Strep - Call in or go anyways?

Nurses General Nursing

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OK, here's the short version: fiance didn't feel well this morning, went to urgent care and tested positive for strep and got abx. I felt fine until this evening when I noticed I have a dry scratchy feeling in my throat, my tonsils are enlarged and gunky, and the back of my throat is red and streaky. All the urgent care places are now closed and my ER co-pay is $150. I work in a NICU and am scheduled to work tomorrow.

I called the unit and they said they didn't think I could call in since I don't have any PTO, but I called the house supervisor and she said I just wouldn't get paid. Neither of them acted like it was a big deal, am I over-reacting by calling in? I really think I've got strep and I don't think wearing a mask all day will cut it in NICU. I was planning to go to urgent care (if any are open on Memorial Day) in the AM and get some abx. I couldn't take my fiance's even if I wanted to, I'm allergic to PCN.

Anybody have any thoughts on what I should do?

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Specializes in Psychiatry.

Please don't go in. You need to rest up. I'm sure your co-workers will be happy to not to share your cooties.

Get well soon...;)

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Is there a policy in place regarding working with a probable infection?

I wouldn't want a nurse with strep taking care of my critically ill baby.

Mask or no mask.

You feel ok right now , because it hasn't really taken hold yet.

Chances are you will not be able to function well anyway, you will feel quite ill.

Stay home, feel better.

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Specializes in PICU, ICU, Hospice, Mgmt, DON.

You work in NICU and you are even entertaining the idea of going to work with possible strep?????

Good Lord NO....not because of the health of your co workers (altho, I'm sure they would appreciate it) but because those little things are IMMUNOSUPPRESSED and are susceptible to all kinds of bugs on the best of days...why deliberately expose them to strep???

A strep infection can be serious in an adult, in a 26 week vented preemi in NICU it could be deadly,

Please, STAY HOME-go to urgent care, take your anbx and get better.

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Thank you guys! I can't find a policy, and I even called the ER to ask if I could just pop in for a rapid-strep. They said I could come, but I'd have to be triaged and the whole 9 yards. It's a children's hospital and I didn't feel like I should take up space in their ER and I'd probably have the gazillion-dollar co-pay anyways. I felt bad calling in since I had just used up all of my PTO, but I'm still on orientation so I'm not exactly essential staff. I'm going to try to work a make-up shift on Friday if they will let me. I will likely feel like garbage tomorrow and I really, really don't want to give the babies (or my preceptor) strep.

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Specializes in school nursing, ortho, trauma.

i agree - no work for you!!!

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Please, please don't expose the NICU to your bugs. Their tiny bodies cannot tolerate any more stress.

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Specializes in PICU, ICU, Hospice, Mgmt, DON.

Really, it will be OK. They will be much more upset if you go in and they find out you have strep, or feel really sick and they have to send you home. That is so much more upsetting and will not work in your favor.

People get sick. The managers may gripe, but they understand...and believe me, they will forget all about it 3 minutes after your call-in. Trust me, I know. I was manager of a peds unit and also a DON for a facility. I didn't mind a nurse calling in sick, I did mind having to send one home and scrambling to find coverage for the rest of the shift.

Plus, I would be disturbed at the strep exposure to the babies and staff.

So, you have my permission to call in...:)

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Don't be a little girl lol. ( No Pun) Look as long as you don't have a fever. Your good to go. Just drink fluids and don't try to breath on people. You know the drill You can do this. Have a great day at work.... Anthony

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Specializes in Developmental Disabilites,.

Don't even think about going into work with strep. Especially in the NICU. It could kill a baby.

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Specializes in PICU, ICU, Hospice, Mgmt, DON.

Where did you get your MD, Anthony?

Have you ever worked in a NICU? Have you ever even seen a 24 week preemie? Do you understand the concept of immunosupression in a newborn?

If she has strep, and is prodromal working and exposing those kids is a bad idea.

She is not whinning and trying to get out of work, in fact it sounds like she feels badly, so calling her a "little girl" is really innapropriate....

So, bayoak...please, unless you feel totally fine, no sore throat...no fatigue..stay home

forner NICU RN, diva

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Specializes in ER.

or go in and tell them you think you have Strep, you don't have PTO, and you don't want to get your NICU patients sick... so ask the charge RN, what do you do? Likely you will be sent to your ED to get treated, and you'll have to just deal with that copay. What are your other options???

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