Why do I feel so guilt-ridden?

[huggietoes]

I use about 2 sick days per year, this week alone I had to call in 3 times for vomiting and diarrhea. Like on the bathroom floor in a puddle of my own vomit, can't stand up because I am too dizzy from dehydration sickness, yet I feel guilty for calling in. I have had these symptoms for the past week and managed to work 4 days out of seven, but just could not go in for those other 3. I am racked with guilt, maybe because I was told if I showed for work they would hydrate me with IV fluid so that I could work. I have worked in other professions and have never been made to feel so guilty for being ill. What is it with nursing that makes management feel we are expendible, have no lives outside of work, live to serve administration? I am just so depressed and fed up, I feel trapped, like I am in a dead end profession where I get little respect from management and even less from the patients. Thanks for letting me vent.

[DutchgirlRN, ASN, RN]

Occasionally I will call in sick because I need a mental health day. Anyone else out there feel the same. I can't remember the last time I called in sick because I actually was sick. However, when I do call in I stay home, rest and pamper myself all day. I think it's better than getting burned out completely.

P.S. Huggietoes......I wouldn't want you sick at work either. I hope you feel better soon.

[TracyB,RN, RN]

Huggietoes probably works where I work...LOL.... Where you are totally penalized for using too many sick days & possibly fired for being sick.... I have worked with sooo many nurses who have come to work when they have had NO business being around sick pts.. Our attendance policy is totally ludicrous & they also pull the same kind of crap, "are you sure you can't work?" well, I could as long as I carry a barf bag & wear a rectal bag at the same time... IV fluids to rehydrate so you can work your shift.... F*** that, I would be looking for a new job & quick!

[SmilingBluEyes]

Never feel guilty for a legitimate call-in! I, for one, would not appreciate your bringing such an illness to me or the patients. I can't afford to be out sick anymore than the next person. I would appreciate your staying home and getting better, so when you returned you would be able to perform your duties w/o problem.

Personally, I don't call out sick unless I am sick; this helps me not feel guilty at any time I call in. That is just me.

[Nurseboy1]

Look at it this way, if you are extremely sick How well are you going to be able to provide effective patient care for an entire shift? And I have to agree with others stay home and don't spread the germs. I sincerely hope you feel better soon.

[FZ1Tom]

Employers like this just flat burn me up!

Back in September I was forced to work an entire weekend, 15 hours Saturday, 12 hours Sunday, and 8 more on Monday with what turned out to be a systemic infection from my acute prostatis. I sweated so much that I passed out, woke up, passed out, woke up again, burned up, froze, gagged, gagged some more, till finally I woke up Tuesday morning virtually unable to breathe because I'd become hypoakelemic (K was 2.6) and went to the ER. All because the weekend on-call coordinator wasn't willing to find someone to fill in for me when I called him and said I probably needed to go to the ER. Said he wasn't happy and would talk to my boss about it - easier to have me fired, I guess. Unfortunately I still work for this outfit and I just found out my prostate is STILL infected and has to be operated on. The urologist said he could do the surgery after Xmas, but I scheduled it for this week anyway (mainly b/c I just want to get it overwith), when I informed my boss she made me feel like I was being punished for my transgressions; after all I've got extra shifts all the way through New Year's (working all of Xmas day and day after) she'd have to cover (I bet that terrifies her). Even had the nerve to say "well do what you got do, but don't cause yourself unnecessary pain" on the one hand, and in almost the same breath "I need you to work Christmas, you already took those shifts." I mean, what can I say to that, huh? Think I WANT to spend my birthday (12/23) and Christmas in the hospital? Surely ye jest!

My aunt and I were talking about my previous employer last year and their policies, etc and she asked me "why do you feel you should care about helping them out when its obvious they don't care about you?" and things just went CLICK.......just made complete sense.

Okay, rant off..........

Tom

[angel337, MSN, RN]

i had many jobs before nursing that had the same attitude toward sick time. you were penalized if you took too much time and you were the bad guy if you called in even just once. i learned a long time ago that if you don't care about yourself, know one else will either. it's all a big game they play to make you feel that their establishment will fall down if you are not there. guess what?? if you quit tomorrow they will replace you with another nurse. plain and simple. you come first. they will get over it.

[blessed02]

Huggiestoes and Tom you both need to put your health first and hope you both feel better soon.

Employers like this just flat burn me up!

Back in September I was forced to work an entire weekend, 15 hours Saturday, 12 hours Sunday, and 8 more on Monday with what turned out to be a systemic infection from my acute prostatis. I sweated so much that I passed out, woke up, passed out, woke up again, burned up, froze, gagged, gagged some more, till finally I woke up Tuesday morning virtually unable to breathe because I'd become hypoakelemic (K was 2.6) and went to the ER. All because the weekend on-call coordinator wasn't willing to find someone to fill in for me when I called him and said I probably needed to go to the ER. Said he wasn't happy and would talk to my boss about it - easier to have me fired, I guess. Unfortunately I still work for this outfit and I just found out my prostate is STILL infected and has to be operated on. The urologist said he could do the surgery after Xmas, but I scheduled it for this week anyway (mainly b/c I just want to get it overwith), when I informed my boss she made me feel like I was being punished for my transgressions; after all I've got extra shifts all the way through New Year's (working all of Xmas day and day after) she'd have to cover (I bet that terrifies her). Even had the nerve to say "well do what you got do, but don't cause yourself unnecessary pain" on the one hand, and in almost the same breath "I need you to work Christmas, you already took those shifts." I mean, what can I say to that, huh? Think I WANT to spend my birthday (12/23) and Christmas in the hospital? Surely ye jest!

My aunt and I were talking about my previous employer last year and their policies, etc and she asked me "why do you feel you should care about helping them out when its obvious they don't care about you?" and things just went CLICK.......just made complete sense.

Okay, rant off..........

Tom

[canoehead, BSN, RN]

huggie, don't go in- I bet they will write you up if you barf in front of a patient. Bad for PR you know.

[ERNurse752, RN]

Oh man. That is just beyond low to tell you to come in for IVF so you can work. Just b/c you get fluids doesn't mean you're going to stop barfing and having diarrhea, anyway. Then you can just infect your coworkers and immunocompromised patients! :angryfire

Or, maybe you'll feel so sick you'll make a med error and kill someone. I'm sure they'd back you up 100% when CNN came calling. :stone

As soon as you feel better, do yourself a favor and turn in your notice!

[renerian, BSN, RN]

You did the right thing by not coming to work and spreading the illness.

renerian

[jschut, BSN, RN]

Hope you feel better! :)

[Sweetness]

You have to take care of yourself. By the same token, if you're ill, how can you effectively take care of anyone else?