When Should You Call Off Sick?

~PedsRN~, BSN, RN · Dec 21, 2015

I work in pediatrics. I get every URI that comes down the pipe. RSV will take down a grown woman! LOL!!!! If I called out every time I got the sniffles I would never work. I mask, take some sudafed, and power thru.

Oedgar · Dec 21, 2015

I would call off for fever, nausea/vomiting/diarrhea. Would go in with an average cold. That said, I have worked with some pretty uncomfortable problems. Twice broke a toe while getting ready for work and went on in. During a time I worked in my first physician office job, I used to get awful headaches for days on end. I think they were birth control pill related but who knows- I didn't have insurance so I never got checked out. I went to work so many times with those headaches. Worked though morning sickness; never missed a day of work for pregnancy stuff until I went into labor at 32 weeks. I laid in that bed on the Mag drip, worrying about my office, until the Mag made me so sick I just didn't care anymore.. and when the NICU came to speak to me about having a 32 weeker that also helped me to not care about work LOL. One thing about working in physician office is there is literally NOBODY else to do your job if it's a small office. At that time I was lucky because my doc did actually have two nurses. My most recent job I did have to miss one day because I had a stomach virus. Luckily the day was a sorta light one and other doc's nurse was able to deal with it.

Jensmom7, BSN, RN · Dec 21, 2015

My immune system is pretty much made of iron after 36 years in nursing, most of it in direct patient care.

I actually haven't had to call off sick in years, but if I had the flu, vomiting/diarrhea, fever, I would stay home.

I actually feel better if I have a mild cold and go into work (mild=slight sniffle, rare cough, no mucus production) than if I stay home.

caliotter3 · Dec 21, 2015

I got sick yesterday for the first time in ages, probably from reading this thread!

Lev, MSN, RN, NP · Dec 21, 2015

When your workplace penalizes you for calling out sick and gives you an occurence which you cant afford, it makes it really easy to let work decide if you are too sick to be there.

Elvish, BSN, DNP, RN, NP · Dec 21, 2015

If I wouldn't want someone who looks or sounds like me taking care of me, I call off. That pretty well covers contagious illnesses or uncontrollable body fluids.

I also called out the weekend after I miscarried and then one evening I wrecked my truck coming in to work so I missed that night as well.

I don't feel a lick guilty about calling out if I am sick, nor do I think it's right to guilt coworkers when they call off. The place was there long before we arrived and will be there long after we're not.

wanderlust99 · Dec 21, 2015

Are you guys not given sick time? What kind of hell hole are you working for??? It's there for a reason, please use it. None of your patients want an obviously sick nurse with a freakin mask taking care of them all day. Geez.

Elladora · Dec 21, 2015

Are you guys not given sick time? What kind of hell hole are you working for??? It's there for a reason, please use it. None of your patients want an obviously sick nurse with a freakin mask taking care of them all day. Geez.

The kind that harassed me while I was home sick with the flu. I had to go to the doctor for a work excuse. Even with that, I wound up temporarily blocking my work numbers and my DON's cell number from my phone because she would continually call me to tell me I had to find my own replacement. (Per policy, not with a doctor's excuse).

So yes, pretty much a hell hole.

mercurysmom · Dec 21, 2015

The kind that harassed me while I was home sick with the flu. I had to go to the doctor for a work excuse. Even with that, I wound up temporarily blocking my work numbers and my DON's cell number from my phone because she would continually call me to tell me I had to find my own replacement. (Per policy, not with a doctor's excuse).
So yes, pretty much a hell hole.

Yep. I've worked in a few places like that. When I was an LPN and also in school for my RN, I worked per diem at a little, privately owned nursing home. During my summer vacation, I dislocated my knee and had to go home early. I was scheduled to work at the NH for a few shifts, but had to call in because I was on crutches. The DON set me on the Mother of all Guilt Trips. Long story short, I ended up going in to work, passing meds while scooting myself around in an office chair with wheels. When I couldn't get close enough to the patients to give them their crushed meds in applesauce, the NA's repositioned the patients or moved the room furniture so that I could get to them.

I never thought about what I would do if there had been any kind of emergency, someone got really sick, or anyone saw me working in that condition and filed a complaint. That was about 25 years ago and it still makes me shudder.

Elladora · Dec 21, 2015

Yep. I've worked in a few places like that. When I was an LPN and also in school for my RN, I worked per diem at a little, privately owned nursing home. During my summer vacation, I dislocated my knee and had to go home early. I was scheduled to work at the NH for a few shifts, but had to call in because I was on crutches. The DON set me on the Mother of all Guilt Trips. Long story short, I ended up going in to work, passing meds while scooting myself around in an office chair with wheels. When I couldn't get close enough to the patients to give them their crushed meds in applesauce, the NA's repositioned the patients or moved the room furniture so that I could get to them.
I never thought about what I would do if there had been any kind of emergency, someone got really sick, or anyone saw me working in that condition and filed a complaint. That was about 25 years ago and it still makes me shudder.

Yowch. That's just awful!

Jensmom7, BSN, RN · Dec 21, 2015

31 years ago, when I went into premature labor, I called the hospital scheduler to let her know. Her response?

"So, you aren't going to be in today? How about tomorrow?"

Yeah, no.

NurseSpeedy, ADN, LPN, RN · Dec 21, 2015

Hahah! where I work, that will NEVER happen.Everyone would rather you run sick than run short
Basically, you can call in when you are dead. They dont care, and all the co workers get angry when you do call in, because then they are picking up your assignment too.

Sounds like the last facility I worked at. I called them two days before my scheduled shift stating that I was going to the doctor in the morning but had been exposed to influenza A and had all the symptoms. Yes, I had the shot. So did my mother-in-law and her boyfriend who had exposed us while out of state. Crap happens.

The PA told me the results for the test would be ready in 15 minutes, he was back in 5. Positive for type A. Contagious for 7 days. I had him write the sick note with the diagnosis on it. Faxed it to my employer.

They still called the evening before asking me "How are you feeling?"..."Like I have a 104 degree fever, dizzy, and wheezing because asthma doesn't like the flu"..."oh, we still haven't found anyone to cover your shift"..."I'm not able to come in". Not only was I not able to stand up without supporting myself with the wall, I wasn't potentially infecting over 100 residents.

Yeah, but other than the flu or profuse vomiting, I never call in when working in a facility. Home health (peds) on the other hand, the parents (well, most of them) don't want you coming in if you have anything contagious. Their child is fragile enough without being ill.