Sick but negative

Don’t know what to say besides do not go into work... just my opinion.

2 hours ago, Panda Girl said:

I work at a facility with positive COVID-19 cases. I was screened at the facility when the outbreak began, and was negative. A few days later, I got a low-grade fever, chills and body aches. I got tested again - negative. Stayed out until I had been fever-free for 3 days as recommended. Went back to work. Fever came back. My workplace is pressuring me to return tomorrow if I have no temp even though I am febrile today. My doctor says stay home and get tested again tomorrow. I'm beginning to worry my workplace thinks I'm "not sick enough" to stay home. I understand we are short-staffed, but...really? Ignore the state and CDC guidelines?

I'm with your Dr.

PS - There were headline articles today surrounding substantive false negatives on the rapid tests ( tho, as I understand it at least, it's at least something of an issue with all of them)

It sounds like your facility is interested in bullying a sick nurse. Nice place.

I'm in kind of the same boat; sick but had a negative test. However, my facility isn't pushing for me to come back. They told me to take as much time as I need to recover.

I'm sorry your facility isn't being supportive. Hope you feel better soon.

There has been multiple reports of negative tests - whether due to poor swab technique, when the test was done, etc. I recently read a report where a physician was negative multiple times.....until he died from COVID. If you are sick and especially febrile - don't go into work! Can your physician write a note for a LOA?

I agree with speedynurse, if you're feeling sick, don't go in regardless of the Corona test results.

I tested negative a month ago while hospitalized and still am not breathing right! Stay home, apply for the federal emergency medical leave, get written instructions from your Dr.... and feel better!

Thanks, all! My doctor sent a note to my workplace and the discussion ended. It took a total of 11 days before I felt healthy again. Now I'm back at work. It's very sad, seeing all these sick elderly people. Many of them can't understand why their families don't visit anymore.

On 5/9/2020 at 12:42 PM, Wuzzie said:

I bet this pandemic alters how we feel about going to work when we feel like we’re “coming down with something”. Our coworkers likely won’t stand for it.

Just like many I have gone to work prior to covid, not feeling well. My employers were not forgiving of a call in. However, in the future, I can't see myself doing this and placing the more vulnerable at risk and I will definitely tell my employer even if I have to take it up the chain of command. It's just wrong to go in sick and subject the people we are there to help to additional complications. As a patient, I have experienced encounters with sick people working in health care. I don't think I will subject myself to that either.