Should I go to work tomorrow

Published

I have question for everyone. When I get I cold I had never before had a fever but last night I ended up getting one. My temp went as high as 102.9. I have a sore throat, I am coughing up brownish/yellowish stuff. I also have body aches. And to make things worse my voice was almost gone. So I had a really hard time calling out because I just started like 3 months ago. I don't want them to think I am not reliable. But I work in an oncology floor so patients are already immuniocomprimized. So if i still have a temp and the same symptoms tonight should I call out or go to work and wear a mask when I go into patients room. I am scared they might fire me for calling out 2 days is a row. what do you think???

Call in. If you call in 2 days in a row that is one absence, if you call in one day, go back a day and then call in the next, that is 2 absences which is worse. So be careful. With any sniffles on that floor, I would be safe for the patients and wear a mask. Hope that you feel better soon!!!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Call in until your symptoms resolve. Your cancer patients don't want it and neither do your coworkers.

When I worked oncology, I called in more than I have in any other job because I refused to expose my patients. In other areas you can get away with going to work with the sniffles (just wear a mask) but in oncology the common cold can kill your neutropenic.

I hope you feel better soon!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

oh no! you poor thing. :(

stay home and take care of yourself! go see your doc (don't forget your mask) if you can get in tomorrow.

i hope you feel better soon...and that you have someone who can give you some tlc at home.

keep us posted...

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in LTC.

DOn't go!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Oncology, Emergency Department.

Of course you should call out. With that being said I understand why you are worried. Last year I started in the ER after working oncology for many many years. Well my immune system was not use to sick patients. I ended up with the flu and was out for 7 days. I also went and got a doctors not. Well no one said anything to me except they hoped I was feeling better, but let me tell you that it was put on my evaluation that i was out that amount of time. It was so irritating since my manager even said I remember how sick you were and that when you came back you still looked horrible. My comment was well why did it end up on my evaluation even with a doctors note. She said oh dont worry about it I just had to mention it, but I know you were really ill:angryfire

Take care of yourself and feel better. You wont get fired and most people will understand. If they dont just know that you oncology patients will appreciate you for not coming to work that sick.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Keep your germs! You can have 'em. :D

Sorry to hear you are feeling sick. It would be best for you to rest up at home.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ICU, Telemetry.

Not only don't go to work, but you said you were cough up brown stuff. If I had a pt in the hospital who started coughing up brown who hadn't been, I'd be on the phone to the doc, quick. Call your PCP.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Medical Surgical.

I decided more than a decade ago that if I was scheduled to work and was sick etc. I would go straight to the hospital's ER and be seen by one of the drs. Let the hospital's own Drs. tell me I couldn't work the floor. I have still had some guff. Once I had a draining boil and the doctors said that no, I couldn't go upstairs and work the postop floor (!) Supervisor started in on me and I said, "Why sure, I'll be glad to go up and work. Could you just clear it with this doctor down here?" Has stopped all the drama for sure, and believe me otherwise there's quite a bit.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in NICU Level III.
Of course you should call out. With that being said I understand why you are worried. Last year I started in the ER after working oncology for many many years. Well my immune system was not use to sick patients. I ended up with the flu and was out for 7 days. I also went and got a doctors not. Well no one said anything to me except they hoped I was feeling better, but let me tell you that it was put on my evaluation that i was out that amount of time. It was so irritating since my manager even said I remember how sick you were and that when you came back you still looked horrible. My comment was well why did it end up on my evaluation even with a doctors note. She said oh dont worry about it I just had to mention it, but I know you were really ill:angryfire

Take care of yourself and feel better. You wont get fired and most people will understand. If they dont just know that you oncology patients will appreciate you for not coming to work that sick.

I hate this kind of stuff. You call out because you can't expose patients to funk (I'm in NICU so same thing, I'll call out if I have a cold) but then you get written up if you call out so much. I can't help that I pick up EVERYTHING. I do everything I can to stay healthy but I get something funky about 4x a year.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

CALL OUT. You are too sick to provide competent care and you can truly harm your patients that are already at risk. Call out early enough that they can try and find a replacement. And hold firm if they try and pressure you to go in. You are sick and have no reason to feel guilty so don't.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

At our hospital,with the H1N1 situation, we are not allowed to come to work with symptoms like yours. We have to tell our managers that we have flu symptoms to help them keep track of the flu situation.

Luckily, our hospital has tried to make it a bit easier for us to be honest about it, so people don't try to hide their flu in order to keep their absence record clean. If we have a flu absence, it doesn't count against us when counting absences.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in NICU Transport/NICU.
I decided more than a decade ago that if I was scheduled to work and was sick etc. I would go straight to the hospital's ER and be seen by one of the drs. Let the hospital's own Drs. tell me I couldn't work the floor. I have still had some guff. Once I had a draining boil and the doctors said that no, I couldn't go upstairs and work the postop floor (!) Supervisor started in on me and I said, "Why sure, I'll be glad to go up and work. Could you just clear it with this doctor down here?" Has stopped all the drama for sure, and believe me otherwise there's quite a bit.

This is classic! What a great idea.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion