Ok. Maybe that isn't a fair title. Perhaps some of the excuses are true. But I would like to see what others have been told as far as why someone called off. Here's a few of my favorites:
1. My babysitter is in jail so I can't come in.
2. I burned my hand on some food so I can't work today.
3. I forgot I had to work today, so I stayed up too late and am too tired to come in.
4. My child got stung by a bee (several hours ago) so I don't want to come in.
5. I'm mad at (supervisor) so I'm not working today.
I have used "I'm stressed to death and am taking a "mental health" day today." Yes, I was wrote for an absence, lol. But I was being honest. Anyway, what have you heard?
These were legitimate excuses from fellow employees: One got her eyelashes dyed and was allergic to the dye. Her eyes were so red and swollen she had to go to the ER. Another got a tattoo, which got seriously infected. The infected tattoo caused an absence of several weeks!
For all of those whose bosses ask why they are calling off I will give you the advice my cousin gave me about getting out of any social occasion you don't want to attend: "Tell them you have diarrhea ... NO ONE will argue with you."[/quote']
At my hospital, if you call out with diarrhea you have to stay out until you are 24 hrs diarrhea free. So for most people, that would be at least 2 shifts if you work a few in a row.
Specializes in Palliative, Onc, Med-Surg, Home Hospice.
I had a CNA call in and say (10 minutes before start of shift) that she couldn't work, because her chest hurt. I told her to hang up the phone and call 911, because we would only except an ED excuse this time. (She called out all the time). And besides, if she is having chest pain, she really needed to be checked out at the ED> She did go to the ED, and nothing was wrong.
Another excuse I heard was "someone dumped toxic waste in my front yard and the police won't let me leave the house". Never did get the police report from that one.
My co-worker tried to call out once because she had conjuctivitis AND "the pink eye". The DON called her back and told her to come in and let the NP give her a script for "the pink eye" and they would figure out what to do about the conjunctivitis later. She came into work and her eyes were fine. She really didn't know that conjunctivitis is pink eye!
Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
I had a CNA call in and say (10 minutes before start of shift) that she couldn't work, because her chest hurt. I told her to hang up the phone and call 911, because we would only except an ED excuse this time. (She called out all the time). And besides, if she is having chest pain, she really needed to be checked out at the ED> She did go to the ED, and nothing was wrong.
Another excuse I heard was "someone dumped toxic waste in my front yard and the police won't let me leave the house". Never did get the police report from that one.
My co-worker tried to call out once because she had conjuctivitis AND "the pink eye". The DON called her back and told her to come in and let the NP give her a script for "the pink eye" and they would figure out what to do about the conjunctivitis later. She came into work and her eyes were fine. She really didn't know that conjunctivitis is pink eye!
This excuse is too pathetic to be believed. You have NO spare glasses because you can't afford a new pair of FRAMES. I guess you're the person who called in because their glasses were broken. I would have to fire you on the phone:)
It's not as outlandish as you may believe. I own only one pair of glasses and I've done this for years: whenever it's time for new lenses I have them swap the old lenses of out the frames. In doing this I've saved far more in the long run than I would have replacing an entire set of glasses every couple of years. Because with my prescription, a pair of glasses for me starts at $500.
However, they are titanium frames, so it would take something short of a horrific disaster to cause them to break. And I have only one pair of glasses because I find it easier to wear contacts most of the time.
Specializes in Ambulatory Surgery, Ophthalmology, Tele.
Regarding the above MRSA infection. It amazes me how sometimes people forget we are human and not robots.
When I was pregnant with my first child it was discovered I had a dual chamber uterus. This was 22 years ago and my OB's first time having a patient with this. I worked in medical records then. The OB put me on light duty just to be extra cautious.
When I arrived to work with the note, I planned to work hard and do my job but not lift heavy stacks of charts. I gave the note to the office manager. She was a power boss. Work was everything to her. She looked at me and in a not nice voice asked, "What do they MEAN 'light duty'?" No concern for me or the baby.
If I gave a note like this to my present nurse manager I know the first thing out of her mouth would be, Are you ok? How's the baby?"
lt's just a shame that "they" think we can work-work-work......"It's ok....the nurse will do it. CNAs? Oh we don't need them.....the nurses will do it." Sorry end of rant. That's a different thread.
Me: I've got an MRSA infection in my hand, has just been opened/incised, packed and the Vancomycin IV is in place.
Employer: Why can't your just wear gloves over your dressing? The I.V. should be done in 1/2 hour; if you hurry, you can make your shift.
Wow. I hate that we are just bodies to those in management to fill a shift .
I was in a car accident on my way to work the other day. 10 minutes before my shift. My husband calls the ADON for me to notify them while I was getting tests done and while being in and out of it the whole time. He said to her, this is Sleeepy's husband. Im calling to let you know she was in a car accident cMNand is in the ED right now. My ADON said very abruptly, pretty much interrupting him, "ok, bye." And hung up
DID NOT EVEN ASK IF I WAS OK!!! THEN, the next morning, bright and early I get a text asking if I was going that day at.
Wow. I hate that we are just bodies to those in management to fill a shift . I was in a car accident on my way to work the other day. 10 minutes before my shift. My husband calls the ADON for me to notify them while I was getting tests done and while being in and out of it the whole time. He said to her this is Sleeepy's husband. Im calling to let you know she was in a car accident cMNand is in the ED right now. My ADON said very abruptly, pretty much interrupting him, "ok, bye." And hung up DID NOT EVEN ASK IF I WAS OK!!! THEN, the next morning, bright and early I get a text asking if I was going that day at.[/quote']
NottaSpringChik, BSN, RN
183 Posts
These were legitimate excuses from fellow employees: One got her eyelashes dyed and was allergic to the dye. Her eyes were so red and swollen she had to go to the ER. Another got a tattoo, which got seriously infected. The infected tattoo caused an absence of several weeks!