Sick as a dog!

[finnishme]

3 weeks ago I was sick with a cold, then a few days later I ended up in the ER(had severe bronchitis and dehydration). Even though I was sick and had a doctors note, I had no choice but to come work(not a single PRN or any available aide would cover a shift).I even had sick days that I could use, but wasn't allowed to use them.

Normally, a cold would not bother me, except it was bronchitis(which I believe leads to pneumonia). Also, our residents were struck with a bad case of the flu and other illnesses, as well as other aides getting sick. Our building went on lockdown to prevent any more illnesses being spread, and aides had to wear the gowns,gloves,masks at all times.

What would you have done if you were me? I felt bad, because I love my residents and I felt responsible for potentially passing on my germs, even with the safetly percautions. I couldn't leave one aide on the floor(we have 44 residents, no nurses on staff, no med tech on staff). I had no choice but to go to work.

Feel much better now, but I was defintely irritated about having to work. Not only would noone cover me, I was also getting calls to cover other sick people.

[interceptinglight, CNA]

I was sick with a sinus infection and bronchitis for nearly 3 months when I first became a CNA in a LTC facility. Much of that time I was too sick to work, yet I couldn't afford not to and I had no medical insurance at the time so I couldn't afford to go to Quick Care. Because I was already sick I wasn't able to get the offered free flu shot. Furthermore, each time you call out for a shift you get written up even if it's because you have a fever and a communicable illness. Too many call-outs and you get fired, so I had no choice. It felt terrible exposing all those vulnerable residents to my bronchitis but what was I to do? Apparently my workplace was where I contracted the sickness in the first place, so it's not like I introduced it to the place. After months of laboring there my immune system seemed to catch up with the place and I didn't get sick anymore. It sure was embarrassing for a while, I had to duck into corners so I could cough my guts out and honk my nose loudly, then go wash my hands before I continued taking care of people. Even the nurses overlooked my hacking and expectorating because they hated having to try and find someone to cover my shift. It was nuts.