YES, I do need a note! (long RANT!!)

TazziRN, RN · May 14, 2006

I think the original poster meant people who take a relative to the doctor and want a note to get off work, not to excuse the absence. I see that alot in the ER: a spouse or other relative who come to the ER with the pt, and want an excuse to stay home with the pt that night or the next day, when the pt is not that sick. Of course, for a child it would be different, but if I take my husband to the doc for a cold and ask for a note to stay home and take care of him, I should be ashamed of myself.

papergirlRN · May 14, 2006

Maybe that is what she meant. At any rate. . . . I just saw that and thought, "I do that!". But before my mom got sick, I never missed a lot of work before - and was never even late!

I can see how I may have misunderstood.

Nurse-o-Matic · May 14, 2006

When you finish school, you could try looking for an afternoon shift, like 3-11 for example, and schedule mom's appointments in the morning. That would cut down on missed work time. Also, you could take a part time job when you graduate and then put yourself down as available to work extra shifts if needed. That way you will have more flexibility for unpaid time off if you need it.

HappyNurse2005, RN · May 14, 2006

I've been asked for a note once or twice. I can remember writing one recently-the pt was a 40 something yhear old man, his son was in college, and had been with him all day onday of his surgery (cabg) and wanted a note that he was there all day. whether or not the college excused him from that class was up to them. i got the pt's permission (since technically it would have been revealing his info) and gladly wrote him a note.

weekend warrior, BSN, RN · May 14, 2006

I havent' seen the original post you are talking about, but they probably meant people that ask for a note when that person does not need to be there.

We had people do that all the time in the ER. People who were there just to be there , then asking for a note- I worked in a pediatric ER, so not the parents who obviously needed to be there as the patient's caregiver ( like yourself ) but also their aunts, uncles, cousins etc... sometimes just blatant too, kids who would come in for a sore throat but their aunt/uncle needed a note? They shouldnt' have even been there in the ER. We have way too many 'visitors' in the ER that are not supposed to be there.

Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN · May 14, 2006

quote from another thread: this is a bit off-topic, but what about family members who come and hang out with mom or whoever is being tx'd, then ask the dr. for a work excuse for themselves ? duh.

interpreted that to mean those that ask for a work excuse simply to get out of going to work, simply because they didn't want to go to work. i couldn't believe how many people would accompany their brother or sister for a local mole removal, and then would procede to ask the surgeon for 3 weeks off. ridiculous.

TazziRN, RN · May 14, 2006

Interpreted that to mean those that ask for a work excuse simply to get out of going to work, simply because they didn't want to go to work. I couldn't believe how many people would accompany their brother or sister for a local mole removal, and then would procede to ask the surgeon for 3 weeks off. Ridiculous.

:yeahthat: Much better example than mine!!! I never mind giving someone a note saying "John Q. was in the emergency room on 1-2-03 with a sick family member." That's not excusing him from work, that's helping him explain to his boss where he was and why....whether it's excused or not at that point is up to his boss.

Princess74 · May 14, 2006

Papergirl I am in the same situation with my mom as your are in, so I totally understand. My employer requires a Dr's note for any tardy or absence from work. Just to tell you how bad they are, last year I had to wear a holter monitor for 24 hours, my boss could clearly see the top leads peaking out from my shirt. I had to leave work a few minutes early to go get it removed and they still insisted on a note. Um yeah, I keep a heart monitor laying around my house just in case I decide that I want to leave work early. Some employers are just over the top with these Dr notes! Needless to say when I told the Dr about it he looked at me in disbelief.

I had the same problem last month when I had to leave work 30 minutes early to take my mom to the ER, I am still on my bosses sh*t list for leaving early. Jeez, her BP was 210/118 and she was tacky. The DR would not give me a note to prove that I had been at the hospital because she thought that my work was being ridiculous, she told me to copy my moms paperwork and give that to them. I almost got fired over the whole deal. Some employees need to get a grip!!

Jolie, BSN · May 14, 2006

Are you eligible for federal Family and Medical Leave Act protection?

Generally speaking, if you have been employed for over 1 year, work at least 20 hours per week, are eligible for benefits from your employer, and work for a medium to large employer, you may be entitled to this protection. It allows you to take up to 12 weeks unpaid time per year to care for yourself or a family member. This time does not have to be taken all at once. It may be "parceled out" as half days or full days off work as needed to accomodate your mother's care.

Contact your HR department to see if you qualify, learn your responsibilities, and obtain the paperwork necessary to establish your FMLA protection.