[tlam]

5 times in 15 months is not excessive, you sound like you are looking to discredit me, why would you want to do that? and I am sorry people should not have to go to work vomiting and having diarrhea all over and the flu is an exceptable reason. Do you lack any compassion for nurses? I saw people going to work sick just because of that attitude and all they did was spread everything around. You have not been in this situation so you probably can't help but don't try to discredit me because you lack understanding. There is way too much of that in nursing as it is and causing more problems than need to be there. and for your information a couple of those days were personal days and I had only taken 3 of my vacation days. The place was well staffed with nurses they did not experience any increase work load because of me calling off. Besides others called off a lot more than that and they are still there. Like I said before I do not want to get into the politics of what was going on there it just wasn't pretty, leave it at that.

[tlam]

Besides this was a geriatric setting and these people can not tolerate that type of illness and can die from that exposure. So going to work with that type of illness is self centered. and if an employer is not able to see that then they should not be working with that population. When I first went to nursing school we were taught that you "do not go to work ill" period. Enough saud on that topic. This is not a factory job. There are multple considerations that need to be examined.

[rnsince83]

" "5 times in 15 months is a lot..." You must be some kind of whoop-de-do SUPERNURSE; maybe you're blessed with a super immune system. Maybe you don't work as hard as some others; maybe you have a cushy job without much exposure to the various forms of crud the rest of us are exposed to. Maybe you never have a personal or family reason to call in -- lucky you! Maybe you're trying to be Mother Teresa. Maybe you just love your job so much you can't imagine ever calling in for any reason. Maybe you're one of the shmucks who come in with a fever and a cough, spreading the joy all around to the rest of us. Considering the crushing schedules and job stress which impair the immune system, not to mention brutalizing the spirit, 5 times in 15 months (about once every 3 months) is not that bad.

[grapejam88]

[ QUOTE ]
rnsince83 said:
" "5 times in 15 months is a lot..." You must be some kind of whoop-de-do SUPERNURSE; maybe you're blessed with a super immune system. Maybe you don't work as hard as some others; maybe you have a cushy job without much exposure to the various forms of crud the rest of us are exposed to. Maybe you never have a personal or family reason to call in -- lucky you! Maybe you're trying to be Mother Teresa. Maybe you just love your job so much you can't imagine ever calling in for any reason. Maybe you're one of the shmucks who come in with a fever and a cough, spreading the joy all around to the rest of us. Considering the crushing schedules and job stress which impair the immune system, not to mention brutalizing the spirit, 5 times in 15 months (about once every 3 months) is not that bad.

[/ QUOTE ]
I challenge you and all others to pose the 5 times in 15 months question to any employer...see what they say. I merely state what I know to be true. I never claimed to be a wondernurse, nor made any attempt to discredit anyone with any statement. The poster that came to this forum making it seem that he/she is being discriminated against because of age and multiple absences ,is wanting to give only certain facts of the case, and will not go into all the rest. How on earth can any rational person decide what was right or wrong in a case such as this. Personal attacks such as the one you just launched on me are totally uncalled for. Just to enlighten you, I have not just fallen off the turnip truck, have worked in critical care for the last 11 years and am no stranger to SICK people who can't be exposed to further threats. I am all for someone calling in if truly warranted. I never said someone shouldn't call in if they are truly sick, did I? Show me where I said that. Furthermore, I never said that this person didn't truly need to be off each and every time. But the tone of the posts I see here combined with the finger-pointing when asked for more information can only make me suspicious that there is WAY more to this person's story than they are letting on and I am supposed to be instantly sympathetic to this person and not be inquisitive? This forum, last I checked, was for the asking of questions, answering of questions, tossing ideas around freely so long as they aren't personal attacks. I never made any such attack on anyone. What this forum definitely ISN'T is a place to use your language skills to launch personal attacks on others. Compassion from nurse to nurse happens with one nurse showing it. Regardless of what happened in your previous job, I hope you find happiness somewhere in life.

[MicheleRN]

I am over 50 and have been a nurse since I was 20.
An "older nurse" or just "old". Semantics.

Anyway, the older I get the more respect from the younger Doctors and new RNs because I make sure that they know that I am there to help, advise and to be taken seriously.

As for being treated badly? Yes. In a few jobs I was and I ended up leaving. But, each time I learned and moved on.
It would have happened in nursing or behind a candy counter. A job is what you make of it.

[tlam]

I am not sure why this has caused any one to be suspicious. I thought this was for getting information and confering with other nurses. The issue is dead in my book. I just expected some respect and not be accused of giving false information. any one that has worked long enough has run into some bad employers. That same employer may be good for some one else. Some people like that type of compulsive leadership. Personally I am an adult and do not need to be repremanded for calling in or any other type of behavior. The damage was done and I need help or direction on how to move on. And yes I have a partial disability and have had it since 1976 and have dealt with all kinds of people regarding the same. And yes there are lots of people that have not grown up and are in nursing and act just like bullies on the job. So if I can get back to my reason for starting this Is there any older nurses that can give me some direction as to how to move on and get past this. If you need more facts I can provide them but I don't feel it would help.

[Cherri448]

I am 52, a nurse for 29 years and I have had various experience in my jobs with shabby treatment. My biggest enemies were CNA's not fellow RN's. The average number of sick calls in a year is about 5 to 6, so 5 in 15 months is better than average.
I have worked hard but have tried to be a team player in all instances and it has served me well. I have had wonderful experiences in each of my jobs be they good or bad, I have learned something of value that I have been able to take away. My most treasured knowledge is how wonderful friends can be. I am very proud that I have been able to use the knowledge that I have gained over the years to help others in their struggles. Age is a gift that I would not like to return at this time.

[cassioo]

At my hospital if you have 5 absences in 6 months it's reason to get fired. 3 days off for 1 illness is counts as 1 but then you have to not be absent for a period of time before that absence is removed from the books so if you miss the day before the oldest one should be removed you then have 2 and the date moves up. You also can't take any vacation unless you ask for it before the schedule comes out you can't ask the day before you want off. I'm not supernurse either and I don't go in sick (I will with a headache but not fever etc etc) but luckily I haven't been sick and in the past 7 years all I've been off is maternity leave and before that probably never. You asked an opinion without much information to go on then jump on someone for giving theirs

[lam]

I am sorry if I offended any one I am the one that needs help not more bashing. I am emotionally drained from that last job. so please I am not a bad person, just feel like I have been noodle whipped. I was looking for help not oppinions. I know how people see things some think 5 days is excessive, they are not the ones to comment. I usually average 2 to 3 Days in a year. Please if any one has any positive suggestions on how I can get back to nursing I would appreciate it.

[cassioo]

maybe it's time to try a totally different area. If you were in a hospital maybe LTC or home health or vice versa. If there are no other hospitals in your town and you want to stay in a hospital setting you might have to drive (I drive 30 miles one way because I like my job hope to move closer this summer) but I've done it for 13 years. Maybe travel if you can there are many options out there. Maybe more education and training to make you more marketable.