Should I go to work tomorrow

[bunnie004]

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???

[MB37]

Our flu absences don't count against us either, and we are not allowed to go to work with any of your symptoms. If you have the flu, you can't go back in until a doc or employee health clears you. No option, just call in. I understand worrying about calling in too often, but unless you have several other, frivolous absences in your three months, don't even worry about it. It may be helpful to call your charge or manager directly (if you call out to staffing like we do) to explain that you may be out for the rest of the week or more with your symptoms - they'll know it's unavoidable, and have a heads up re: finding additional staff for your subsequent shifts. Feel better!

[nursemike, ASN, RN]

While I agree that protecting your patients is the most important reason to call off (with getting yourself seen by a doctor a very close second), staying home may also help keep your unit staffed. Think about it. You fill one position for one shift, and expose how many coworkers? Covering one slot today is going to be easier than covering four in three days.

But I feel ya. I had to call off while I was in my probationary period for my non-licensed job, and it worried me a lot. I finally decided that the employee manual, which I had just had to review extensively during orientation, clearly said not to come to work with a contagious disease. So, if they were going to fire me for following their policy, did I really want to work there, anyway?

After that, I was rarely ill, even won a couple of perfect attendance awards. I haven't been quite so lucky as a nurse (I'm older, now, and under more stress, although I'm finding I'm ill less often now that I'm not so stressed. That said, I just missed my last three shifts with a bad cold/bronchitis, and just when I was getting a nice bank of paid-time-off built up. Bummer. But I'm feeling a good deal better, today, and ought to be fine to go back for my next shift, Friday.)

Calling off bites, but when you consider all we're exposed to, being alive at all is quite an accomplishment.

[cherrybreeze, ADN, RN]

Obviously, I agree with everyone else.

My facility calls for 7 days off if you have flu symptoms. I had called my doctor's office, and they didn't want me to come in, but they still supplied documentation that I couldn't work. I ended up going in several days later, having developed pneumonia, and my doc extended the leave.

You obviously can't go in. I did the same thing; called and asked about wearing a mask, and I had a sore throat, headache, and fever over 102. I think it's when we're most ill, that we try to find a way to get there!

Just focus on getting well!

[freefalr]

bunnie, just checking in on you. are you feeling better?

[belgarion]

The idea of going to your facility's ER is great. Let them make the decision and you are covered.

If you get fired for calling in with those symptoms in the middle of an epidemic I really don't think you want to work there anyway.

[ladybugme!]

dont go, you will make everyone else sick!!

[Dblake12]

Pretty simple answer call out. We are not even suppose to pass a certain access point in our hospital if we are running a fever.