Nursing, Hurricanes, and Floods.

Nurses General Nursing

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This will be my first experience being a nurse during what could turn out to be a catagory 3 hurricane. I work ON the coast. My hospital literally has a view of the entire beach. I'll be there as the storm is making landfall.

Any other nurse experience being a nurse on duty while a hurricane is hitting? What was your experience like?

Im also concerned because I feel going to work is mandatory and I'm not sure what to do with my mom whom is a senior now and has no one else but me here in Texas.

Specializes in Clinical Research, Outpt Women's Health.

Please let us know how it all works out.

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Been through a few. Some will plan ahead, others will not. Be prepared to pull a double or some kind of extended shift...despite all the warnings there will always be people who call in saying "I just can't get there..." Bring food, caffeine, changes of clothes, etc. Hopefully your facility will have an evac plan in place (if necessary). The hospital also has generators- it'll be more pleasant to be at work than sitting in a stifling hot house with no electricity. The most stressful aspect is worrying about the stuff you can't control, like your home, etc.

Best wishes- I know how anxiety-ridden it all is. Our city pump system is thoroughly broken here in New Orleans (we got 3 feet of standing water a few weeks ago during a lousy thunderstorm) and I'm trying not to panic as well.

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Specializes in Intermediate Care.

I'm scheduled to work Saturday and Sunday evening, but I have to report in today as part of Team A, E1 etc. There's already enough nurses for tonight, so I guess it's to make sure there's adequate staff for the weekend. My concern is that the area where I work is prone to flooding during a "regular" storm, and this storm is supposed to keep going through Tuesday or so for the Houston area.

As long as the electricity and internet stays up to watch Game of Thrones, I'll be happy (First World problems).

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Specializes in Critical Care.
I'm scheduled to work Saturday and Sunday evening, but I have to report in today as part of Team A, E1 etc. There's already enough nurses for tonight, so I guess it's to make sure there's adequate staff for the weekend. My concern is that the area where I work is prone to flooding during a "regular" storm, and this storm is supposed to keep going through Tuesday or so for the Houston area.

As long as the electricity and internet stays up to watch Game of Thrones, I'll be happy (First World problems).

Be safe! I'll try to keep everyone updated. One thing is for sure is that I haven't gotten a lick of sleep (well like 3 to 4 hours). Gonna try and get in at least 2 more hours of sleep here.

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Specializes in Community, OB, Nursery.

I live in NC, and we get ice storms as well as hurricanes. I can't think of any extra advice to give you beyond what you've already gotten. Just solidarity.

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Surely Katrina taught hospitals a lesson about evacuating early! Patients were evacuated early from most of the hospitals in New Orleans except for Charity. Personnel just kept moving patients up floor by floor as it flooded. No AC, no water, no food, no toilet facilities, no IV fluids, no access to meds. They were trapped for days. Nursing homes just scooped residents up and sent them out in buses. No arm bands, no charts, no way to identify them. They went to Houston, Memphis, Nashville and Birmingham. Many of the nursing home patients brought to our hospital 200 miles from NO were already deceased by the time they got here. Add to that about 120 hospital patients who had to be divvied up between hospitals in my city. A real life nightmare!

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Forgot to say, they should call you well enough in advance that you will have time to get there. Ask if your mother can come too. Our hospital allows dependents and even neighbors from the surrounding area to shelter during storms. This is a Catholic hospital and nobody gets turned away although they may have to sleep in the floor of the lobby.

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Yeah, your mom sounds even healthier than my husband, whom I would fully

expect to take care of himself and our kids, should a situation arise in which

a snowstorm or such occurred, and he had to stay at home, and I'm stuck

at work.

You all be safe! I have family in Texas...

When OP said their mom was a "senior" I was picturing someone much older. A lot of my co-workers are in the 60 y.o. range. Nice that you are concerned for her, I wish you well during this storm.

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Specializes in Geriatrics, Dialysis.

Watching the weather channel now and this is going to get nasty. 24+ inches of rain and that's not including storm surge in coastal areas. Stay safe if you have to stay there!

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Specializes in MICU/CCU, SD, home health, neo, travel.

If I could afford it I would be volunteering with RAM, however my fixed income will not allow for me to fly to Texas and put up in a hotel so I will have to send a donation and leave it at that. They do really good work and are always on the job.

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As a ff/medic for more than 20 years before becoming a nurse, I will tell you. Prep NOW. FEMA website and American red Cross are 2 places to start. Do not count on the government to help for the first 3 days to 1 week. (It takes that long to have search teams mobilize d). Get support. Church, other family, friends. They all help me and i help them. Check on each other. This is when knowing your community will save lives. I am a single mom who lives with my son and my elderly handicapped mom. My entire family and friends knows to come to our house and bunker down. Pets and all. We have supplies throughout out house so no one place is hurt. Even in Ohio, we had a hurricane make landfall in 2008. We survived and even had fun. We can also get out and everyone would not only be ok, but we would have fun. Prep is the key. Yes it takes money and time, but I know in my heart I can't be effective at work if I'm worried about home. (As I save for a generator ). It is my gift to me.

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Specializes in Transitional Nursing.

Yes. During matthew I was in South Carolina, on the coast. I was there for 3 days, we had the shutters up and stayed locked up tight. Everyone took turns sleeping and working shifts, the patients were good about it and they paid us around the clock.

A few people were terminated for not showing up, but those were the folks who had the ability to get there before the storm and chose not to.

Everyone brought their families, too. I'd check with your administration and see what your policy is.

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