sick all the time

[cupcake25]

I was just wondering if anyone works with any nurses who seem to have one medical problem after another. I work in a small department so we don't have alot of extra staff to help us. My charge nurse comes to work and always seems to have some ailment. She does not have set hours so she can come and go as she pleases. She will come in to work and not feel good and then goes home sometimes leaving us short. I am starting to feel that she just doesn't want to work. What can be done about this problem? I really have never worked with anyone like this before.

[gabriella86]

geez, i really don't have an answer. i hope the doc's can come up with something, at least a diagnosis so that when u aren't feeling well, it won't look like constant call in's or constanly wanting to go home early. with u being so young hopefully they find out what's going on. these things r not normal, maybe try changing your diet can work wonders and also look into some alternative tx's. keep us posted.

Thanks. I'm learning to manage it. I too hope I can get some sort of answer someday. I am sure my diet has something to do with it. I need to learn to cook, and cook somewhat healthy.

[cherrybreeze, ADN, RN]

This thread makes me feel kind of bad....I'm a *young* nurse (28) and I do have chronic health problems. I've had endometriosis that was diagnosed when I was 18, and interstitial cystitis that was diagnosed 1 1/2 years ago. I have used FMLA intermittently so that I do not have too many call-in's and lose my job; I've had several surgeries (some for the above, some not) in the seven years I've been at my job.

Wonder what my co-workers think of ME.

[lunden]

usually if co-workers know you do have an illness it won't look like constant call-ins.

[Babs0512]

I'm one of those nurses with fairly frequent call ins. I have depression, anxiety, as well as insomnia. With all the meds I take, and the fact that the job is so stressful, sometimes I can barely make it in. Especially when they have to make medication changes - wow can those make it hard to function for several days. Add to that the fact that I run fevers, at least 2 days a week (yes, greater than 101) for no apparent reason - been to Rheumatologist and Infectious Disease Specialist, neither could figure out the problem - when I get a fever I feel ill, even though I may have no other symptoms other than "feeling achey and feverish" - it's tough to work like that, plus, sometimes I actually AM ill, difficult to always tell - if I stay at work, I risk making staff and patients ill.

As I've aged, it all just seems to get worse. I have high cholesterol, but I can't take ANY meds for it, as they make me hurt everywhere, elevate my CPK levels - missed too much work when on them. I have herniated disc's in my neck, 3 to be exact and 2 buldging, all cervical disc's. Sometimes the pain is so intense, it's hard to function, pulse the pain radiates down my left arm and the intensity just makes me nauseated at times. I get nerve blocks a few times a year which makes it more or less managible, but chronic pain doesn't help the depression any, and just makes matters worse.

Don't judge others too harshly, you don't know until you walk a mile in anothers shoes. I more than qualify for disability - however, I've worked too hard over the years to be successful enough to try for the American dream - I don't want to lose my house, couldn't afford it if I was disabled, so - I try to keep plugging away.

I'll have a decent stretch of a month or two, and then things just seem to "go bad" - and I'll miss 2 or 3 days a month or two in a row - for whatever reason. I can tell you honestly, if I miss work, I'm usually down for the count, whether it is fever, pain, depression, fatigue - I will spend the day either in bed or on the couch sleeping.

All I can say is I'm doing my best to continue to be a productive member of society, a little tolerance and understanding is appreciated, and don't assume a co-worker is "calling in for nothing" - trust me, until you've lived in my body and mind, you'll never know how hard it can be. There are others like me.

Blessings

PS I know the frequent call in's make it difficult for other staff - but I must take care of myself first as must all of you. We all have different needs and situations.