Stitches on my finger, go in to work?

[ana_96]

So earlier today I sliced my thumb with a knife while cooking, ended up needing 5 stitches. Called out tonight because of it. The PA that put the stitches says she’s doesn't want me to work the next 2 days because I need to keep my thumb dry, which means I won’t be able to wash my hands properly. She wrote up a note. Tonight was supposed to be my first night back and then work the next 2 nights, so there goes my entire work week. This is also my last week of orientation, I work on a med surg/tele unit. I feel awful about calling off for a cut finger, but the bleeding wouldn’t stop for over an hour so I just made the decision to go to urgent care. I told my preceptor and she said to take the days off and ask our manager if I can have my last week of preceptorship moved to next week instead. I just feel so bad! Missing an entire work week for a cut finger? I feel like my manager is going to be like “really??”. What would y’all do in this situation? Take the days off or go in and be extra cautious of my finger??

[CalicoKitty, BSN, MSN, RN]

When I sliced my finger (and got fingers), the throbbing was pretty rough. The burning from tiny cuts is terrible with the hand sanitizer. It is stressful, but you're probably better off not going in. When you do go back, I tend to spray a barrier spray/skin prep over any tiny cuts I have. Over and over. Like.. My hand is one big skin prepped hand. You don't want a MRSA infection on your finger.. But, you may end up off orientation a week sooner.. 

[Rose_Queen, BSN, MSN, RN]

Had you gone in, you likely would have been sent to Employee Health for an evaluation of fitness for duty. I know that where I work, sutures on hands basically result in a vacation due to infection control concerns.

[ana_96]

Update: I ended up calling HR this morning to tell them what happened, sent them the note. They’re going to send it to the house supervisor so they can take me off the schedule. Tried calling my manager but she’s on vacation till Monday, so not really sure what to do at this point but enjoy my days off I guess LOL 

[klone, MSN, RN]

Everywhere I've worked, you must work with Employee Health to make sure you're fit to return to duty. As far as a cut requiring stitches goes, it needs to be scabbed/scarred over and not open when you wash your hands or bend your fingers before you can return to direct patient care.

My recommendation is that instead of sitting around until Monday when your manager returns, proactively reach out to your Employee Health department. There, I will be your manager by proxy, instructing you what to do.

[FolksBtrippin, BSN, RN]

What’s there to feel bad about? You were taken out of work by your doc. You’ll be back really soon.

One of my nurses has been out for 6 months on medical leave. That’s a real pain. This is a nothing.

[Leader25, ASN, BSN, RN]

Let this be a lesson to you ,listen learn,The hospital is a business,they are not your buddy or friend.You are hurt,skin is broken,you must not work like this and put yourself at risk for worse.

They will survive without you, and when you return make it a point in your career that you do not miss work for frivilous reasons,work hard be diligent but always protect yourself first.

I remember being home with fever and having an ANM harass me at home to go into work anyway, I went and got worse ,had to be sent home.

They were screwed because it was even more difficult to find staff at 1 am. They threatened other nurses to float to our area.

I swore ,never again would I be bullied like that. Kept to my word.

Stay home, heal, when you are better ,get to work.