New Job & Covid. WWYD?

[OneWildBiscuit]

I started a new job last Monday (I'm a community psychiatric nurse) and have really loved my first week

I'd been WFH for a year prior to this job. By Wednesday I was feeling particularly fatigued, which I put down to the adjustment back to commuting and working within a busy environment. On Thursday night I had body aches and felt even more fatigued. Went into work on Friday and felt fairly grim all day. Colleague suggested a covid test, which was positive 😔🤢.

Spoke to my manager to see if there are still any protocols in place regarding covid, and she said there aren't, and if I feel well enough to return to work after the weekend I can, but no pressure if I don't.

Despite this, I feel quite anxious about the prospect of having to be off sick this soon into a new role. Am I being silly?

If you're sick you're sick. Stay home, rest and get better. 💜

If you’re not well enough then your really shouldn’t go in. It doesn’t matter how long you’ve been there, you’re ill and will be doing everyone else a favour by not spreading it around.

If you’re unwell stay at home

It's understandable to feel worried, but presumably as a CPN you're aware that people living with severe mental illness have poorer health outcomes and are more vulnerable if you spread COVID to them.

If you're unwell, you're unwell. Turning up sick and potentially infecting SUs is going to make a worse impression on your new colleagues than taking a short period of sick leave.

Yes - obviously that's at the forefront of my mind, particularly as I work with the over 65 age group. I'm just anxious about having to take time off sick so early into a new role.

If you don't want to be off sick in a new job do you have a laptop/remote access?
If you are feeling a bit better by tomorrow can you work from home for a couple of days so you're not risking vulnerable people.
I'm in similar role and there's certainly stuff I could do by telephone, online training etc for a day or 2

I'm afraid not. Still waiting to get all IT/ systems access etc sorted and no laptop or mobile as yet (these things take time in the NHS unfortunately). Even if I could work remotely, I feel absolutely grim and can basically only manage a few minutes upright before I need to go back to bed 🤢

Your manager sounds decent and realistic, helped by you testing positive whilst at work! Your sector is really under staffed currently, so I would imagine that they'd prefer you to get well so you can go back firing on all cylinders! Just take the time off and keep in touch.

My manager has been sooo lovely and understanding, so I feel a lot more at ease now.

Just the dreaded covid symptoms to overcome now. 😊