Need to vent - resident keeps calling in sick

[Michele]

I think that's crap. I've had Russ call in sick twice for the kids....but I've done it every single other time. He did it because I had special surgeries lined up those days. And he went in at 12:30 when I got home. He's taken the least amount of sick days of all the residents. (those were the only 2)

Her DH needs to share the sick days.

[DCJenn]

My husband would have sooner cut his leg off than call in sick.

No one calls in sick in residency in the Army. At least in the Peds department. During fellowship when we got back from Russia and my jet lag and stress caught up with me, he came home and once this year he left early because I was sick and he needed to pick Nikolai up at daycare.

Jenn

ETA: not that going to work sick is smart, AT ALL.

[alison]

Dh called in sick two times while in residency. I can see both sides of the issue, and feel that if it's a pattern and it's having an adverse impact on people more than is necessary, then I'd be pissed!

It is hard to be without family and friends where you live. So unbelievably hard.

[v-girl]

The PICU is so full that they are working hard to get some of the more stable patients well enough to be moved to the floor. Yesterday was not the day for her to call in. Well, winter-time is not the time. And she's off tomorrow? I told DH she should have to go in anyway. LOL

[alison]

The PICU is so full that they are working hard to get some of the more stable patients well enough to be moved to the floor. Yesterday was not the day for her to call in. Well, winter-time is not the time. And she's off tomorrow? I told DH she should have to go in anyway. LOL

No, not lol. A courteous person would go in! I have the feeling that this sort of thing doesn't cross her mind.

It's the same as the times when it's so busy on the floor and dh is so swamped that he skips lunch, while the other guy still takes his lunch and doesn't ever chip in.

[peggyfromwastate]

My husband would have sooner cut his leg off than call in sick.

No one calls in sick in residency in the Army. At least in the Peds department. During fellowship when we got back from Russia and my jet lag and stress caught up with me, he came home and once this year he left early because I was sick and he needed to pick Nikolai up at daycare.

Jenn

ETA: not that going to work sick is smart, AT ALL.

I dont' think DH has ever mentioned anyone actually calling in sick, either. Maybe it's an ARMY policy? For DH he needs to be ORDERED to vacate the premesis, practically. Last time he was sent to the ER to get checked out, diagnosed with swine flu, THEN sent home on orders of the attending...

[Flynn]

I think it depends on the speciality, the individual doc and the institution.

DH called in sick two days out of nine years. Both times his fever was over 103.

He had a few "borderline" days here and there but just hooked himself up to some fluids for a half an hour and kept on going. I bet that's not allowed anymore but if you take a "sick day" and have someone cover for you I would think that your "day off" becomes VOID in most programs? It did with DH's. It sounds like she needs a HUGE reality check.

[moonlight]

not that i was asked, but here is my 2 cents! If it were me, I'd call up this resident and tell her that I was a SAHM, and that I offer in home care for sick kids of working moms. I'd charge about $30/hr and tell her to feel free to call any time that her child is sick and she doesn't have help.

[v-girl]

Love it! But we live out in the suburbs. Most residents live closer to Dallas than us.

[GrayMatterWife]

What a bunch of crap. Here's the deal: you do not call in sick. You do not miss because you are sick. Period. Bring a bucket or get a fluids IV. And if you kid gets sick, GET A NANNY (there is a "sick kid" nanny service in DALLAS--I know. I used to live there and knew people who used it. It's expensive, but it is what you do).

And stop this crap about the waterworks, chick. You make the rest of us working moms look bad.

[MrsK]

DrK calls in sick when he is sick. He's called in sick once or twice to take care of me when I've been very, very sick (i.e. hospitalized). He doesn't get upset if people call in sick. . . provided that they are really sick. There are definitely people that will call in sick when they are well or otherwise neglect their duties thereby creating more hardship for everyone. Those folks are the prblem.

Personally, the only times I've called in sick have been when I'm dying. . . for instance, when I was on bed-rest after having a hemmorage. . . and even then I checked my e-mails and worked from bed. I never used sick or vacation days before I went on my honeymoon. While that may have served me well in my career, I doubt it has done much for my mental health or personal life.

[HouseofWool]

I know that E called during med school during 2 different rotations because of health issues that weren't his. The first was when C had a bi-lateral stroke and was in the ICU for several days. The second was when S was born.

Both were life or death situations, new life and potential death.

[SoonerTexan]

(there is a "sick kid" nanny service in DALLAS--I know. I used to live there and knew people who used it. It's expensive, but it is what you do).

I'll have to keep that in mind for a few years down the road...

Just curious--DF told me awhile back that when he was young and got sick, the hospital actually let kids of doctors stay in a room and the nurses would coddle them, etc. Granted his mom was out of residency at the time (and I think his dad was doing a fellowship 1000 miles away), so I'm not sure if it was an exception or something that happened all the time. Anyone ever heard of this?

[v-girl]

I'll have to keep that in mind for a few years down the road...

You won't have to worry. You can just drop the kiddo off with me and I'll take care of the kiddo.

There is a sick child daycare at Medical City Dallas, but I think it is utilized by their employees and probably not avail to non-employees. Especially employees of their competitors.

[PrincessFiona]

Re: Need to vent - resident keeps calling in sick

I am conflicted on this. We all talk about medicine being more human, wanting more family time and feeling freaked about even something like the timing of our labor and delivery. It cut to the core yesterday when my 15 year old said "my dad cares more about being a doctor than being a dad". Ouch.

At the same time, no calling in for sickness? Work till you drop?

There has to be a middle ground...and yet we just switched pediatricians because although our part-time pedi (and mom of 4) was great we couldn't be seen for 7 weeks about an important issue. since none of the part-timers want to share patients we were told to go to the ER or switch providers. We switched.

Thomas has taken plenty of call for pg moms who are sick or have a sick child. He doesn't mind. He does however mind that often this is not reciprocated. It is a bit of a double standard we women have going on.

Like I said ... Conflicted.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk