sick, worried...

If it was me, I would go in.

This happened to me once: where I worked we did 12hr shifts, but for holidays we each worked an 8 hr shift, like for Christmas it would either be christmas eve, day or evening. I was scheduled to work Christmas night, which was fine, since we did all our stuff on Christmas eve. Some of us were joking around and I said I thought I was going to be 'sick' Christmas night. Well, bite my tongue, because sure enough I was down with a horrible case of bronchitis, had to go to ED, and called in sick. Well, I felt so bad, the next night, a Saturday night, 12 hrs, I was determined to not call in sick. Well, I went to work and spent the worst 12 hours I've ever felt at work. Then, the next night had to call in again, so counted as 2 episodes, instead of one, had I just stayed home and gotten well. If you are sick, you are sick, and you need to take care of yourself to be well. And, you are right, it is not fair to expose pts to whatever you have.

But, I know. They tell you 'stay home when sick, don't expose everyone', but then give us a hard time if we do call in....

If you are on treatment for this infection, you probably won't be infectious any more, and if it's a viral cold, you already infected dozens of people during the incubation period anyway. I would go in, but speak to the supervisor when you get there, and find out if the department can spare you until you've done something about that headache.

If the department cannot be covered and you have to work, try to schedule a couple of extra days off, tomorrow and the day after, to rest up and kick the bug.

I would probably go in and hope they sent me home... Hope you feel better soon.

I would stay home...If a hacking, sick nurse who looked miserable was taking care of my parent, I would not be too happy. I feel bad for you, and hope you feel better. You have had some legitimate issues for being out, so it is not like you are flaking for the fun of it.

Living as I do with an immuno-compromised husband, I really hate it when healthcare workers (or any public-service workers, for that matter) come to work when they're ill. Particularly the runny nose, coughing, sneezing types of illness. I do understand your reservations about calling in too much, but you have truly had exceptional circumstances.

Your co-workers won't thank you if you bring them (or their patients) a new illness.

I will work unless I have knowledge that I need to be within 5 feet of the bathroom .

In my area, you go into work with a cold. You wear a mask. You take whatever meds help your symptoms. Hope they send you home. I have learned that EVERYBODY gets fussy if you call in sick, as if it's assumed you are faking to get a day off. Sure I don't want it to be this way, but it is, and I don't even give it more thought anymore.

"I don't even give it more thought anymore"

Alot of other healthcare workers don't either. That's what bothers me. My husband (or any patient) shouldn't have to worry about picking up yet one more infection in the hospital or doctor's office.

We are told not to come in if we are febrile. HOWEVER, if we miss more than 3 days, we get written up. It does not matter WHY. I never have understood this catch-22 that we as nurses are put into. I called in sick (I hardly ever do this) one day, had 2 sick days in the previous calendar year already, and when I called in, I spoke directly with my manager. She said, "If you are sick then you are sick. Feel better." When I returned the following day, she wrote me up.

It is a confusing message that they are sending to us. I personally do not want to give anything to anyone, but I also don't want to get written up.

We are told not to come in if we are febrile. HOWEVER, if we miss more than 3 days, we get written up. It does not matter WHY. I never have understood this catch-22 that we as nurses are put into. I called in sick (I hardly ever do this) one day, had 2 sick days in the previous calendar year already, and when I called in, I spoke directly with my manager. She said, "If you are sick then you are sick. Feel better." When I returned the following day, she wrote me up.

It is a confusing message that they are sending to us. I personally do not want to give anything to anyone, but I also don't want to get written up.

Roser, this is how it is where I live. Everybody wants to be able to be at home and away from patients when sick!! But, you are told "that's what PPE is for". It does suck.

I would go in for a head cold. Take some dayquil with you...put on a mask and suck it up. Plenty of nurses do it. Hopefully, they'll send you home. If not save your sick day for when you really need it. FYI, if you're sickly you may want to get FMLA instead of just using your sick days.