When you call in sick...

[Butternut]

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?

[nontrad1964]

when working as an aide years ago, my friend, an LPN, took a sick day cause her dog had puppies and was perfectly ok with management. She had an unemployed husband and 3 kids at home to help out with the dog.

[LydiaNN]

I take sick days for all kinds of things. They are a fringe benefit that we earn by accumulating so many days on the job, so why shouldn't I avail myself of the time if I need it? One place I worked gave us a certain number of days off per year and they could be used for anything- sick, vacation or personal days. I liked that system. Here, even though the sick and vacation policies are fairly generous, we get one measly personal day a year. I think that many of us who have children end up needing more than that to attend school functions, get our kids to the doctor and dentist, etc.

[NotReady4PrimeTime, RN]

I'm at work as I speak, and I am also sick. I have tracheobronchitis and have been taking antibiotics for three days. I was told that I've been adequately treated so as not to be contagious and therefore am fit to work. I couldn't have had the night off unless I was in hospital myself. If I coughed up a lung, would they let me go home? Probably not.

[BeenThereDoneThat74, MSN, RN]

when working as an aide years ago, my friend, an LPN, took a sick day cause her dog had puppies and was perfectly ok with management.

When I was working in home care, I would stop in to my house for lunch periodically (it was near the agency). One day I walked in and I found my cat dead on the couch !! She wasn't sick or old, so I was quite shocked!! I was so devastated. I needed to take it to the vet to find out what happened. I called the office and told them I couldn't finish the day. They didn't say it, but I'm sure they weren't pleased.

[BeenThereDoneThat74, MSN, RN]

If you're caught 'lying', is that really bad? Let me explain: I 'called in' yesterday. I don't remember exactly what I said. I don't believe I said I was sick. I was not sick. I had a scheduling conflict (thanks to my "better" half :chuckle :chuckle ). I didn't want to get into it with the nursing office, as they do not know me, or my situation. As it turns out, I will probably have to explain myself to my unit-specific administrators, b/c I don't think I'll be able to keep working there (It's per-diem). So I'm wondering if yesterdays call in will come up. And if it does, was I sick, and it's just a coincidence that I'm also having schedule conflicts that will prevent me from working there?

[LydiaNN]

If you're caught 'lying', is that really bad? Let me explain: I 'called in' yesterday. I don't remember exactly what I said. I don't believe I said I was sick. I was not sick. I had a scheduling conflict (thanks to my "better" half :chuckle :chuckle ). I didn't want to get into it with the nursing office, as they do not know me, or my situation. As it turns out, I will probably have to explain myself to my unit-specific administrators, b/c I don't think I'll be able to keep working there (It's per-diem). So I'm wondering if yesterdays call in will come up. And if it does, was I sick, and it's just a coincidence that I'm also having schedule conflicts that will prevent me from working there?

I should have pointed out that when I take the days due to scheduling conflicts, I don't lie. I just put "off" on my calendar and deduct it from my sick days on my timesheet. I work in an office where we can do that. It makes far more sense to allow nurses that ability to plan ahead, but I know a lot of places don't. Our agency's fiscal agent is a large state university, and the sick leave policy is if you're out for more than 3 days, you need a note from the doctor. That way, it isn't the supervisor's call whether you "should" feel ready to return ot not and HR isn't dealing with resolving conflicts between supervisors and employees.

[barefootlady, ADN, RN]

I call and just give the facts, "flu, n/v, diarrhea and fever, etc. If I speak to the CN,HN, or supervisor and I feel like they are giving the hard time, I say excuse me, I have to throw up now and hang up. I wait 20 or 30 minutes and call back, they usually say "take the day." I do not call in often, maybe once or twice a year. I do not allow comments from coworkers get to me either, since they call in monthly. Sometimes we just need the day to rest, deal with personal matters, or whatever.

[jyoung1950]

I do not go to the doctor for cold or flu unless I am absolutely ready to die. They are viruses, they pretty much have to run their course, and I know enough to know when I have one. Therefore - my manager can ask for a doctor's excuse until the sky falls down, but she's not going to get it. This goes right along with my other post about being treated like a child. I do not ask others to prove they are sick, I simply wish them better days ahead and I expect the same respect. It is next to impossible to provide compassionate care for anyone when you, yourself are about to collapse. People who come to work sick do their patients and coworkers no favors.

Isn't it ironic that nurses, etc. work in an environment where people come in sick; therefore, illness happens and yet are not believed by the beings in charge that one could possibly be sick!

[ayndim]

Isn't it ironic that nurses, etc. work in an environment where people come in sick; therefore, illness happens and yet are not believed by the beings in charge that one could possibly be sick!

You know what scares me the most about RN's being pressured to work while sick. The patients. They aren't in the hospital for a little vacation. They are sick and many have compromised immune systems. Scary. Dear old Grandma in there for a hip replacement dies from a pneumonia given to her by her nurse. These managers who say they work even when sick need a reality check. Sends shivers up my spine. Certainly wouldn't want a sick nurse caring for me.

[RN4NICU, LPN, LVN]

You know what scares me the most about RN's being pressured to work while sick. The patients. They aren't in the hospital for a little vacation. They are sick and many have compromised immune systems. Scary. Dear old Grandma in there for a hip replacement dies from a pneumonia given to her by her nurse. These managers who say they work even when sick need a reality check. Sends shivers up my spine. Certainly wouldn't want a sick nurse caring for me.

Absolutely true. It's not like you don't have enough problems, just being in the hospital. I'd hate to go into the hospital for one thing and catch something else from my nurse. I'd be pretty mad!