Do you give details such as symptoms (vomiting, fever, cough, diarrhea, etc)
or do you just tell them that you are "sick" and won't be in?
If you know that you won't be working the next day either, how soon do you let them know that you're still sick?
Do you feel believed? Do they question you for more info? Are you frowned upon for being a sick nurse?
Do you feel that you have to thoroughly give enough excuse to be off sick, as if you feel guilty or are made to feel guilty?
When patients cough in your face every time you are near their bed, do you hand them a tissue and ask them to please cover their mouths when they cough?
What are other ways you keep from continually getting sick from patients, in addition to good handwashing?
Specializes in Happily semi-retired; excited for the whole whammy.
I usually just say that I'm not feeling well and I need to take a sick day. Or just that I need to take a sick day. We call the admin assistant, who really couldn't care less, anyway. She says ok, she'll let everyone know and that's the end of it. If I'm still sick the next day, I call again and repeat the process. Sometimes voice mail picks it up and I don't even need to talk to anyone. Now, another project our employer oversees are extremely rigid about people calling in. They terminate you if you call in more than 3 times in a 3 month period. I know that would be a lot of calling in if you were doing it on a regular basis, but I think we all go through periods of needing extra time off once in a while. You wouldn't get it from that project.
Having worked as an RN for over 23 years in the US and now working in the UK for the NHS there is a vast difference in reporting sick here. If you are ill you just phone in say you have a tummy upset or whatever - give an idea of when you will phone again and you get told - well get well soon and that is that. If you are off for more than four days you need to get a doctors note. No interrogation or hint of "are you really ill" much more civilised. Off course it may get abused - but then what doesn't.
Do you give details such as symptoms (vomiting, fever, cough, diarrhea, etc)
or do you just tell them that you are "sick" and won't be in?
If you know that you won't be working the next day either, how soon do you let them know that you're still sick?
Do you feel believed? Do they question you for more info? Are you frowned upon for being a sick nurse?
Do you feel that you have to thoroughly give enough excuse to be off sick, as if you feel guilty or are made to feel guilty?
When patients cough in your face every time you are near their bed, do you hand them a tissue and ask them to please cover their mouths when they cough?
What are other ways you keep from continually getting sick from patients, in addition to good handwashing?
The supervisor usually asks what's wrong if you call in "sick". I've never been given a hard time about it. I know they have a call in log book where they write the sx down. somebody said they do it so they can see if there is a pattern with a certain illness.
My hospital likes as many details as possible as they track illnesses and do studies about how they are spread among the patients/employees. I've been lucky that when I have called in, they don't really care. Then again, CNAs aren't as important to them as nurses. I've heard they get more trouble from calling people off than from people calling in. Employees tell the NS that their children will starve if they don't come into work, etc. When they call me off at 5 am I say "THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!" and go right back to sleep. Like today, for example. I had a crappy night last night and was woken up to Linkin Park ringing on my cell phone by the NS saying she was sorry to tell me she'd be calling me off. I was like, don't be sorry, you made my day!
As a previous nurse manager, I can say that call-ins, although necessary at times, were very frustrating. When I first took over the position, we had a tremendously high amount of call-ins. I figured out who the chronic abusers were and terminated them based on poor attendance. I made a policy regarding unexcused absences and made the staff stick to it. If they or a family member was ill, the absence was excused with a doctor's note. If they got 3 unexcused absences, they were terminated. Also they would lose their next scheduled day off if they had an unexcused absence. It sounds harsh but it worked!! Some of our chronic people that would call in weekly decreased their absences to monthly. Most of them could not afford to call in. I had CNA's that had baby-sitter issues and my 3-11 nurse would often watch the kiddos so it worked out good for everyone. And the staff knew that I would be fair with them even though I sounded like an ogre!!
Recently, I've "switched sides" as a per-diem house supervisor. I've only done a handful of shifts- and you wouldn't believe the # of calls!! The "sick" calls don't bother me, it's the long stories... my car, my baby's father, my sitter, I was supposed to have the day off and nobody got back to me, and I'm still out of town (true story). And the most frustrating is the per-diems or overtimes that cancel their shifts- sometimes doubles!! These people are obviously not sick when they can work 7-3 but not 3-11!! They overbook themselves and then cancel. These shifts could have been filled- but not an hour before!! Another recent one: I got into a car accident...I'm okay...No I'm not hurt...I just can't make it in. Just say you have pain in your back!!!
