Calling out sick

How often is too often? I have been at my current job for four months and called out two times. It's looking like I may have to call out again as I am not feeling well. Do you think I will get fired? A warning? Nothing? Other than this I am a great worker and always on time.
Quote from studentnurse9806How often is too often? I have been at my current job for four months and called out two times. It's looking like I may have to call out again as I am not feeling well. Do you think I will get fired? A warning? Nothing? Other than this I am a great worker and always on time.

Yes, three times in four months is a lot. Whether you get a verbal warning, written warning, or nothing will depend on the policy, but it is certainly enough to get you a reputation. If you're seriously sick (fever, GI bug, etc.), then you should stay home despite what people may think. Maybe you've just had a rough four months and your attendance will improve from now on. On the other hand, you may need to learn to suck it up and go to work even when you're "not feeling well." A cold or a headache, for example, are not legitimate reasons to stay home when you've only been at a job for a few months.

Yes, it is too much. But it does depend on the policy where your work.I am sorry you don't feel well, it may be better for you to cut back your hours and not end up fired. You can work less hours without calling in sick then after a while increase your hours or offer to be available for extra shifts?Visit a doctor, a young ? healthy ? adult (I assume that is what your are) shouldn't have so many sick days?

As the nurse manager of whatever unit you're on, I'd pretty much expect you to be calling in DEAD if it was the third time in just a few months.

Look through your orientation packet - you should have received a copy of your facility's absenteeism policy. The policy will outline each step of the process: how many occurrences to receive a written warning, how many occurrences equal automatic termination, etc.I am a strong advocate of not working while ill. However, you can't just call out for a headache, stubbed toe, etc. Sometimes we all have to work under less than ideal circumstances. Do you have an underlying chronic health issue that your employer needs to be aware of?

Three times in the first four months is too much. Last weekend I was feeling horrible. Sick as dog. Barely got any sleep, and my throat was sore. Getting out of a cozy warm bed to drive in negative degree weather was like a hard kick to the stomach. I went in and worked the two twelves and SLEPT a lot the next day.I'm not a proponent of working while sick, but some employers are not as understanding. I am in my fifth month of this job with one call-off that I didn't even know was considered a call-off (it's a long story, and even the charge nurse didn't think it should've been counted against me.) Had I been a longtime worker, I would have called off. As a newbie and bottom of the totem pole, however, I need to make a great impression and having three call-offs/two occurences in five months doesn't look good to anyone. Better to come in sick and be sent home than have a laundry list of call-offs on your record.I don't agree with this work-like-a-dog mentality, and it is sad that in the healthcare field, we are expected to be robots with perfect health all the while taking care of very sick patients. We promote health for others, but not for ourselves. :/

I suppose it depends on the health conditions that resulted in your calling off. I personally feel that any contagious illness (GI, running a temperature > 101, rash, etc) warrants asking your charge nurse/NM. We have a "sick line" at my hospital which allows us to report such illnesses and we are discouraged from coming in if it could put our patient's health at risk (which for any contagious illness is a real possibility). Or, if your physician specifically takes you out of work, and you have a legitimate notice … that's another thing too. And, of course, this is going to be at the discretion of your employer.

It doesn't matter if you always have a great attitude and are never late, that only goes so far. If I called out every time I woke up and my throat felt scratchy or had a headache or maybe should have skipped the second glass of wine last night, I'd be out of a job and I think a lot of other people would be too.

If you can work then work. You never know what's going to happen in the future and you may burn one of your callouts for a reason you could have worked through. Don't put your job at risk. Like another poster mentioned, if everyone called out for the simplest reasons then no one would ever work.

Ok, I have read the above discussion, but still the question looms in my head..."If you have X number of sick days, why can't those sick days be used, as long as the call off is done as per policy? Why are we making nurses feel terrible about using their sick days that they have earned?" I feel like we are killing ourselves with this issue, insisting that nurses work when we don't feel good, regardless of the illness or condition. If you feel crappy, it's hard to work. This is one issue in nursing that has been around forever that I wish we could find a solution for. It would have to begin with better staffing by management, to be able to absorb call-ins. (OK, rant over, thanks for listening.)

Certainly it's all up to your facility's policy. In the real world, 2 call offs in the first 4 months of employment would lead to dismissal.If you want the job, drag yourself in no matter what.

Quote from studentnurse9806How often is too often? I have been at my current job for four months and called out two times. It's looking like I may have to call out again as I am not feeling well. Do you think I will get fired? A warning? Nothing? Other than this I am a great worker and always on time.