When calling in are you asked "what's wrong with you"

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I'm calling into work for tomorrows shift. The House Sup (or whoever is in the office) asks "well whats wrong with you" Is that legal? Am I under any obligation to tell them so? Where's MY HIPPA protection?

Bortaz - - good pickup on the neglected space! And I wonder about that nameless form that becomes the infection control nurse - is it painful??

I am sick should be all they need to know!

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Shapeshifters. Astro!

(Fringe fans will get it...)

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Specializes in Pulmonary, Transplant, Travel RN.

The night charge where I work was discussing this the other day. They are told not to ask questions, only to report "suspicious" call offs. Suspicious call offs are those where the person seems intoxicated or something of that nature.

It came up because another charge nurse was issued a warning for improper staffing procedures. Someone called off, and they asked if it was "flu related". The person calling off became irate and reported her. Basically, the charge nurse just wanted to know if they might be calling off again the next day or not, but that's not how they took it.

This is the policy though at my facility, and it is enforced. If you are at a facility where administration promotes giving those who call off the 3rd degree, there isn't much you can do about it. If you rebel against it, you'll must be labeled a troublemaker.

When in Rome, do as the Romans do.

We all float down here.

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Specializes in Reproductive & Public Health.
If we call in at our facility we're told "no" if they don't have enough staff to cover our shift. I have gone in to work sick throwing up with diarrhea because I couldn't call off. The other day a nurse had a 102.5 degree temp and the supervisor told her she couldn't leave. If we manage to actually successfully call of it's unpaid. We are allotted 3 "PC" days a year but they need to be scheduled one schedule in advance. Our two weeks of vacation has to be scheduled for the next year in November. The best part of all of this is I work on an Oncology unit. Needless to say I have walked around many shifts sick with masks in my pocket.

That is horrible. I spend a lot of time in peds onc with my daughter, and it makes me sick to think that management is forcing sick nurses to work, when it is MY KID that could suffer as a result. *****

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Specializes in school nursing, ortho, trauma.

I have to take the sick calls at my per diem job - i just usually ask IF they are sick. Occasionally, if we have something specific going around we'll get a mandate from the powers that be to ask about specific s/s, but i never ask for details unless that is the case.

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My facility doesn't require a reason either you're sick or you're child is sick...point blank...however don't get tagged on facebook at an amusment park...doesn't look good

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First of all it's HIPAA not HIPPA......and no you don't have protection from HIPAA as there is not protect health information and record involved. If you volunteer the information you have given permission for how to know why you are sick. A HIPAA violation would be if you were seen in the ED and you called in sick and she went and looked at your ED record to see if you were lying. Now a violation has occurred.

Now, technically by law you do not have to "report" but laws vary state and there are laws that govern healthcare employees and communicable diseases. So, there is a line that can be drawn where an employee can assert a right to medical privacy. But if your facility has a policy governing your sick call procedure you must abide by the policy. They can also require a physician note to return if over a certain amount of time.

The reality is employees actually have very few "rights". To keep up good relations....make something up....tell them you have food poisioning and are vomiting. But I wouldn't go to the local night club or baseball game and get caught on camera.

I appreciate this information.I can understand where it would be necessary to inform the facility I may have a contagious disease.

However., I am a health care professional! I know what reportable symptoms are... and I RESENT being questioned like a child.

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Specializes in Oncology.

I just say that I am sick. No need to explain myself. Though the only time I ever called off sick was for something awful and I was out a week, I had a doctor's note that stated I was infectious and could not work until after so long of being on antibiotics or whatever.

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You're having wild monkey sex with a werewolf you met during the supermoon........

And your HIPPA security doesnt exist.

Or in the call room with the randy hospitalist.....oh, wait, another thread.......

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MistyWP,RN:

Quadruple-Acccckkkk.

I do hope you have your radar on high and as soon as anything the slightest bit better opens up in this cruddy economy that you go work somewhere that at least provides you with a more reasonable sick-day policy.

The economy will turn. Stay in your bunker for now doing your best work, but make sure you have someone or something (your resume and networking/contacts) on 'point' 24/7. *Hugs*

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Specializes in Oncology.
mistywp,rn:

quadruple-acccckkkk.

i do hope you have your radar on high and as soon as anything the slightest bit better opens up in this cruddy economy that you go work somewhere that at least provides you with a more reasonable sick-day policy.

the economy will turn. stay in your bunker for now doing your best work, but make sure you have someone or something (your resume and networking/contacts) on 'point' 24/7. *hugs*

and

that is horrible. i spend a lot of time in peds onc with my daughter, and it makes me sick to think that management is forcing sick nurses to work, when it is my kid that could suffer as a result. *****

thank you both, they had me feeling like i am crazy at times telling me it's like this everywhere. i'm not a young pup, i know logically that isn't true but when you're fed "the company line" for so long you start doubting your own beliefs. (this is my first hospital job, i was a mid life career changer) i only stuck it out at this facility until it was time for us to move, which thankfully is now. i have wanted to leave since last october but it seemed unfair to leave there and start at another job for 6 months. plus it would have probably taken that long in my area to find a new job. anyway, my current hospital i am at is very dangerous and i feel like i risk my license every night that i punch in. i am elated to be leaving. only 8 more working days! woot! woot!:w00t:

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Specializes in ER.

Nope. Not asked.My last job was the third degree, giving you guilt, please find someone else to cover for you kind of gig. It got old fast and it was on my list of reasons to leave. As someone said, not my job to staff the er or the hospital for that matter. It's called float pool. Get one!

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