Terrified to call in sick.... wwyd?

[FTMFML]

I've been poorly the past week with this dreaded cold going about.
Yesterday was even worse, and today I haven't been out my bed. Spiking temps all night and struggling to keep them under control with Ibuprofen/Paracetamol and no duvet!

I'm due on Christmas nightshift...
I really don't want to phone in sick, people always piss take on Christmas so ho doubt they'll be short already.
But OH is adamant I do....

Would you leave it longer or phone in now to allow them to try and get cover?
(I work as a nurse)

12 hour shift sounds ridiculous

no dont go in and make more people sick-thats ridiculous

Why has 12 hour shift pattern never been changed, it seems crazy, why can’t there be 3 x 8 hour shifts in a 24 hr period?

Phone in sick. You can't possibly do your job feeling the way you do and as other people have said, you would be putting your patients at risk.

Hope you'll soon be feeling much better.

Because you need a handover period for a start.

Honestly OP I think that’s poor, if a patient has covid surely the last thing they need is your cold aswell? You no they aren’t all the same and you can catch more than one at once, so working with covid patients isn’t better than working with anyone else. I no you and your colleagues do an amazing job and are under insane pressure, I think you are all amazing. But you are sick, so call in sick!

If you're sick, you're sick. Yes, the timing sucks but there's not much you can do about it.

I once had to call in sick to a customer-facing sales job two Easter weekends in a row - both times because I needed a wisdom tooth removed last-minute. The second time I offered to show my boss a photo of the massive tooth they removed as I was so worried he wouldn't believe me

Honestly - shit happens. Give them as much notice as possible and then go back to bed!

You can’t work, you just have to give them as much notice as possible.

Honestly phone in sick. I spent many years feeling needlessly guilty about being off, now I just ask myself the question- am I too poorly to work? If the answer is yes then I do so and don't feel bad as I know I'm being honest. I am also a HCP so I do understand the strain and guilt of being short staffed and the judgement of some when off at Xmas etc; but it's just a job, you come first and they will have to sort it out.

Going against the grain here, if one of my staff rang in 36 hours prior to say they weren’t coming in on Christmas night shift? Not impressed. Also, not all areas can get agency fill, often can’t go to agency until less than 12 hours per shift start time.
I would see how you are tomorrow morning.
hope you feel better.

We started looking at changing shift patterns in our Board and one of the major Unions told us to stop as their members would not want it.

OP - are you due in tonight or tomorrow night? If it’s tomorrow is there a chance you might feel better tomorrow? If it’s tonight I’d phone in sick, if it’s tomorrow I’d phone your manager and give them the head’s up that there’s a possibility you won’t be in.

Hope your feeling better soon OP! You have to ring in sick! Last year I felt crap ringing in before night shifts as I woke up (after being on the night prior) to feeling unwell! Took a lateral flow... and it was positive.. had been sharing a car with my colleague the night/morning prior at work and it was Christmas Eve night shift. I felt very guilty but there's nothing you can do xx

Also fellow nurse. I much prefer my 13 hour shifts rather than earlys or lates. I feel like I complete the day, I hate coming on as a late as I feel like I'm just trying to catch my tail from what the early shift has left.
I have a better work life balance! If I'm finishing late that is only happening 2-3 times per week rather that 4-5 times per week on shorter shifts!

@user764329056 it would have to be 8.5 hours for handovers. I would start work at half 3/4pm finish at 12am/12:30 and travel home.... a lot of people use public transport, I would also hate to travel to work for midnight!

That should read *I would hate to start work at 3:30/4pm then finish at 12am-12:30.

@namechange3394
@Mumsfret1976

Duh - too little sleep last night and I misread what op said.

Phone in sick. If you were my nurse I’d be asking for someone else instead. No one wants a cold like that over Christmas. They’ll be getting cover.

Phone in sick - no question

If one of my colleagues arrived for their shift tomorrow and was obviously unwell I wouldn’t be very grateful! I would be sending you straight home because I don’t want it!

I would be so cross! You must know first hand how many vulnerable people will end up on ventilators this year. That's if one is available. Please keep it to yourself of you can!

But you are special too, so don't feel guilty about doing it for your own well being, you can't look after others whilst dragging yourself about like that!

Try and have a restful one Xx

Quite agree. The old system was much better.

Phone in sick in plenty of time. If you’ve been unwell all week they’ll probably expect it anyway. Get well.

I had to do it once. The worst thing was that I was better by then. But due to the 48 hour rule I could t do it. Fortunately my colleagues know me very well and know I wouldn't swing the lead. Ended to having coffee and cake at a motorway services. As I had nothing else to do and my parents didn't want me at theirs. As my dad had had minor surgery.

If you can work with patients with colds/Covid then if you think you can struggle through with medication then I am sure work will appreciate it. Otherwise ring in early to allow work to get cover if possible.

If you are already sick you are on sick leave no? So they already know you are sick so calling in saying you have gotten worse is not that big an issue surely

You can offer to work new year if you feel bad