Of the few that have actually called in "sick", I don't question it, I just say 'feel better', because I know how it feels to be scrutinized. :angryfire
As a previous nurse manager, I can say that call-ins, although necessary at times, were very frustrating. When I first took over the position, we had a tremendously high amount of call-ins. I figured out who the chronic abusers were and terminated them based on poor attendance. I made a policy regarding unexcused absences and made the staff stick to it. If they or a family member was ill, the absence was excused with a doctor's note. If they got 3 unexcused absences, they were terminated. Also they would lose their next scheduled day off if they had an unexcused absence. It sounds harsh but it worked!! Some of our chronic people that would call in weekly decreased their absences to monthly. Most of them could not afford to call in. I had CNA's that had baby-sitter issues and my 3-11 nurse would often watch the kiddos so it worked out good for everyone. And the staff knew that I would be fair with them even though I sounded like an ogre!!
See my previous post about running to the doctor with cold/flu. If my NM wants to pay my copay and deductible for frivilous MD visits (and for the meds to treat what I am exposed to while in the waiting room, and the time I spend waiting for the MD), fine...I'll bring in all the notes she wants, but until then - I am an RN, I know when I have a virus and I know that ABX and even antivirals do a whole lot of nothing, it just wastes my time and forces me to leave my cozy bed while I feel like crap as well as be exposed to whatever else may be floating around the waiting room. No thanks.
Recently, I've "switched sides" as a per-diem house supervisor. I've only done a handful of shifts- and you wouldn't believe the # of calls!! The "sick" calls don't bother me, it's the long stories... my car, my baby's father, my sitter, I was supposed to have the day off and nobody got back to me, and I'm still out of town (true story). And the most frustrating is the per-diems or overtimes that cancel their shifts- sometimes doubles!! These people are obviously not sick when they can work 7-3 but not 3-11!! They overbook themselves and then cancel. These shifts could have been filled- but not an hour before!! Another recent one: I got into a car accident...I'm okay...No I'm not hurt...I just can't make it in. Just say you have pain in your back!!!
Of the few that have actually called in "sick", I don't question it, I just say 'feel better', because I know how it feels to be scrutinized. :angryfire
People probably overbook themselves and then cancel because they have been cancelled so much by the hospital, don't ya think? Though I do think they should give the reguired amount of notice.
My hospital likes as many details as possible as they track illnesses and do studies about how they are spread among the patients/employees.
Same here! My hospital instituted a policy back in April that now we have to call a "sick Hotline" in addition to calling our unit. We have to list our symptoms, etc. One of the nurses in my unit stated that this was a HIPPA violation to the management in a townhall type meeting and they harassed her so much that she resigned. They basically went on a witch-hunt with her because she spoke out against the policy. My unit lost a damn good nurse because of it too! I think the policy is stupid. Sick time is MY earned benefit. What business is it of theirs if I use my sick time to care for my ill child, which supposedly we aren't allowed to use sick time for but I'll lie and call in and tell them that I am the one that's sick.
People probably overbook themselves and then cancel because they have been cancelled so much by the hospital, don't ya think? Though I do think they should give the reguired amount of notice.
They don't get cancelled here. Staffing is terrible and the census never changes (it's sub-acute care). And they don't give notice. That's the problem. I can understand if it's an emergency. But it's much easier to call in and cancel to the weekend sup (me), then have to deal with administration.
One of my other employers has a sick #- its an answering machine- I LOVE IT!!! Although I was once called back after leaving a sick message, saying "are you sure you can't come in" :chuckle
LydiaNN
2,756 Posts
I usually just say that I'm not feeling well and I need to take a sick day. Or just that I need to take a sick day. We call the admin assistant, who really couldn't care less, anyway. She says ok, she'll let everyone know and that's the end of it. If I'm still sick the next day, I call again and repeat the process. Sometimes voice mail picks it up and I don't even need to talk to anyone. Now, another project our employer oversees are extremely rigid about people calling in. They terminate you if you call in more than 3 times in a 3 month period. I know that would be a lot of calling in if you were doing it on a regular basis, but I think we all go through periods of needing extra time off once in a while. You wouldn't get it from that project.