The First Call-In

So I hate calling in sick to work. I also dislike people who insist on coming to work with frank toxic manifestations of infectious disease. I guess I've just been lucky in my nursing career so far and haven't had to call in often at all.

I was unlucky - oh so unlucky - earlier this week. I had a stressful weekend, complete with a funeral for friend's child, so if I felt a little off as I left work on Monday morning, I chalked it up to fatigue. Within a couple of hours of getting home, it became evident that this was a little more than just fatigue. It was poisoning. Or possibly Ebola.

At any rate, before long I knew that I would be in no shape to safely return to work that night. I wasn't looking forward to the phone call. After all, I'm still fairly new and it did seem shady. I had just left the place a short time ago appearing just fine.

"Charge nurse."

"Hi. This is EJ. I work nights and I'm going to have to call in sick for tonight."

"No problem, sir. I've got you down."

"Well, see, I--"

"No sweat, man. Feel better, okay?"

"I just hate to--"

"No biggie. Thanks for calling early. Just get to feeling better."

That was it. No questions asked. No inquisition about my symptoms. No mention of whether I had taken my temperature. No bartering about possibly coming in and just wearing a mask. Ahhh... this is the way it should be.