sick day guilt

[sophie-h]

Okay so I have been feeling pretty bad since Friday nothing that would make others sick I wouldn't feel guilty staying home if i had the flu but this is hard to tell what I have/had (i'm feeling better now) no temp. but stomach hurt bad diarrhea for 2 days all over achy, skin tenderness, dizzy an nausea. it could have been food poisoning or intuniv withdraw? (supposedly no issues other than BP) or possibly miscarriage? ( test was - but i was 2 1/2 wks late) so i got ready for work as usual still feeling a little bad but better than Fri and Sat got half way to work an hurt so bad with cramps an body aches I called in sick. here's where I start to worry a little I had to leave a message at the office (I do home care) cause no ones there till 8 a.m. I call client to tell them I'm not coming in client understands but not happy, I go home an a few hours later I feel better than I have in a long time major guilt building up now, I expected to hear from the office about making up the missed day an haven't heard anything now I feel guilty and nervous did I do the right thing? should I have gone in? now I'm sick but this time its nerves and guilt. I am going to call tomorrow but still can't help but think I did the wrong thing.

[KRVRN, BSN, RN]

Diarrhea = no work, no pt care plus 24 hrs.

[sophie-h]

Thanks. I always feel so bad cause I know I'm leaving clients that need my help without the care they need and I hate letting people down

[jadelpn, LPN, EMT-B]

If you are ill, you are ill. Period. And diarrhea can be very contagious.

And there has to be some sort of plan "B" for patients--per diems, perhaps?

Hope you feel better soon!

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

I never feel guilty for calling in sick, and I guarantee that my employer never felt an ounce of guilt during the times they've cancelled my shifts for low census. It's a two-way street and business as usual, so the word 'guilt' is no longer in my vocabulary.

Your health and well-being come first. Take care of yourself first.

[Jillybean48]

If you are that sick then you should not go to work. I do understand what you mean about feeling guilty about it and I have also been halfway to work and changed my mind and then called in sick. I have also called in sick in the morning and felt better a few hours later, went to work later thinking I was okay, then had to go home again. It was all just because I felt guilty for missing work. We shouldn't have to feel like that... they should have a back up plan because we are human and we do get sick. I also do home care. And if this helps any, looking back over the years, I now realize that some of these "jobs" were exactly that.. just JOBS... my health was so much more important and I just didn't realize it or really care at the time. Take care of yourself.

[Do-over, ASN, RN]

I never feel guilty for calling in sick, and I guarantee that my employer never felt an ounce of guilt during the times they've cancelled my shifts for low census. It's a two-way street and business as usual, so the word 'guilt' is no longer in my vocabulary.

Your health and well-being come first. Take care of yourself first.

This is worth repeating.

[LadyFree28, BSN, LPN, RN]

This is worth repeating.

How can one help manage the symptoms of others if they cannot manage their own health?

Take care, and feel better!