nurses can't get sick.

5 ^{I work for a Peds homehealth care agency. I have been sick with a Uri and thought I would give the agency a heads up that I might not be better for my shift tomorrow night. I work with vent and trach kids. My boss was not nice on the phone nor understanding. What kind of world are we in when you can't be sick and you try to I do the right thing and get blasted for it? Kinda hurt my feelings. Why does doing the right thing theses days not matter?? Is it just me? If I had a vulnerable child no way would I a sick nurse care for my child!!}
The kind of world where you can't call out for being sick, but they don't want you showing up to work sick......

Don't EVER feel bad about calling out for taking care of your health!You boss was mad...AND???Dust yourself off, take care of YOU and get better!

Is the culture where you work this way about a lot of things, or is it more supportive in general, and this was a big surprise? If it's the former, it might be time to consider a new workplace.

Bottom line: you did the right thing. Employers are just focused on the hassle of finding shift coverage. Eff it. You did good and don't ever let your feelings get hurt for something like this. It's nothing to waste emotional energy over.

Sorry that happened. It's one of those "no good deed goes unpunished" situations wherein it becomes clear that the message is to wait until the the day of your shift to call in. In agency work I expect the person staffing cases to react with disappointment or an exasperated sigh, but actual hostility is unfair and unwarranted. Hope the job market is your area is such that you can find a more supportive agency to work for! Feel better soon!

Yep, you've run across one the most prevalent problems in nursing. You are going to have to figure out how not to give a crap what they think. Just keep doing what is right for your health.

I'm a private duty nurse too... when I'm sick-ish, I contact my patient's mom and let HER make the call whether she wants me near her kid or not.

Did you do what was best for the patients? Yes. End of discussion. Personally if she was rude about it I would go straight up the Chain of command and let them know.

You might want to add to that that staff nurses can't expect to take vacation hours on their weekend, evening, or night shifts because they are too difficult to replace

Well since they took sick leave and made it part of annual leave I have no reason not to take a weekend off if I wish. Not abusive but once a year or so.