Will you work during a Pandemic?

[Goju]

admin note: we just added a poll to this thread today, april 25, 2008, please take a second and vote in the poll so we can have a graphical representation of the responses. thanks

scenario:

h5n1 (the bird flu) mutates to become efficient at transmitting human to human causing a pandemic, with a case fatality rate of 60% and with 80% of the cases in the 0-40 year old age range.

see:

http://www.wpro.who.int/nr/rdonlyres/fd4ac2fd-b7c8-4a13-a32c-6cf328a0c036/0/s4_1113.jpg

hospitals will be quickly overrun. hospital staff shortages are 50%. the government orders all nurses to work. there is not enough personal protection equipment (n95 masks, gloves, goggles, tamiflu, vax, etc)

home quarantines become common (in the fed plans).

your family is also quarantined in your home. you are running out of food and the government promises you will be "taken care of" if you report to work.

will you go?

[indigo girl]

We would be together as a family. What I would do, though, is, if I can get to him and my husband, the three of us would be there, and I would make darned sure that whatever is available to protect us is done and I'd teach him to turn patients right along with me. But, abandon them--no way.

I agree that your child needs you, and that is your first duty. Remember though that

most of the bird flu victims are under age 40 so he is at greater risk than say an older over 50 volunteer, for instance. Keep him safe at home, not exposed to people that are already ill. We are going to be dealing with all kinds of body fluids in the hospital. It's too unsafe for him to be there. Hard enough for those of us who are experienced to be careful 100% of the time let alone a teenager. One break in technique, and he might be exposed to a virus that he has no immunity to.

[rnheart]

Yes, we would be mandated to remain at my facility; and I hate to say it, if I do not know where my son or husband is, I WILL be sneaking out of the back door. I would not be useful to ANYONE not knowing if my only child, who has a social phobia, or my husband, who does everything he can each and every day to show me how devoted he is to us is in need. I would be resentful, making mistakes, and would not be focused. It would haunt me for the rest of my life to see my son, who would be too afraid to ask for help, or be a victim to some unscruplous people be abandoned. Is that the last memory I want my son to have of his mother? NO, NO, NO!! I want to hold him, embrace and protect him until the bitter end. We would be together as a family. What I would do, though, is, if I can get to him and my husband, the three of us would be there, and I would make darned sure that whatever is available to protect us is done and I'd teach him to turn patients right along with me. But, abandon them--no way.

Spoken like a true Mother, While some of us were truly called to be nurses some of us were called to be Mothers as well. Not only are we to be responsible for others we are also responsible to our families and children. When I am long gone and cold in the ground who will miss me the most. My family or the "institutions" who will no doubt have me replaced by the end of the day. The hierachy of responsibilty is GOD, Family, Job and apparently some of us do not live by that order or have forgotten that. Personal circumstances will dictate many peoples responsibilties, and judgement should not be passed on those that chose to stay at home and care for loved ones. If the senarios that have been portrayed are correct and really do happen Rn's are going to be needed at home and in their communities to care for the sick that cant make it to a hospital or heaven forbid are turned away from hospitals because of lack of room. If the outbreak occurs while I am at work of course I will stay but only because I do not want to expose my beloved family and I will pray that GOD will shield them and myself as well. It is truly sad to read so many posts of what appears to be holier than thou nurses of soap boxes preaching and passing judgement.

[s_david_a]

As a future nurse, I hope I (and my family) will have the courage and compassion to work--I agree with the outlook in this blog post: http://www.founders.org/blog/2007/10/where-are-you-on-pandemic-vaccination.html

"How will American Christians respond to a deadly pandemic? Will we clamour for the vaccine without regard for our neighbors? Will we be terrorized like those who have no hope? Those of us who know the Gospel should minister out of the grace that we receive in Christ, and should prefer others above ourselves and teach our people to do the same."

[wildmountainchild]

I know that without a doubt I would stay and help. It's my moral and legal duty. My husband knows that I would stay, and I know that as a law enforcement officer he would also continue working as well.

I'm not christian...in fact I'm an atheist. I don't think my religious beliefs have any bearing at all on this situation. I don't need to believe in God to know the difference between right and wrong...I will be available to those who need me, my patients, during a pandemic.

I know this because during Katrina I didn't go hug my family, I went and helped where I was needed, there was no garauntee of safety. I understand wanting to protect your family...but as a nurse I believe you have a duty to use your powers for the greater good. There is much good we will be doing during a pandemic, terrorst attack, earthquake, tsunami etc. We didn't get into this profession to pick and choose our assignments.

Just my two cents.

[frances Ivy]

yes..

as a health care worker we are not only working for money.. our devotion is more on caring for other people..before I enter nursing as a profession, I'm aware of the consequences such as handling patients with a communicable diseases

that is our duty to care specially in time of crisis..

[dthfytr, ADN, LPN, RN, EMT-B, EMT-I]

If you're afraid of germs, nursing is the wrong career choice.

[Laidback Al]

If you're afraid of germs, nursing is the wrong career choice.

I would think you would want to distinguish between different "germs". A person doesn't routinely die from "germ" infections. But, if I were a nurse and I knew that 6 of every 10 individuals that have been infected with H5N1 have died, I would be afraid, . . . very afraid.

[CanERRN]

No PPE - 60-80% mortality

Single parent - 35 years old - 2 childen = 2 dead children

Nope - can't see that happening:twocents:

[Blackcat99]

I'll be running out the door when they try to mandate me to stay. My mother is 86 years old and has alzheimer's and she is my #1 priority in life.

[grace90, LPN, LVN]

I'm not afraid of germs. I am a dedicated caring person. I am first a wife and mother, I am a daughter, and then lastly I am a nurse.

Signing off of this futile argument. I've defended my stance enough and so have others of like mindset. I feel no more need to defend myself. My arm is tired of beating this dead horse, it's time to bury him and let him be.

:deadhorse :scrm:

[sharona97, BSN, RN]

This still does not address the issue of PPE for these community volunteers. The hospitals will have to protect their supplies - they'll be short enough without sharing it with non-hospital providers (recall that in the given scenario, hospitals are running out of PPE). Most people do not keep a personal stash of PPE - where would they get it?

N95 masks made by the 3M company offers these for sale off their web site. My husband and I have 100's from his work because of his type of work.

[kathy3kat]

No. The only reason being I have MS. My immunity is already compromised from frequent very high dose Solu=Medrol. So I don't think I could risk it.