working sick...need advice:)

sjrn85 · Dec 26, 2005

Excuse me...you had a temp., and an influenza culture that was positive and your charge nurse wouldn't let you leave? Has she ever heard of infection control?

I know when you get sick sometimes you don't have the energy to fight back, but next time, if you need to call off, call off and don't let them bully you into coming in. You had a note to back you up. There should have been no question (unless you're someone who routinely abuses sick time).

This is just ridiculous; we need to stand up to abusive people like the charge nurse you described. She compromised your health, as well as the health of everyone you came in contact with. God forbid someone severely immunocompromised should have shown up in your ED!

Daytonite, BSN, RN · Dec 26, 2005

Well, this is probably the wrong thing to put out publicly, and I'm sure there'll be some who criticize me for this, but I would have put on a big show of having trouble breathing, acting like I was having trouble keeping my balance, telling everyone I felt really sick and sitting down and moaning that I just couldn't keep going. I would never say anything about needing to go home. I'd let them figure that out. If I was sitting down saying I couldn't move, what would they do? Get out a whip and give me 40 lashes to get up and get going? I don't think so. Like most other problems, they would have to deal with it.

Your first problem was calling work and only saying "I'm running a fever, I have a horrible cough and I'm dizzy". What I would have done is called in and said I won't be at work today. I'm sick. If they gave me that line, "take cold medicine and come in any way", I would have just said "I told you I'm not coming in. I can barely move," and then hang up before they can talk back.

scrmblr · Dec 26, 2005

when I "tried" to call in sick they told me that they were "really really short" and if I called in that would be the final nail in the coffin. I could just hear the breakroom comments "can you believe she had the nerve to come in sick?" or "who in the world calls in sick on Christmas?"

If I ever have to do this again, I will do it completely different. But, I just have to figure out what to do NOW...I honestly don't want to see this happen to anyone again. I really had to dig deep to make it through my shift.

As for "putting on a show" (that cracked me up, btw:)) I was pale and sickly looking...It wasn't a show:) Everyone knew how sick I was. In my demented little head, I kept thinking..."I'm not going to give her the satisfaction of making me whine" (I think it was the fever)

Bipley · Dec 26, 2005

Well, this is probably the wrong thing to put out publicly, and I'm sure there'll be some who criticize me for this, but I would have put on a big show of having trouble breathing, acting like I was having trouble keeping my balance, telling everyone I felt really sick and sitting down and moaning that I just couldn't keep going.

I disagree completely and I'll tell you why. When you put on a show and drama like that it is MORE than obvious what you are doing. Stop and think about patients you have had that do the same. As you are working with them you are doing the mental eye-roll thing.

We have a girl at work that does that. She doesn't get headaches, she get migraines. She doesn't have an upset stomach, she has violent N/V. She never gets papercuts, she gets gashes, if she tears a fingernail it isn't ... oh, this is really sore! It is.... OMG! IT'S RED AND RAW!

People giggle at her and ignore her. When all else fails she does as you suggest. Exaggerates everything and puts on quite the drama. THAT is worse than the gashes, red and raw, and everything else.

I wouldn't suggest doing that. People will laugh at the OP while doing an eye roll right in front of her or as soon as she turns her back.

If you are sick you are sick. There is no need for exaggerations and drama. Just stick to the facts and go home. Better yet, don't go to work in the first place.

sjrn85 · Dec 26, 2005

And that is when you say, "I'm sorry staffing is short, but I am too ill to work." Then hang up! (Then unplug the phone/let the ans. machine pick up, etc.) One of my co-workers once said, "No one is going to give you a medal of honor for dragging yourself in to work when you're sick." That was 20y ago, and I still believe that.

It's not your job to ensure staffing is adequate; that's the supervisor's job. If your supervisor is too stupid or shortsighted to realize how dangerous it is to have someone who is clearly unwell working, then she needs to not be a supervisor.

If you have an infection control dept., I would just casually ask what the policy would be about someone working who is febrile and has a + influenza culture. See what kind of response you get!

Undecided7 · Dec 26, 2005

I totally agree that when you call in sick- it's not ASKING- you are informing them. On the other hand I know at my hospital it is frowned upon to call in sick unless you are really on your death bed. I had diarrhea once and my charge RN got me an Immodium. Lately, all the staff have been coming to work sick with colds, bronchitis, flu, etc. Even our manager was coughing and blowing her nose this morning. It's just expected that if you can move at all, you should come in to work. Since when do most hospitals really care about the patients?? Sure they talk about infection control and all that but does your hospital allow you to take as many sick days as you need- for any kind of infection? In ours we get 7 times a year- regardless of reason. You could be in the hospital having surgery- it matters not. You get 7 "sick days" (they start the write ups at 5). It sucks because we all pass the infections to each other, to our families and kids, and to our patients. I guess they would have been exposed anyway just sitting in the ER, but still....patients and staff come LAST- at least in a corporate hospital.

SmilingBluEyes · Dec 26, 2005

I would strongly consider my options---mainly looking for another employment situation. This WILL happen again. Are you ready to deal with this again and again? And are you willing to expose sick patients like this again and again?

It's up to you, but I would definately consider leaving, if I possibly could.

SFCardiacRN · Dec 26, 2005

Scrmblr, I know exactly how you feel. I probably would have come in too, just to prevent all the not so hushed gossiping about calling in sick on a holiday. Where I work we have to have a "high satisfactory" evaluation rating in EVERY catagory for a merit raise. Our manager will give a lower rating to those who call in sick on holidays, just before or after vacation, or frequent Monday/Friday sickcall.

sjrn85 · Dec 26, 2005

Let the gossipmongers talk; they'll always find something to talk about, no matter how hard you try.

It's ridiculous to think that people are compromising the health of pts. and colleagues because of fear of idle talk or decreased raise. The second that influenza culture came back positive, she should have been out the door. (Actually, she shouldn't have been there to begin with, and she had a note to cover any chatter about "not really being sick.")

If I'd been a pt. and wound with influenza, I'd be seriously po'd to find out someone taking care of me came in to work when she was too ill to be there.

fergus51 · Dec 26, 2005

Honestly, I don't think there is anything to do about it NOW. The time to do something has passed. Learn from it and next time don't go in if you are sick. No one can make you go in sick.

Bipley · Dec 26, 2005

Let the gossipmongers talk; they'll always find something to talk about, no matter how hard you try.
It's ridiculous to think that people are compromising the health of pts. and colleagues because of fear of idle talk or decreased raise. The second that influenza culture came back positive, she should have been out the door. (Actually, she shouldn't have been there to begin with, and she had a note to cover any chatter about "not really being sick.")
If I'd been a pt. and wound with influenza, I'd be seriously po'd to find out someone taking care of me came in to work when she was too ill to be there.

I'm not debating the fact that she shouldn't have been there. But considering she really was ill and already looked ill, there was no reason for the drama. That's all. The drama is something people see though and I know I think to myself when I see someone putting on quite the show that if the drama and poor acting are necessary, the person must not be really sick.

It's easy to tell when people are ill vs. when they are putting on a show.