Forced to stay and work under mandatory evacuation? - Page 24

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  1. Aug 6, '12 by
    Quote from Stephalump
    Are we talking about our own lives? I thought we were talking about the lives of the children we value so highly. Really, are childless people REALLY under the impression that a parent would push them into the eye of a tornado because their life is worth more?
    Is this a reality that anyone has actualy faced, or just a version of taking things to the extreme to make a point?

    Because, and I'm sorry, but life trumps all. My life is not more valuable than anyone else's but my child's life is worth more than your car. Yes, we all have fulfilling lives, but we're talking about dependents. Be they children or impaired adults or beloved pets, I wouldn't equate protecting my house to anyone protecting their dependents.

    Do I think distasteful duty should be decided by who has the most valuables at home? No. But when I'm watching my single parent coworker dodge duty because her kids are alone in a hurricane, that's hardly the time to put a chip on my shoulder.
    I think you've misinterpreted my statement because it serves to illustrate your point. When I said "their lives" I was referring to their children. I'm sorry if you don't like this but I have felt that people with children think their progeny are more important that anything else in non disaster situations.

    In a disaster situation I can potentially save more lives by showing up for duty than I would being at home with my family. But the OP doesn't have children but even if she did my opinion would be the same. Also a lot of people have stated they would not show up so they could stay home and board up their houses. She may find in a year or two she'll be placed on a different team and it'll be a non issue.
  2. Aug 6, '12 by
    Quote from Stephalump
    Are we talking about our own lives? I thought we were talking about the lives of the children we value so highly.
    No offense, I don't know you, lol.

    Quote from Stephalump
    Really, are childless people REALLY under the impression that a parent would push them into the eye of a tornado because their life is worth more?
    Love the hyperbole.

    I'm personally under the impression that some people think their time is more valuable and/or they should be able to do whatever they want because they have a family. They certainly use that crutch on much less pressing matters than tornado duty. Rarely do I think it results in some group of childless superheroes doing all the emergency work, since a) there do exist plenty of parents with morals and work ethic, and b) there just aren't that dern many of us out there.
    Last edit by Esme12 on Aug 7, '12 : Reason: TOS diversive
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  3. Aug 6, '12 by
    Redhead that pretty much what I would have said. I hate when people try to make me feel like I'm less of a person because I haven't experienced parenthood.
    Last edit by Esme12 on Aug 7, '12 : Reason: TOS/defamatory
    Natkat, caliotter3, AnxiousRNtobe, and 2 others like this.
  4. Aug 6, '12 by
    It used to happen to me more often when I was younger; I am in the upper land of the 30's now and have been married over 10 years. I think the idiots surrounding me have figured out that I don't have them on purpose and am not planning on it, so I don't have to listen to all the drivel about what I'm missing out on as often. Yeah you know what I'm not missing out on? Sleep. lol

    Love that we've all interjected how dern valuable all of God's children are on this thread, when the OP made absolutely no reference to parental obligations whatsoever...she was just disgusted by the thought of sleeping in a room with a coworker.
    Last edit by Esme12 on Aug 7, '12 : Reason: TOS/txt speak/profanity
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  5. Guide
    Aug 6, '12 by
    That is why it is MY responsibility to ensure the safety of MY children.
    Who else is going to do it?
    We have a lot of talk about being responsible, but yet there is no regard for the responsibility of being a parent and protecting your children.
    In an extreme life-threatening circumstance, I'm with my kids.
    Last edit by Esme12 on Aug 7, '12
    LaughingRN likes this.
  6. Aug 6, '12 by
    Quote from redhead_NURSE98!

    No offense, I don't know you, lol.

    Love the hyperbole.

    I'm personally under the impression that some people think their time is more valuable and/or they should be able to do whatever they want because they have a family. They certainly use that crutch on much less pressing matters than tornado duty. Rarely do I think it results in some group of childless superheroes doing all the emergency work, since a) there do exist plenty of parents with morals and work ethic, and b) there just aren't that dern many of us out there.
    "We" as in "parents" who value the lives of their children, not necessarily their own. . That was an awkwardly worded sentence.

