our boss that we'd be taking a leave of absence and using sick time. I think that would help, rather than the problem at our facility of people leaving and coming back. Other than using sick time as maternity leave I don't recall ever using it. But I know this like every other policy would be abused by SOMEONE!
We don't have to cover our own sick leave, and the leave we get accrues from year to year (I've got 32 weeks available if I need it) but if we give less than two hours notice we don't get paid.
I can understand the OP's ire that not only did the staff member ring in too late for her to find a replacement but that she was also quite clearly not actually sick. That's just not on.
This reminds me of an aide who used to work night shift.....she called in and told me she was in the ER having a miscarriage......guess what I heard in the "ER".....a freakin' party! I heard alot of people laughing, talking, sounded pretty drunk, loud music, hooping and hollering......yea....some miscarriage. I myself had one a few years back.....dont recall it being anything like that. Needless to say...she was short lived on her employment. OHhh....but my favorite excuse is when people use their kids......had an aide who called in one day.....on a saturday night....for sunday...said "I have to go to church" ..now thats fine...but they have pm services here in my area ....also.....same aide called in and said she couldnt work...I ask why...she says...Ive gotta babysit my sisters kids......umm....what??????? Bunch of BS if you ask me. Again, very short employment. My baby had RSV at 10 mos old...I didnt miss a day of work and went in on 1 to 2 hrs sleep a night for over 4 miserable weeks. If I can do it....anybody can.
ohmeowzer RN, RN
2,306 Posts
well i look at this way.. you call in say your sick and your sick. you are not required to cover your own shift for a sick call . i also believe your employer has no business having you come and they decide wheter you are sick or not. i would of said no way.. you are not a dr and it is a HIPPA violation to disclose your health data to a employer. when i call in sick to the hospital i work in , all they ask is that you call the floor and tell them you on't be in , then call the house supervisor you won't be in. my house supervisor has never asked me why i was sick or what was wrong with me. it's a HIPPA violation.
i called in last friday because i was sick and they said was" feel better". they never asked me what was wrong with me or anything.