A Frustrated Nurse Writes About Poor Conditions in Evacuee Shelters

WOW. Amazing work you do. Thanks for being a good nursing example

Do you have any pictures from your trip??? Thanks

I was not able to spend any time volunteering post-Gustav (or Katrina, or Ike for that matter). However, regarding the original post, I find it interesting that there were no replies of similar shared experiences from our fellow nurses. I am sure things like this happened on occasion, as there are a few "bad apples" in every bunch. I am glad to read that the majority of posts speak to the determination, selflessness and spirit of help displayed by evacuees and volunteers alike. Glad, but not surprised.

I just read an interesting article, highlighting the shortcomings of our medical system in the face of a disaster (Katrina, San Diego Wildfires, etc.) and it was shocking, but not surprising.

This stood out: "A Kaiser Family Foundation survey released in August 2008 found that 84 percent of adults living in New Orleans face ongoing health challenges such as a physical or mental health challenge, a problem with health care coverage or access, or a health problem facing a child."

We can do something about it though! The CNA is attempting to organize and recruit more nurses for the RNRN, for just this type of emergency.


Good Stuff!

First of all I will like to say a big THANK YOU to all the nurses that volunteer for these types of situations...that is very admirable and I thank you...

Now about the racist comment - Everyone's experience is different...I'm not saying that all evacuees are probably like this but the ones who are; the ones that ruin your entire day, are the ones that usually stand out in your mind and you really don't have the right to accuse someone of racism because they are venting on a personal experience they had...you weren't in her shoes.

I am an African West Indian (Caribbean) female (that lives in America) and I notice that a lot of African Americans are so quick to pull the racist card in every single situation...I mean, come on, a lot of times the crap is true! And it has nothing to do with someone being racist! Most of the time, people do act like she described in the lower class communities and ghettos and this does not only apply to any one particular race...did I think that this letter had a racist tone? No...it was simply what she witnessed...and I do witness behaviors like the one she descibe all the time! Am I trying to imply that all black people do drugs, spend large sums of money on things like expensive clothes and alcohol but don't care about the welfare of their children? NO...but there are many who are like this...and there are also many white, hispanic, asian etc. people who are also like this...so its not about someone being racist...quit acting like the victim and examine yourselves and your people...truthfully

I would like to respond to this forum & the e-mail at the center. First off, I am a RN in Shreveport, Louisiana where this e-mail originated & I volunteered during the hurricane at the exact shelter being spoken about. What was not given with that email was that on our local news, as well as national news programs we were slammed as volunteers as not having adequate preparation & that shelters were filthy, etc. When I volunteered what I saw were evacuees littering the ground despite the enormous amount of trash cans filling the shelter. It was not the countless volunteers trashing the place. I worked in the medical clinic which was set up by local hospitals and staffed only by volunteer doctors and nurses. I had many, many people come through to recieve their "prescription Meds". Somehow even with the days of planning departure from their homes, the remembered their cell phones, but forgot their medicines and when we had doctors willing to write them new prescreprions, they didn't have the $2 it would cost them and demanded that someone should be paying for their forgotten medicines. That was just a couple of things that really bothered me. They had 3 hot meals per day, a safe place to sleep- except for the moments they broke out in fights. I work in a local ER and had an evacuee at one point in the ER worried about the belongings they had left because of all the theft from other evacuees. I just though I would put my 2 cents in because I was sort of suprised by all the comments against the nurse in the original email, even by those who did not even volunteer during this hurricane at this shelter under scruitny.

And there is your comment from another who saw and witnessed first hand, and the truth is as the original letter stated.
For shame on those who throw the racist card. There was nothing in the original letter about race......
However it is assumed by those who have not a clue that it must be a racist.
I have seen this attitude again and again, ooooooohhhhhhhh racist and I am sick and tired of the nonsense.
These poor volunteers gave of their time and gave up their comfort to try and help those in need and instead got slapped around.
Unfortunately, it happens everywhere..............there is no perfect place on earth......I've been an RN toooooooo long to have misconceptions.
I know in my little corner of the world that there will be nights when I want to rip out my hair and scream in frustration over taking care of the "I'm intitled because I can scream and complain the loudest" and then there are the nights you sit by a pt's bed and want to cry because all they want is you to hold their hand, to be there in the middle of the night to chase away the fears to let them cry on your shoulder while meanwhile down the hall pt "buttons" is whinning they didn't get enough ice cream for dessert. And you have to get up and go quiet pt "buttons" and you promise to come back.........Some nights you make it back before your pt takes that last struggling breath and they were not alone, other nights you don't and the guilt rides you. Denial and anger greiving and eventually acceptance all follow.
You are a nurse, you chose to give your life in service to others.

Take race out of the equation, it really is not an issue when you give your all always to everyone who comes through your door. They will not all be grateful, they will not all be nice and happy.........But the ones who are grateful and nice outnumber in my heart the numerous who are nasty and hateful....................and that my fellow nurses is why we continue to do what we do.

I have worked numerous shelters during hurricanes in South Louisiana and I haven't seen any of this either...however...during Katrina, I did have a few "unruly" people spit on me but I think it was more of a "mental condition"
thing considering what they went through or they may have already been without medication they needed for some time. But other than that, everyone was quite appreciative for us being there to help them and never "demanded" anything.

As a Katrina volunteer, I found that the local law enforcement in SE LA kept us all safe and sound. We did have attempts from some to have refills of narcotics (we just said NO) We did have many that saved seemingly trivial items and not "important" things- but who are we to decide how these people were to think during a catastrophic event. Remember all...post traumatic stress?