Should I go ahead and call staffing?

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I started losing my voice yesterday and it has only gotten worse today (I had today off). I cannot speak above a whisper even if I put all my effort into it. I don't feel great either - just regular old chest-cold/congestion/crud etc. No fever. But I can't see how I can do my job without a voice. How could I explain anything to my patients, tell them what meds I am giving them, call physicians, answer families' questions, the list goes on. I really don't see getting my voice back between now and in the AM. Should I call staffing tonight just to give them a heads up? Or just wait til I get up and see if I can talk or not? lol.

I guess the reason I am asking is that I am a new RN and have never called in before, so I am unsure of what good etiquette would be.. since I doubt I'll be able to work, but I WANT to work if I'm able to.

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Specializes in ICU, OR.

:wink2:

I started losing my voice yesterday and it has only gotten worse today (I had today off). I cannot speak above a whisper even if I put all my effort into it. I don't feel great either - just regular old chest-cold/congestion/crud etc. No fever. But I can't see how I can do my job without a voice. How could I explain anything to my patients, tell them what meds I am giving them, call physicians, answer families' questions, the list goes on. I really don't see getting my voice back between now and in the AM. Should I call staffing tonight just to give them a heads up? Or just wait til I get up and see if I can talk or not? lol.

I guess the reason I am asking is that I am a new RN and have never called in before, so I am unsure of what good etiquette would be.. since I doubt I'll be able to work, but I WANT to work if I'm able to.

I would call in, simply because you do not know exactly what it is that you may be spreading to possibly immunosuppressed patients. Everywhere I have ever worked requires a call to the nsg supervisor at least 2 hours before shift begins. As long as you don't make a habit of calling in, I doubt anyone will even say anything to you except, "Feeling better?". Get well.:wink2:

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Specializes in ER.

Call in- you can't work if you can't talk. 12 hours of work is going to do nothing for your health...no question in my mind.

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Thanks for the advice. Gave me the push I needed to go on and call in. :) I was surprised they could hear me/understand me over the phone!

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Why are you being a martyr?

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Actually I'm not, I just enjoy my job AND a full paycheck, and I was hoping I'd be all better in the morning by some magic...lol. Anyway, I took advice and called in last night, as posted above, so I'm not sure why you had to be rude about it? Hopefully I just wrongly took that rude?

Good thing I called in too, I wasn't any better today. Went to the doctor and got a steroid shot + abx. :)

case closed, I'll hopefully be back at work Monday! :)

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