When Calling in Sick is the Only Way to Take a Vacation

You made the case, Glenn

I'm not slamming you. Your hospital and government evidently are VERY BAD managers, however. Only they can remedy a staffing situation where lying about being sick is required in order to get what you have supposedly been given.

Thanks for your service to all of us.

Muser of NM @ Feb 07, 2009 11:59:09 AM

Excuse me...

Excuse me...? Liar's culture? The people working at hospitals right now are some of the most highly trained, best educated, most ethical people you'd ever want to work with. They're dealing with a situation where the government mandates that they treat all who come to their door, whether or not they can pay for the services provided. And that same government now monitors how well they do by posting their ratings of the hospitals on a website for all to see. We live in a glass hospital! They have to be cheerful, helpful, compassionate, and caring 100% of the time, every day of the year. And they are. Please find another group to direct your comments towards. Taking PTO days via sick calls is a survival technique, not indicative of a culture of "liars." One more thing... With the cutbacks in staffing, even for full-time personnel, medical staff is finding that they are being forced to use their PTO to make their weekly hours, as cancellations of staff rise. This means that when Summer does come, many staff members have NO PTO left. They can't take a vacation. Someone please address this issue. By the way, I'm a charge nurse at a large hospital system in Northern Virginia, and we provide the best care around, under extremely challenging circumstances. Thank a nurse, aide, or doctor the next time you see them, because we are under extreme pressure due to the current economic downturn.

Glenn Douglas of VA @ Feb 05, 2009 11:05:52 AM