Would you call in sick?

Nurses General Nursing

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Hi all,

Just want your opinion on whether or not you would call out for this.

I took a new job, which I sincerely regret because I hate almost everything about it, except for the kids I care for. The job itself, the hours, some of the team members etc. I love caring for the population, but all that stuff coupled with a 2 plus hour commute each way is making the job insufferable! I am of course in the process of looking for a new one...

I have been schedule on nights this week after being on days for a few weeks and today is night number two and I have slept a whopping three hours in about 36 hours. I tried sleeping today and woke up after about 2 hours and I could not go back to sleep, so I ended up just getting up.. Because my commute is so long and the shifts are 12 hours there isn't more time for me to try again, thus I am truly beyond exhausted, to exhausted to safely drive or care for patients. If this were you would you call out? I am on orientation and I don't want to get fired for calling out, but at the same time it means I don't count as a body on the shift.

Annie

Yes...You could hurt yourself or someone else driving or practicing nursing when you're that tired. Protect others and save yourself by calling in. Then find a job closer. :coffee: Take care of yourself!

Specializes in Psych ICU, addictions.

If you are too tired to provide safe nursing care, then IMO call out.

However, this needs to be an exception and not the rule. You need to address the underlying problems here: a 12 hour shift plus a 4 hour commute. There's 16 hours minimum of your day taken up. Add in the fact that shifts (and commutes) are often longer than that means that you're only getting 6 hours or so to live the rest of day out: eating, sleeping, fun, etc.

Do you really want to keep going like this? CAN you? Only you can decide that. Perhaps this is perfectly doable to you for the long-term and this is just a rare blip of fatigue. Or perhaps you are starting to realize that you might have bit off more than you can chew. Again, only you know that answer.

Though FYI, the "exhausted" excuse will only work so many times before they decide that perhaps they should replace you with a nurse who doesn't spend 1/6 of her day commuting. So be careful playing that excuse card.

Best of luck whatever you decide.

Specializes in Adult Primary Care.

I hope you stayed home and got some sleep!!!!

I generally call out four days a week, but always dumbfounded when they respond with, "It's...your...day...off! Stop calling!" I'm just trying to be professional and let them know I won't be in that day!

Specializes in Palliative, Onc, Med-Surg, Home Hospice.
I generally call out four days a week, but always dumbfounded when they respond with, "It's...your...day...off! Stop calling!" I'm just trying to be professional and let them know I won't be in that day!

That is to funny! Thanks for the laugh!

Specializes in ED, Pedi Vasc access, Paramedic serving 6 towns.
I generally call out four days a week, but always dumbfounded when they respond with, "It's...your...day...off! Stop calling!" I'm just trying to be professional and let them know I won't be in that day!

LOL... Too funny! I never called out sick when I was a full time medic, because I loved it (sigh). Nursing not so much...

Specializes in ED, Pedi Vasc access, Paramedic serving 6 towns.

Thank you everyone for the comments. I did call out sick, as again it just wasn't safe for me to care for patients or drive! Alas the applications and resumes are out there, so I am hoping I find a closer to home job soon, that doesn't involve flip flopping shifts and catty people stuck in an office space the size of a small closet!

annie

Yes that amount of sleep deprivation is probably about equal to driving drunk.

Specializes in ED, Pedi Vasc access, Paramedic serving 6 towns.

..and I slept soundly for 12 glorious hours! I felt like a new woman today!

If you are too "exhausted to safely drive or care for patients"... then YES you should call in sick. I would highly recommend you keep your eyes open and look/apply for other jobs. No need to kill yourself over this job. You can't take care of other people if you don't take care of yourself. Put yourself FIRST!

Nursing schools worldwide love to tout a (naive) doe-eyed, unrealistic/ unsustainable, abusive, self-neglecting, sunshine farting rainbows Florence Nightingale kind of martyrdom... which is just plain STUPID. Follow that model and you'll be crippled with musculoskeletal injuries (or worse, die of some acquired infection... ahem...remember when SARS? EBOLA? reached out neck of North America) before your career has even really started.

You are important, you health is important and you are worthy of taking care of and safeguarding your health. Never let some moron convince you otherwise or try to guilt you into over-extending yourself/put yourself (and consequently others) at increased risk for harm. Eff em! Call in sick ;) That's why this cash-rich hospitals/intuitions call on staffing agencies or per diem nurses to fill in the gaps... aka: they don't care about you. You as a nurse are disposable, however in your circumstances, you have a legitimate reason to call in sick, because extreme sleep deprivation and exhaustion are a serious health concern.

TAKE GOOD CARE OF YOURSELF AND YOUR HEALTH FIRST!

Specializes in Mental Health, Gerontology, Palliative.
Well I disagree. You took this job knowing about your commute. You must of known about the lack of time between shifts. You've created this mess, now you have to deal with it. If I was your employer and I found out you were calling in sick because of the commute I would let you go immediately.

Dear newgradnurse.

Can i suggest you show a little compassion. There but for the grace of god go i. And you never know one day that you may be in a similar position

Op, it sounds like this schedule is not sustainable. I hope you are able to find something closer to home

Dear newgradnurse.

Can i suggest you show a little compassion. There but for the grace of god go i. And you never know one day that you may be in a similar position

Op, it sounds like this schedule is not sustainable. I hope you are able to find something closer to home

newgradnurse sounds like they're still a squeeky GREEN #newgradnurse (according to their profile, s/he is licensed as of July :lol2::roflmao:...Basically, inexperienced and completely ignorant to the realities of nursing or how this situation should be handled. Give it time. In the meantime, everyone ignore and have second-hand embarrassment for newgradnurse . You don't drag another nurse when you haven't even been in the game for a hot second, and have NO real experience to help you fully understand the complexities of the situation. Calm down, and have some empathy for your colleagues... your (nursing) colleagues are your allies and the ones who will actually help you survive this brutal profession.

To the OP... call in sick. End of story.

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