What do you mean you're sick? How dare you!

Nurses Humor

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This happened to me today. Urinating blood, feel like there's a war going on in my abdominopelvic region. Pardon me for scheduling a doctor's appointment.

Specializes in Med nurse in med-surg., float, HH, and PDN.

We used to joke that even if we call in dead, they'd try to tell us we were responsible for finding someone to cover for us.

1 Votes

I called in a few days prior to my shift to inform my employer that they should start looking for coverage for my next two shifts because while I was in NY visiting relatives one of them had tested positive for the flu and I was running a high fever and wheezing so when I returned later that night and saw the doctor in the morning I had a good chance of testing positive...which I was, imfluenza A. The rapid test that usually takes 20 minutes...doc was back in less than 5 with a script for Tamiflu and a "stay home for 7 days" order....I informed them the results and that I would not be in...the following day (now day 3) I got a phone call asking how I was feeling..."I'm positive for the flu...I have a 103 degree fever...and yes, I had the flu shot...and no, it didn't work"..."I still don't have a nurse for the weekend"...."sorry I can't help you"....what the heck did they want me to do, come in, infect everyone, cause a mass transport of everyone to the hospital....probably, because their staffing issue would be cured...

1 Votes
Specializes in Urgent Care, Oncology.
NurseSpeedy said:
I called in a few days prior to my shift to inform my employer that they should start looking for coverage for my next two shifts because while I was in NY visiting relatives one of them had tested positive for the flu and I was running a high fever and wheezing so when I returned later that night and saw the doctor in the morning I had a good chance of testing positive...which I was, imfluenza A. The rapid test that usually takes 20 minutes...doc was back in less than 5 with a script for Tamiflu and a "stay home for 7 days" order....I informed them the results and that I would not be in...the following day (now day 3) I got a phone call asking how I was feeling..."I'm positive for the flu...I have a 103 degree fever...and yes, I had the flu shot...and no, it didn't work"..."I still don't have a nurse for the weekend"...."sorry I can't help you"....what the heck did they want me to do, come in, infect everyone, cause a mass transport of everyone to the hospital....probably, because their staffing issue would be cured...

I had something very similar to me happen in 2013. Got my flu shot (at work, so they know I had it!) but had Flu B. Test took all of three minutes to show positive. Got a note for five days off but they still wanted me to come in. My poor husband ended up testing positive for flu 5 days later despite me trying to keep my distance so that just goes to show you how contagious it can be.

1 Votes
Specializes in Emergency/Cath Lab.

The last time I called in I was a leaky fire hydrant. I couldn't stop anything. Called in "Well we are short 2 people already" Oh that fixes everything and now Im coming in. Not.

1 Votes
Specializes in Pediatric Critical Care.
Purple_roses said:
I think it's ridiculous that you would even have to explain yourself. I think calling in sick and then later providing a doctor's note should be sufficient. This interrogation stuff needs to stop.

Calling in period should be enough. It is MY business if I have called in because I am going to the ER, or because I have a hang nail. Or because I need to take my car in for repairs, or because my childcare fell through. Or because I just need to take a "mental health day".

Obviously you cant call in ALL the time. But when you do use your precious 4-6 call ins for a year that you are allotted before getting written up.....they should never have to be explained or justified.

1 Votes
Specializes in Med-Surg, OB, ICU, Public Health Nursing.

We make sure patients have medical privacy and somehow employers believe we as nurses are not entitled to any medical privacy. I always called in "sick." No explanation, it really is none of their business. If I was going to be out for more than 3 days, MD would provide a note stating I was seen and will not be returning for 2 weeks.

1 Votes

At the end of my second pregnancy I could not get my shoes on, my feet were so edematous. I tried to call in, and was given the "Oh God, another pregnant nurse calling in!" 'tude.

So, I came in, wearing my bedroom slippers. When they saw my feet looked like footballs, they sent me home, but I'm sure the ANM still wanted to keep me, because she had to take my district.

1 Votes
Specializes in Peds Urology,primary care, hem/onc.

I work for a Urology practice. There are 3 nurses, 2 APN's and 4 MD's and 3 residents. Whenever the MD's get sick, have a family emergency, death in the family, we ALL always pitch in and "just get it done". Our lead APN is the supervisor for all the nurses. I have had a couple of instances where she has given me SUCH grief over legitimate call outs (which I do not have many).