    Point being, while some people said, point blank, they would not die on the job, I don't recall seeing anyone saying they were unwilling to die because they personally are somehow more valuable than others. I don't recall anyone saying only childless people should be forced to stay during mandatory evacuation: but certain posts have me wondering.

    I've never been trapped in a hospital in a life or death situation, but if I were to simply freak out and head for the hills, I don't think I'd begrudge anyone for following me.

    As far as non-disasters go, I don't doubt kids can be a great excuse to get out of doing just about anything. But in my experience, it's linked more to laziness than some extreme valuation of parental duties, and the fault lies with the managers who allow that kind of behavior to affect others long term.



    And just as a side note: If I somehow treated my kids as unimportant and low on the totem pole, I'd be absolutely criminalized for being a shoddy parent and told I shouldn't have had any at all. Could they be somewhere in the middle? I suppose, but how would the world come to an agreement on what should be above and below? It's a losing game, it seems.

    As a secondary side note: THANK YOU for the return hyperbole. Makes life more interesting
    Last edit by Esme12 on Aug 7, '12
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  7. Aug 6, '12 by
    Quote from Hygiene Queen
    We have a lot of talk about being responsible, but yet there is no regard for the responsibility of being a parent and protecting your children.
    And if YOUR children need medical care during this emergency, are you ok that they won't be able to get it because all the parents at the children's hospital are off taking care of their own kids and nobody's left to give medical care to YOUR child?
    AnxiousRNtobe and redhead_NURSE98! like this.
  8. Aug 6, '12 by
    Quote from tothepointeLVN

    I think you've misinterpreted my statement because it serves to illustrate your point. When I said "their lives" I was referring to their children. I'm sorry if you don't like this but I have felt that people with children think their progeny are more important that anything else in non disaster situations.

    In a disaster situation I can potentially save more lives by showing up for duty than I would being at home with my family. But the OP doesn't have children but even if she did my opinion would be the same. Also a lot of people have stated they would not show up so they could stay home and board up their houses. She may find in a year or two she'll be placed on a different team and it'll be a non issue.
    It has nothing to do with liking it or not...it was an honest quietism expecting an honest answer.

    You could very well save more lives at work than at home, and if your sense of duty lies in saving a quantity of people vs specific people who are important to you, then so be it. I don't think it's wrong, and I really don't understand why anyone would see the opposite as wrong. I don't think utilitarianism has been adopted as absolute right as of now.

    Personally, if I'm stranded at work valuing the life of other people's children, I would hope someone out there would be valuing the lives of my children - whether they know me or not.
    LPN2RNn2011 and Hygiene Queen like this.
  9. Guide
    Aug 6, '12 by
    Quote from wooh
    And if YOUR children need medical care during this emergency, are you ok that they won't be able to get it because all the parents at the children's hospital are off taking care of their own kids and nobody's left to give medical care to YOUR child?
    How could I blame them if I know they feel the same way I do?

    If my children were in a safe place with the right people, I would be there right along side my coworkers.

    If not, I'm with the kids.
    Last edit by Hygiene Queen on Aug 6, '12 : Reason: Format
  10. Aug 7, '12 by
    "if i understand this, your husband was at home and caring for/evacuating your children when you got a request from your work asking you to come in and help to evaluate patients. was your concern that your husband was unable to drive the truck away once it was packed? or just that you wanted to be with your family.

    i think it was more than fair that you were never put on the schedule again. and after a year of not working, they terminated your employment . . . was that a surprise to you?"



    just to answer your questions......most of the packing and loading was done by me and our 6 kids. my husband is disabled. he can "watch" and "supervise" but considering "him" i thought it best to stay with them. as far as the termination...they requested that i keep calling in days and hours that i 'could' work. to which i did for approx. 4mos.? then i just gave up and stopped calling. the separation letter i received stated that i had not been 'calling in'?