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?

Specializes in Med-Surg, Neuro, Respiratory.

They don't ask us when we call in...previously, staff would get burned when calling in, so the union was notified and mgmt has left us alone since then.

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Specializes in Oncology; medical specialty website.
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.

i'm not picking on you, personally, but i just don't understand people who work under the conditions you describe. and people doubt the need for unions?

as a nurse, and as an oncology patient, if you had come near me as sick as you describe when i was going through chemo, you would have been politely but firmly told to get. out. now. immunocompromised patients do not need sick nurses trying to take care of them. they're already at higher risk for nosocomial infections. the last thing they need is a nurse with god-knows-what dragging in to take care of them.

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Specializes in Oncology; medical specialty website.
and

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:

​thank goodness. i was "honest to gosh" worried for you. that is an abusive facility. i hope when it comes to management, "what goes around comes around." congratulations on getting out.

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Specializes in Acute Mental Health.

ooo that's what I'm telling them next time.....I have the hershey squirts and cannot make the drive in 3hrs let alone the usual 45 minutes. They will probably tell me they will provide briefs for me though :)

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To ask you is a HIPAA violation. This practice should be discontinued because it is not legal.

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Specializes in Peds Medical Floor.

My last job would give you the third degree and usually would tell you to come in anyway. My favorite is when I was achy all over and exhausted and had a fever of 102....I was told to take some tylenol and come in. Or better yet they'd give me some tylenol there and if my temp didn't go down I could go home after the first med pass. :no:

My newer employer doesn't give me the third degree and doesn't beg me to come in, which is nice. However last time I called in I had a MAJOR upper respiratory infection. Achy all over, probably had a fever, SOB, spewing sputum all over the place, no voice, etc etc. My fellow nurses and aides and RT on the VENT UNIT I work on gave me a hard time about calling in. Yeah because a vent unit is where you want to be hacking up sputum and sneezing and having runny eyes and being SOB. Critical thinking, yeah!

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Specializes in Rehab, critical care.

I never have called in at my current job, but the one time I had to call in sick since I had a bad sinus infection, fever, nose dripping all over the place, I told them why I wasn't coming in (but I don't think you're obligated to, not sure). They didn't question whether I was sick or not since the next night for my assigned shift I still looked like garbage.

I personally don't believe in mental health day. I mean...seriously, who wants to come to work all of the time? There are times when I haven't seen my husband for a week or I haven't done anything remotely fun, but I don't call in just because I'd rather be at home. We do so because we're assigned to work, and the staff and patients are counting on us. I mean, if you're truly anxious to the point of not being able to do your job, then you need counseling, etc, but "mental health day" as most people use it is just a "don't feel like coming into work." We have PTO, and if you feel like you're burning out, you take a few days. Just my 2 cents.

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Specializes in Oncology.
i'm not picking on you, personally, but i just don't understand people who work under the conditions you describe. and people doubt the need for unions?

as a nurse, and as an oncology patient, if you had come near me as sick as you describe when i was going through chemo, you would have been politely but firmly told to get. out. now. immunocompromised patients do not need sick nurses trying to take care of them. they're already at higher risk for nosocomial infections. the last thing they need is a nurse with god-knows-what dragging in to take care of them.

that has always been my complaint. i don't want to be typhoid mary. it would kill me if i were to make any immunocompromised patient ill. i always made sure i would switch assignments if any were neutropeonic. this was my first job as an rn and it was extremely hard to come by. our market is flooded and my options were limited. i did see where you responded a second time. thank you and i am glad to be moving on. i saw chemo was past tense for you? hopefully successful? i envy the bravery of all onc patients, good health and continued blessings to you!

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Specializes in retired LTC.
They don't ask us when we call in...previously, staff would get burned when calling in, so the union was notified and mgmt has left us alone since then.
Good thinking!
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Specializes in ICU, ER, EP,.

I always reply 'personal reasons".Personally, I have NO intention of going to work sick!

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Specializes in Psych , Peds ,Nicu.

I am not sure it is Hippa but I thought it was illegal to ask an employee why they are calling in sick . I know when I get a note from my physician they only put illness in as the reason for being off work .

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Leave it to nursing... now we have to describe the reason we are sick!

#1 I am sick of working

#2 I am taking a mental health day

#3 I have the hershey squirts and cannot make the 45 minute drive

#4 I don't have to give any details.... I will not be in today!

Lmao... Hershey squirts. Bahahaha!!!

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