I got that awful enteroviral URI thing that was going around last year. I had a high fever, conjunctivitis, otitis media and severe sinus infection. It took two rounds of antibiotics and steroids (plus 2 urgent care visits and almost an ENT visit) to get it better. I was sick for 3 weeks. I missed ONE day of work at the onset of symptoms when I had the fever and conjunctivitis. When I called her that morning to let her know I was going to the urgent care and what my symptoms were she said "You really cannot come in after you get checked?" "ummm NO I have PINK EYE ok? and a fever!". Give me no fever and 24h ours on antibiotic eye drops and THEN I will come in!!!

I also had a running injury where I tripped (I am a clutz) on a crack in the side walk and fell flat out landing on my left wrist on a Friday night. By the next day, It was so severely swollen I thought I broke it. I could not move it at all, could not put pants on, shower etc. By Sunday, I acquiesced and went to the urgent care (again!) and luckily it was not broken but severely sprained. The PA told me (after she found out I was an APN) NO WORK for 3 days. She wrote me a work excuse. When I called my supervisor she said, "you cannot just come in and do patient phone calls etc?". Umm, NO, what part of I cannot shower or put my pants on do you not understand???? Needless to say I took my 3 days as instructed. She never asked how I was when I went back with my brace on and a severely purple wrist. Everyone else I worked with was concerned but she wasn't.

The last was when my Grandfather died unexpectedly. Now they did let me go fly home to be with my family without question which was nice. He was to be buried in a military cemetery with full honors (playing taps, flag on the coffin the whole thing). He could not be buried on the day of his funeral because it happened to be a holiday. It was going to have to be two days later (on a Monday) on the day I was supposed to fly back. My mom's family is a piece of work (my uncle/aunt and cousins) and totally bailed 2 minutes after the funeral was over with no intentions of staying for the burial (was not work stuff my uncle/aunt are retired). My Dad was on call (he is an anesthesiologist) and was trying to get someone to cover for him at the last minute but was not sure he could. I called my supervisor to let her know I really needed one extra day so my Mom did not have to bury her father alone. Can you imagine standing there alone while taps is played and your father's casket is draped with a flag alone??? No, was not going to let that happen. My supervisor wanted to know why I could not get a flight immediately after the burial? When I told her the cemetery was an 1 1/2 hour drive from my parents house and the airport was 3 + hours in the opposite direction and there were no flights available, she begrudgingly agreed. Now the MD's I worked with, had NO issues AT ALL. She just did not want to see my patients for me (because I do 3x the amount of clinics she does). We always just pitch in and make do, we take care of each other. We have done it for her as well...she just is very reluctant to reciprocate.

One of our nurses needed foot surgery. She immediately told us when she found out b/c her doctor said she needed to not work for 8 weeks. It was elective so she planned it at the best time she could, we made staffing arrangements and we were going to handle it the best we could. She took out FMLA etc. My supervisor, from the beginning, kept "forgetting" how long she was going to need to stay out. She kept on making it "well she will REALLY only need 4 weeks!" before she had her surgery. It was so ridiculous. During her leave, there were constant comments "why is she not back yet, it has been 4, 5, 6 weeks!". I kept telling her, she is out 8 weeks!!! She always looked dumbfounded every time I reminded her of that. I guess she did not expect her to follow doctors orders!

1 Votes
Specializes in Med nurse in med-surg., float, HH, and PDN.
rnsrgr8t said:
I work for a Urology practice. There are 3 nurses, 2 APN's and 4 MD's and 3 residents. Whenever the MD's get sick, have a family emergency, death in the family, we ALL always pitch in and "just get it done". Our lead APN is the supervisor for all the nurses. I have had a couple of instances where she has given me SUCH grief over legitimate call outs (which I do not have many).

