Why Nurses Book Off Work

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I joined a fairly new consumer/victim advocate site about a month ago. A couple of days ago someone posted an interesting post under Occupations regarding why nurses book off of work and the whole issue of nurses not being respected. In the post the person included a link to some Canadian research that was done on the subject which I really thought was interesting. I'm curious if anyone knows of any similar research done in other countries? In addition of whether or not anyone here has ever booked off of work for similar reasons. Here's a link to that post.

Nursing Credentials Not Respected

Specializes in NICU.

Ok first off, "book off work" is a Canadian expression meaning to take off work or "call in" (such as for sickness) and does not mean the op is incoherent. The study linked within the personal post linked is probably what the op was most likely referring to since it is from an actual research study. I have been interested in this subject as well. Another interest related to this post is burnout in nursing since it covers more reasons (including lack of respect) of why nurses can be unsatisfied with their jobs and thus contributing to taking time off of work. Here is a link to one such study dated 2005: http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-149213873.html

Personally, I think I have called in sick maybe 3 days due to "burnout" in my 3 years of nursing due to my patient assignment circumstances and feeling very overwhelmed and being emotionally exhausted. I just needed time to recuperate and couldn't face going in to work the following day. Not working overtime, having more experience, and a more consistent work schedule has helped me tremendously and I look forward to going to work now.

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Specializes in LTC & Teaching.

My appologies for creating any confusion.

"Booking Off Work" is a term that is commonly used (in our community at least) with regards to calling in to your employer that you're not going in for a shift. Other wise known as "calling in sick".

Personally I can relate to the thread that I attached, because of this whole issue of a lack of respect. When ever I have had to send a memo to one of my supervisors, I have always indicated their professional credentials beside their name. Yet, that same level of respect is never returned. I'll get a memo from a nurse supervisor where my name is referenced at the top (with no credentials) yet the supervisor will mention their professional credentials at the bottom. As I indicated in one meeting with a nurse manager and a union rep present, I stated that if managers want respect from their staff, it has to go both ways.

Most Physicians (that I know of) will get bent out of shape if their professional credentials are not recognized. For example they expect you to address them as Dr. Yet, many of the same doctors will not show that same level of respect back. I think that's what the Canadian research was pointing to. The fact that nurses are calling in sick more because of the level of frustration that they are experiencing of not being respected. Recognition of professional credentials is part of it.

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Specializes in MPCU.

The error was in this small phrase "and in many cases by their own unions (if applicable)." If you read between the lines of the TOS you would know "Thou mayest not make any statement which implieth that thine union is less than perfect." Otherwise, your post will be selectively edited, deleted or vilified. Since you did not directly say anything anti-union, you were only vilified. You may then protest; and by the time it is reviewed, your comments will have no relevance. But that is off topic (and therefor, subject to the most stringent interpretation of the TOS .)

I agree, we receive less respect than we deserve. Still, writing Woodenpug, RN, BSN, AS, AA, pccn, seems a bit arrogant. We want to connect and those titles seem to make a rift between us and our patients. Expecting respect, seems a little like Nurse Ratchet in that movie.

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When I worked as a hospital nurse, I "booked off" work all the time, only I called it "calling out sick". I've maintained jobs (this was back in the 90's) when I only made it to work about 1/2 the time. I could give a hundred or more reasons I didn't want to be there. Bottom line was when I was going into work I felt like I was going into hell. Some days I just couldn't force myself anymore. I didn't care if I ended up jobless and homeless, I didn't care about burning bridges, I didn't care about getting a bad reference. Anything was better than working as a hospital bedside nurse. Since I left hospital bedside nursing for good in 1999, I don't think I've ever called out sick.

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PS It would not have made one iota of difference to me WHAT anyone put after my name. My perception of being in hell had nothing to do with whether or not anyone addressed me as R.N.

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Specializes in LTC, Agency, HHC.
What do you mean by "book off work"?

Call in sick

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Specializes in LTC, Agency, HHC.

My husband was a bus driver and he would "book off".....means to call in sick. It is a term also used by transit bus drivers here in the US.

I don't call in sick because I am not addressed as "LPN." The thing that irritates me is at work they will put up a memo to "NURSES: RN's & LPN's".......huh? Are there other nurses that work here besides RN or LPN? Haha! I don't care that you don't put my credentials behind my name. However, I am working my butt off toward that RN/BSN. When I earn that, am I more deserving of letters behind my name? :lol2:

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Well, I work in Canada and yes, I've called in and used the sick time when I've been fed up to the backteeth with the workload, families from hell, or the odd co-worker who was a total witch was going to be Charge for the entire weekend.

I don't care if my educational creds aren't behind my name (nobody even knows I've completed a BA in the last year nor would they care).

