What Are The Most Creative Call-off Excuses You Have Heard?

Nurses Professionalism

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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?

Specializes in M/S, LTC, Corrections, PDN & drug rehab.
One night I was charge nurse and during the day shift there was a brand new travel nurse that completed her first day of her six week travel assignment. She left at about 8:15 which is pretty good time. Just slightly over the 7:30 goal. She called me at about 9:00 saying she was never coming back again. She couldn't believe how late she had gotten out of work and wasn't going to do that ever again. Seriously, 45 minutes? Most days I'm thrilled to be out with only 45 minutes over.

Wow. How does she keep a job? Does she really expect to get out of work on time?

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Specializes in MICU, SICU, CICU.

My friend was stung by a bee on her thigh and when she called out she said "I can't pull my pants up."

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Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
My friend was stung by a bee on her thigh and when she called out she said "I can't pull my pants up."

That must have been some bee sting!

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I have one that's mine...and believe it or not, true.

Keep in mind, I used to work ten minutes from home. I live in a city type area, but one of those wonderful streets that's like an alley and they don't plow or treat. Plus I have a gravel driveway.

For about 3 months straight this winter, my driveway was a solid sheet of ice. One night, we got freezing rain on top of it. Three of us used to work days. My grandpa was having trouble getting his truck off the parking pad, so my dad decided to move my car so it wouldn't get hit, and then help push my grandfather out. After my dad about killed himself on the ice, my grandfather is on his way to work.

So then I March outside about a half hour before my shift just to be safe...cars warmed up....I go to pull out.....my car goes NOWHERE. Stuck on the ice.

They were not happy that I was calling out 15 minutes before my shift and they sounded like they didn't believe me, but my boyfriend (being the jerk he can be) got all of the mornings shenanigans on video. So I politely offered to let them see me trying to pull my car out, which I was told wasn't necessary, and was totally willing to come in if they would have someone come pick me up...which they didn't - because I heard an aid in the background saying he lived close to me and he had barely been able to make it off our street.

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Specializes in ICU/ER, Maternal, Psych.

Someone is going to really get mad at me for saying this: I have called off and said i was en route to ER because child was hurt/sick (risky because I worked for a string of hospitals that were all connected and even though it was ILLEGAL to check other hospitals pt database, it could be accessed easy from all computers and Ive seen desperate nurses do it)

I have said my sister was just diagnosed with a brain tumor and I had to make an emergent flight to Dallas (the worst part is my floor put together a "thought basket" to let me know they were thinking of me and I could count on them for anything.... trust me i felt/feel like crap after that one.

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Specializes in LTC.
Someone is going to really get mad at me for saying this: I have called off and said i was en route to ER because child was hurt/sick (risky because I worked for a string of hospitals that were all connected and even though it was ILLEGAL to check other hospitals pt database, it could be accessed easy from all computers and Ive seen desperate nurses do it)

I have said my sister was just diagnosed with a brain tumor and I had to make an emergent flight to Dallas (the worst part is my floor put together a "thought basket" to let me know they were thinking of me and I could count on them for anything.... trust me i felt/feel like crap after that one.

That's why I avoid giving an excuse other than "personal." I, for some reason, feel like if I make up something I'll raise the ire of Karma and it will get me. That and I don't do guilt well. :blink:

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Someone is going to really get mad at me for saying this: I have called off and said i was en route to ER because child was hurt/sick (risky because I worked for a string of hospitals that were all connected and even though it was ILLEGAL to check other hospitals pt database, it could be accessed easy from all computers and Ive seen desperate nurses do it)

I have said my sister was just diagnosed with a brain tumor and I had to make an emergent flight to Dallas (the worst part is my floor put together a "thought basket" to let me know they were thinking of me and I could count on them for anything.... trust me i felt/feel like crap after that one.

You couldn't come up with excuses a TAD less dramatic than those?!?

What about "I have an emergency issue with my son, he'll be ok but for now I have to take care of this".......and......"I have a serious family issue to handle right now, I'm sorry but I cannot be in until it's dealt with". Vague but clear you need to be off.

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Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
You couldn't come up with excuses a TAD less dramatic than those?!?

What about "I have an emergency issue with my son, he'll be ok but for now I have to take care of this".......and......"I have a serious family issue to handle right now, I'm sorry but I cannot be in until it's dealt with". Vague but clear you need to be off.

While I agree with you on that specific situation, the thread IS about the most creative call-off excuse you've ever hear, and that one WAS creative.

Here's a new one that I just heard about from a friend:

"I was drinking at the neighborhood bar last night, when this beautiful lady bought me a drink. She must have drugged it, because the next thing I know, I was in her apartment in her bed. I can't find my clothes or my wallet, and when I looked out the window it's clear I'm not in Kansas anymore. I won't be able to make it in to work tonight -- or until I figure out where I am and how to get home! By the way -- please don't mention this to my wife (is an RT on our unit). I told her I had to rush to my mother's house because she had fallen and couldn't get up."

Now why not just tell the unit the same thing as he told his wife?

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While I agree with you on that specific situation, the thread IS about the most creative call-off excuse you've ever hear, and that one WAS creative.

Yep, you're right! Title DID say "most creative", LOL, but I guess I just looked at the most recent post and thought "WTH???" :)

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