sick all the time

Haha I work with several like this!! Always got something wrong with them but they always manage to get to work then moan all the way through the shift.

My mum has fibromyalgia and a nurses back and had the luxury, financially, of being able to retire early. I work with 2 nurses who have fibromyalgia, both are single who have raised children on their own and do not have the luxury of retiring or going on sickness benefits. These girls have no sick leave left and have mortgages and debts to pay, so they have no option other then going to work. With the myriad of problems that goes with fibromyalgia, it can be really frustrating for the other staff, but these nurses who have to work through illness, I think, are suffering more.

Yep, I've worked with a few like this. Never seem to make it in on a healthy day, but they are full of stories of what they do on their time off that makes me think that BEING at work is what makes them ill! Frequent call-outs, or have to leave early or come in late, but always make up the time by picking up extra shifts. Ticks off those who are caught short-staffed by their various maladies. And why does management allow it? Because, like everywhere else, we're short on nurses :uhoh21:

i think alot of it is stress... stress related illness... i know on somedays to go work takes all i got...

Yep, I've worked with a few like this. Never seem to make it in on a healthy day, but they are full of stories of what they do on their time off that makes me think that BEING at work is what makes them ill! Frequent call-outs, or have to leave early or come in late, but always make up the time by picking up extra shifts. Ticks off those who are caught short-staffed by their various maladies. And why does management allow it? Because, like everywhere else, we're short on nurses :uhoh21:

I agree, I am talking about genuine cases, and I too would be most annoyed, if I was experiencing what you are, that is not fair. Kizzykatlove has a good point. Nursing is very stressful emotionally and physically, for some, it probably does take all their energy just to turn up

Hey, someone genuinely ill, I'm all for them calling out or going home. It's not like I've never been sick! But when you see the same one or two people ALWAYS sick, NEVER having a "feel good" shift, you've gotta wonder. It's like they're always setting it up for calling out the next day! (you know, she was so sick yesterday, blah blah blah, of course she called in today). Ridiculous most of the time. One of the girls has it pegged just right: when she's earned enough sick time to call in for a whole shift, she does. Tell me what kind of illness that is?

Ridiculous most of the time. One of the girls has it pegged just right: when she's earned enough sick time to call in for a whole shift, she does. Tell me what kind of illness that is?

Anal glaucoma??

Can't see their bottom coming in to work today?

This sounds like "would like to retire but too early. Hope my body makes it". Bedside nursing is hard on an aging body. The average age for bedside nurses is late 40's, early 50's?? I know a lot of nurses in this position. They have no choice but to drag their pained butts to work day after day. Every shift brings its own misery.

Anal glaucoma??

Can't see their bottom coming in to work today?

ROFL! Yeah, something like that. We've definitely got one or two sufferers, LOL!

This sounds like "would like to retire but too early. Hope my body makes it". Bedside nursing is hard on an aging body. The average age for bedside nurses is late 40's, early 50's?? I know a lot of nurses in this position. They have no choice but to drag their pained butts to work day after day. Every shift brings its own misery.

I'm one of those with a "pained butt", LOL; the abusers of the sick time thing are in their twenties!! Nothing wrong with them that a case of lottery winnings wouldn't fix

Just want to add that I've never been so sick, so frequently as I have since I started in nursing. I HATE calling out and sometimes work sick, both because I run out of time and because I don't want to leave the floor short. I just try to be very careful when I have to do this.

Just saying that sometimes it's legit...

Hey, someone genuinely ill, I'm all for them calling out or going home. It's not like I've never been sick! But when you see the same one or two people ALWAYS sick, NEVER having a "feel good" shift, you've gotta wonder. It's like they're always setting it up for calling out the next day! (you know, she was so sick yesterday, blah blah blah, of course she called in today). Ridiculous most of the time. One of the girls has it pegged just right: when she's earned enough sick time to call in for a whole shift, she does. Tell me what kind of illness that is?[/quote

yes i think some people just don't want to work .. like the nurse who saves her time to call off sick.. i think we all handle life and stressors differently , but there are some people who just call off to not go to work....

i do think alot of chonic complainers is stress related illness and maybe their home life and work is just to much sometimes... i haven't called off in a long time , but i sure have felt like it.. somedays i go to work and think " 12 hours of this " how am i going to do this??? but i do, because i loike a roof over my head and food in the old belly ...

we actually have some new nurses one is 23 years old and she is allready turning into a stress related complainer , she comes in to work she c/o stomach pain and headaches, she's only been a nurse for a year.. i tell her she will be okay and it's okay to tell me when she dosen't feel well. i encourge her to get some lunch and just do the best she can. we'll make it through.. she is having these symptoms and i validate them and tell her it will be okay . because i have them when i get stressed ,i just don't say anything to anyone....

any ideas for stress reduction during working hours?

thank you all for your great comments ..