I do care when memos come addressed to Nurses and LPNs but they are becoming less frequent as the dinosaurns are retiring.

I do object to being pushed to the side by my union. For some reason LPNs are in the same bargaining unit as service aides, dietary staff and protective services. We are the only ones that require a two year diploma and a yearly practice permit.

Now, the way I see it is sick time is there to be used. I drop down dead from stress and the banked sick hours go to the hospital, my family don't get paid for them.

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Specializes in LTC, Hospice, Case Management.
Personally I can relate to the thread that I attached, because of this whole issue of a lack of respect. When ever I have had to send a memo to one of my supervisors, I have always indicated their professional credentials beside their name. Yet, that same level of respect is never returned. I'll get a memo from a nurse supervisor where my name is referenced at the top (with no credentials) yet the supervisor will mention their professional credentials at the bottom. As I indicated in one meeting with a nurse manager and a union rep present, I stated that if managers want respect from their staff, it has to go both ways.

As a manager in LTC I find your comment interesting. I often address memos to a specific nurse and never..ever..use their credentials. BUT, I always sign my name and credentials. Do I do this as a matter to purposely being disrespectful??? Certainly not & it never crossed my mind that it even was disrespectful!!! I sign my name Nascar Nurse RN to everything I do at work...it just all runs together. Heck sometimes I find it even comes out automatically when I write a check at the grocery store, when I sign a permission slip for my kid to go on a field trip, etc. (Surely I'm not the only goof ball to send in a check for school lunch money with "RN" behind my name - I don't mean to do it, it just runs out of my pen that way, really)!

I would think if this is the most "disrespectful" thing your boss does to you then you have a pretty great job.

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Specializes in MPCU.
As a manager in LTC I find your comment interesting. I often address memos to a specific nurse and never..ever..use their credentials. BUT, I always sign my name and credentials. Do I do this as a matter to purposely being disrespectful??? Certainly not & it never crossed my mind that it even was disrespectful!!! I sign my name Nascar Nurse RN to everything I do at work...it just all runs together. Heck sometimes I find it even comes out automatically when I write a check at the grocery store, when I sign a permission slip for my kid to go on a field trip, etc. (Surely I'm not the only goof ball to send in a check for school lunch money with "RN" behind my name - I don't mean to do it, it just runs out of my pen that way, really)!

I would think if this is the most "disrespectful" thing your boss does to you then you have a pretty great job.

It's not that. The idea is that you feel that your titles are more important, or why would you not include mine?

claiming that it was just a half witted decision, like signing rn for a check is insulting. First, I've almost made that mistake, but caught myself. Second, shouldn't you have enough respect for me to not simply say "it just runs out of my pen that way, really" Shouldn't I deserve a little more thought than you give to a casual task?

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Specializes in PACU, OR.

Not putting my credentials after my name doesn't bother me; in fact, when I am supposed to put my credentials after my name you can barely make out the squiggle!

However, the practice of our HR department irritates me so much that I have complained to one of the CEOs about it. Official correspondence is headed "Dear GHGoonette", no Mrs, Sister, Rn or even my first name. This indicates a total lack of respect for me and my colleagues, and a total lack of interest in their work and how it should be done.

The feelings of contempt are entirely mutual.

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Specializes in GERIATRICS,HOSPICE,MENTAL/PHYS DISABILED.

"Well, I work in Canada and yes, I've called in and used the sick time when I've been fed up to the backteeth with the workload, families from hell, or the odd co-worker who was a total witch was going to be Charge for the entire weekend.

I don't care if my educational creds aren't behind my name (nobody even knows I've completed a BA in the last year nor would they care).

I do care when memos come addressed to Nurses and LPNs but they are becoming less frequent as the dinosaurns are retiring.

I do object to being pushed to the side by my union. For some reason LPNs are in the same bargaining unit as service aides, dietary staff and protective services. We are the only ones that require a two year diploma and a yearly practice permit.

Now, the way I see it is sick time is there to be used. I drop down dead from stress and the banked sick hours go to the hospital, my family don't get paid for them."

I really enjoyed reading Fiona59 post, it was quite entertaining & I wholly agree with her. I really can't say that this particular situation bothers me because it doesn't. It's just not that important to me whether or not you sign my name with my credentials. I go to work everyday & bust my *ss, know that I am damn good @ what I do. My coworkers don't ever have to say it (although they do, because we all know what the real deal is). I mean, of all the craziness that pops in & out throughout my shift @ work, I just don't have time to dwell on inconsequential stuff. You can sign my name without the LPN on the end of it. If it makes you feel better about yourself to not acknowledge me, or if you like to make yourself feel as if you're better than other people, if all of this is gonna help you make it through your day/your life, then by all means go ahead. You do you. Just make sure that when that check comes in (that doesn't list my credentials on it either), that the amount is right.

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