As I sat at home this week itching and scratching from poison something...ivy, oak, sumac, I asked myself this question. If I worked in an office, would I go to work today? The first day or so I decided that I wouldn't. Even though poison ivy isn't contagious, I definitely would not be productive as I itched and scratched and made odd faces as I tried not to itch and scratch. Moreover, I felt groggy from the Benadryl. As a work-from-home-r, I also decided to give myself the day off. Sometimes, you just need to give your body a chance to rest and heal.
Staying home from work, no matter what level you are in the organization, is always a good idea. I wish I could say I have always been a good steward in this area, but I really haven't. In the past, I used to "power through" work days and convince myself that I wasn't that sick or tired. Countless coworkers would come in complaining of the latest viral illness, stomach upset or just feeling "icky" that day.
Going to work when you are sick isn't only unproductive, it spreads disease. Viruses and bacteria can be carried on your hands, your skin, your clothes, your mucous and bodily fluids. In healthcare, these viruses and bacteria can be dangerous to patients or other immunocompromised individuals. Moreover, viruses and illnesses can spread quickly throughout a health care organization. Because of this, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends staying home when you are sick.
Imagine you wake up one morning with a slight fever, cough, runny nose, your body aches all over. You feel tired even though you just woke up. You have the flu. However, today is the day your department gives the big presentation to leadership, and you feel like you have to be there. Let me clue you in. No one is going to be impressed with you struggling through a presentation while you are coughing, sneezing, wiping, and sniffling. It's okay to reschedule. It happens all the time.
Still, you decide to go to work anyway. When you walk into your organization, you walk by several patients and try not try to sneeze in their direction. You don't want to give them the flu. Then, you go to the reception desk and talk to the cashier for a minute. Then, you head to the cafeteria and get your morning coffee. That will make you feel better. You cough, sneeze, sniffle, wipe and blow the whole way.
A few days later, one of the older adults you saw in the reception area is admitted to the hospital. You recognize the individual and later find out they have pneumonia. The flu is going around, and maybe the patient contracted pneumonia after having the flu.
Lessons learned during the avian influenza epidemic in 2009 included staying quarantined when you have a fever. This method was used in Mexico City when the first signs of a fever were discovered. The CDC additionally recommended that individuals in the United States stay home for at least 24 hours after having a fever of 100 degrees or more.
At home, you should also clean any surfaces you may have touched while having the flu virus. This includes faucet handles, door handles, desks, countertops, dressers, and doors. This will keep you from reinfecting yourself and your family.
Sources
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "Preventing the Flu: Good Health Habits Can Help Stop Germs." Available online: https://www.cdc.gov/flu/protect/habits/index.htm
Córdova-Villalobos, José A et al. “The Influenza A(H1N1) Epidemic in Mexico. Lessons Learned.” Health Research Policy and Systems 7 (2009): 21. PMC. Web. 28 Sept. 2018.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. " CDC Recommendations for the Amount of Time Persons with Influenza-Like Illness Should Be Away from Others." Available online: https://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/guidance/exclusion.htm
Staying home from work, no matter what level you are in the organization, is always a good idea. I wish I could say I have always been a good steward in this area, but I really haven't. In the past, I used to "power through" work days and convince myself that I wasn't that sick or tired. Countless coworkers would come in complaining of the latest viral illness, stomach upset or just feeling "icky" that day.
Going to work when you are sick isn't only unproductive, it spreads disease. Viruses and bacteria can be carried on your hands, your skin, your clothes, your mucous and bodily fluids. In healthcare, these viruses and bacteria can be dangerous to patients or other immunocompromised individuals. Moreover, viruses and illnesses can spread quickly throughout a health care organization. Because of this, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends staying home when you are sick.
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Imagine you wake up one morning with a slight fever, cough, runny nose, your body aches all over. You feel tired even though you just woke up. You have the flu. However, today is the day your department gives the big presentation to leadership, and you feel like you have to be there. Let me clue you in. No one is going to be impressed with you struggling through a presentation while you are coughing, sneezing, wiping, and sniffling. It's okay to reschedule. It happens all the time.
Still, you decide to go to work anyway. When you walk into your organization, you walk by several patients and try not try to sneeze in their direction. You don't want to give them the flu. Then, you go to the reception desk and talk to the cashier for a minute. Then, you head to the cafeteria and get your morning coffee. That will make you feel better. You cough, sneeze, sniffle, wipe and blow the whole way.
A few days later, one of the older adults you saw in the reception area is admitted to the hospital. You recognize the individual and later find out they have pneumonia. The flu is going around, and maybe the patient contracted pneumonia after having the flu.
Lessons learned during the avian influenza epidemic in 2009 included staying quarantined when you have a fever. This method was used in Mexico City when the first signs of a fever were discovered. The CDC additionally recommended that individuals in the United States stay home for at least 24 hours after having a fever of 100 degrees or more.
At home, you should also clean any surfaces you may have touched while having the flu virus. This includes faucet handles, door handles, desks, countertops, dressers, and doors. This will keep you from reinfecting yourself and your family.
Sources
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "Preventing the Flu: Good Health Habits Can Help Stop Germs." Available online: https://www.cdc.gov/flu/protect/habits/index.htm
Córdova-Villalobos, José A et al. “The Influenza A(H1N1) Epidemic in Mexico. Lessons Learned.” Health Research Policy and Systems 7 (2009): 21. PMC. Web. 28 Sept. 2018.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. " CDC Recommendations for the Amount of Time Persons with Influenza-Like Illness Should Be Away from Others." Available online: https://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/guidance/exclusion.htm
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