I got that awful enteroviral URI thing that was going around last year. I had a high fever, conjunctivitis, otitis media and severe sinus infection. It took two rounds of antibiotics and steroids (plus 2 urgent care visits and almost an ENT visit) to get it better. I was sick for 3 weeks. I missed ONE day of work at the onset of symptoms when I had the fever and conjunctivitis. When I called her that morning to let her know I was going to the urgent care and what my symptoms were she said "You really cannot come in after you get checked?" "ummm NO I have PINK EYE ok? and a fever!". Give me no fever and 24h ours on antibiotic eye drops and THEN I will come in!!!

I also had a running injury where I tripped (I am a clutz) on a crack in the side walk and fell flat out landing on my left wrist on a Friday night. By the next day, It was so severely swollen I thought I broke it. I could not move it at all, could not put pants on, shower etc. By Sunday, I acquiesced and went to the urgent care (again!) and luckily it was not broken but severely sprained. The PA told me (after she found out I was an APN) NO WORK for 3 days. She wrote me a work excuse. When I called my supervisor she said, "you cannot just come in and do patient phone calls etc?". Umm, NO, what part of I cannot shower or put my pants on do you not understand???? Needless to say I took my 3 days as instructed. She never asked how I was when I went back with my brace on and a severely purple wrist. Everyone else I worked with was concerned but she wasn't.

The last was when my Grandfather died unexpectedly. Now they did let me go fly home to be with my family without question which was nice. He was to be buried in a military cemetery with full honors (playing taps, flag on the coffin the whole thing). He could not be buried on the day of his funeral because it happened to be a holiday. It was going to have to be two days later (on a Monday) on the day I was supposed to fly back. My mom's family is a piece of work (my uncle/aunt and cousins) and totally bailed 2 minutes after the funeral was over with no intentions of staying for the burial (was not work stuff my uncle/aunt are retired). My Dad was on call (he is an anesthesiologist) and was trying to get someone to cover for him at the last minute but was not sure he could. I called my supervisor to let her know I really needed one extra day so my Mom did not have to bury her father alone. Can you imagine standing there alone while taps is played and your father's casket is draped with a flag alone??? No, was not going to let that happen. My supervisor wanted to know why I could not get a flight immediately after the burial? When I told her the cemetery was an 1 1/2 hour drive from my parents house and the airport was 3 + hours in the opposite direction and there were no flights available, she begrudgingly agreed. Now the MD's I worked with, had NO issues AT ALL. She just did not want to see my patients for me (because I do 3x the amount of clinics she does). We always just pitch in and make do, we take care of each other. We have done it for her as well...she just is very reluctant to reciprocate.

One of our nurses needed foot surgery. She immediately told us when she found out b/c her doctor said she needed to not work for 8 weeks. It was elective so she planned it at the best time she could, we made staffing arrangements and we were going to handle it the best we could. She took out FMLA etc. My supervisor, from the beginning, kept "forgetting" how long she was going to need to stay out. She kept on making it "well she will REALLY only need 4 weeks!" before she had her surgery. It was so ridiculous. During her leave, there were constant comments "why is she not back yet, it has been 4, 5, 6 weeks!". I kept telling her, she is out 8 weeks!!! She always looked dumbfounded every time I reminded her of that. I guess she did not expect her to follow doctors orders!

Your supervisor is appalling. Coverage trumps human circumstance? To paraphrase DEVO, "Are we not human?"

1 Votes
Jensmom7 said:
By law, as long as you're playing by the rules, FMLA can't be used against you for attendance purposes.

I know. I'd missed 3 weeks in one month and came back full-time while wearing my zofran subcu pump and had zero absences for 4 months, just late one day because my husband had a GI scope and I had to drive him home after the procedure but manager knew about that beforehand. When I was rehired, the same manager asked if my having a new baby would have any effect on my attendance, since I had a greater chance of having to call out with a sick child. Happily, that person is no longer my manager.

1 Votes
Specializes in Med nurse in med-surg., float, HH, and PDN.
T-Bird78 said:
... the manager asked if my having a new baby would have any effect on my attendance, since I had a greater chance of having to call out with a sick child. .

If I was asked the above, it would so stun me that I would probably have given my standard answer to a stupid question...."Uh, I dunno; what's your BEST GUESS?" (DUH!)

1 Votes

She may be crossing the boundary here.

1 Votes
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