Forced to stay and work under mandatory evacuation?

whatdoIdonow? · Jul 31, 2012

I have just started my first job today- in LTC- and I am not aware of any disaster requirements in my job description ( we are coastal Carolina).

But, for those who are nurses and also mothers, maybe they don't have the ways and means to have someone else care for or evacuate their children in a crisis. And, I do believe that family comes first, if there is a choice.

So, I will have to think long and hard about taking a hospital job if it requires me to stay during a crisis and jeopardize the safety of my kids.

Which job description gets top priority? Parent or nurse? Both are jobs in the service of others, afterall.

veggie530 · Jul 31, 2012

I think you sound incredibly entitled and are missing the point of what it means to be a nurse. To think of it as just a job is to slap in the face to every nurse who's sacrificed their time and life to take care of others who need them, and this is a situation where you are desperately needed.
"There will be no extra pay, no bonus, just regular pay and time and 1/2 when you're in over time. Expected to sleep in hospital, in semi-pvt room WITH ANOTHER CO-WORKER!"
- So??? You want some sort of reward for what you are required to do? What entitles you to it more than anyone else? If you're unhappy with this requirement, by all means, leave. If you're concerned about safety, then ask those requiring you to stay about safety procedures and reinforcement. I'm sure they've taken care of the things you worry about ahead of time. And good Lord, oh no, You might be required to SHARE A ROOM WITH A COWORKER?!?!??!?!? What did you expect??? The Ritz??? Either get over yourself, or move somewhere else. I haven't worked as a nurse during a natural disaster, but I did work during one at a night audit at a hotel. I was the only person that actually lived in the area apart from the manager, and was required to stay with the guests, who were stranded at our hotel for nearly a week w/out anywhere to go or any way home. My job required me to stay, did I plan for this in advance when I was hired? No. Did I complain about it? No. Was I scared like everyone else? Yes, but I didn't let that have an affect on my ability to take care of a bunch of freaked out guests who couldn't contact their families. Your hospital should have an emergency response plan (sounds like they do since you know what's required of you), that works in direct line with your State Emergency System as well as the National Incident Management System in regards to what is required from the hospital. So, yes, in the even of a natural disaster, they can require you to stay. But remember, you're never forced, you just may need to find work somewhere else.

She doesn't sound entitled at all. She's asking legitimate questions -- albeit they should be asked of her union reps and she should know what is in her contract. From what she describes, she could be at the hospital for a week and unable to leave. What is she suppose to do, expect her children to hunt & gather while mommy is prisoner at work? It is ultimately her responsibility to know what is required of her, but it IS her prerogative to put up with it or not.

The "if you don't like it, leave" attitude is hardly beneficial here. If that was always the attitude, then we'd all have no country (let alone place of employment) to call home.

wooh, BSN, RN · Jul 31, 2012

Animals are a different story. If you have animals I beg you NOT to leave them home unattended. It would be a terrifying and maybe deadly ordeal for them. Animals would not be allowed at the hospitals but do check (in advance) of where animals could be housed. Or if friends will keep them or take them if they evacuate. We found that hotels in the Orlando area took our animals free during our evacuations.

It would be quite spectacular for my area to have an evacuation (perhaps the CDC gets bombed?) but this has always been my biggest worry. My dogs and cats are MY BABIES. Thankfully my husband isn't in healthcare/police/fire department/etc. so basically I can send him out of state with the critters, as far as my parents' house if need be while I stay at the hospital.

We do have to plan ahead. That's why there are disaster plans, so you know what's expected of you. The hospital should make reasonable accomodations. If they were like this:

we are told to bring our own food. We are not allowed to bring in our children or spouses. That would be understandable, however, the DOCTORS and ADMINISTRATORS are allowed to bring their spouses and children, and they are given a patient room to camp out in. I will never forget the last one I went thru~ I was so tired after being up for 3 days straight, working the ICU, and finally got to lay down. I had found an empty room on an empty wing, but just as soon as my eyes closed, here come a doctor telling me to get up because his wife was going to use that room. Sleeping on an ancient army cot in a busy hallway means no shower, too.

I'd be looking for another workplace, and hoping to find one before the next emergency. There are things that I think aren't great about our camping at work situation, but applewhite's workplace is ridiculous!

I create Mediaography regularly at home...I just don't memorialize it

Oh my goodness, this post made my day!

RNperdiem, RN · Jul 31, 2012

So why the anger? Where is that coming from? Is it me, or does the anger seem out of proportion to the situation? I have done my share of snowbound hospital camping, doesn't everyone every great once in a while?

tothepointeLVN, LVN · Jul 31, 2012

Which job description gets top priority? Parent or nurse? Both are jobs in the service of others, afterall.

But you take on your job knowing you are a parent and have to juggle that. Having said that for a disaster I would cover for a coworker with kids knowing they would be sick with worry. Regular day to day work stuff the kids excuse doesn't fly with me but during a disaster I'll give you a pass because my husband can fend for himself. Admittedly it'd be pointless trying evacuate Los Angeles you'd never get anywhere ala the end of the world according to John Cusack.

squatmunkie_RN · Jul 31, 2012

She doesn't sound entitled at all. She's asking legitimate questions -- albeit they should be asked of her union reps and she should know what is in her contract. From what she describes, she could be at the hospital for a week and unable to leave. What is she suppose to do, expect her children to hunt & gather while mommy is prisoner at work? It is ultimately her responsibility to know what is required of her, but it IS her prerogative to put up with it or not.
The "if you don't like it, leave" attitude is hardly beneficial here. If that was always the attitude, then we'd all have no country (let alone place of employment) to call home.

Thank you. This is exactly my point. Although we don't have a union in my hospital. Supposedly, trying to start one (passing around petitions) can get you fired.

applewhitern, BSN, RN · Jul 31, 2012

Veggie, it would be nice if the hospitals in Florida and Alabama (where I have worked) were union, but alas, that is not the case here in the deep south. Unions are precious few and far between around these parts.

veggie530 · Jul 31, 2012

Thank you. This is exactly my point. Although we don't have a union in my hospital. Supposedly, trying to start one (passing around petitions) can get you fired.

Oh my. That explains a lot. There's no chance (at least, I don't THINK) that a hospital here in California could anticipate holding you hostage for normal OT pay and not allowing you to leave for an undisclosed period of time. I could be wrong, of course -- but we don't have hurricanes to worry about here.

@applewhitern I see.

Ultimately, this is something that borderlines being a class your institution teaches to new employees. You should know exactly what is expected of you during a disaster -- and part of that is your responsibility.

But no one should be jumping at anyone's throat for wanting to "abandon" patients when people have family at home during emergencies -- let alone animals, possessions, etc. disaster training is a specialized field (I'm FEMA trained) and in areas where hurricanes are likely you'd think the parameters would be common knowledge for employees.

No one asked for "special" treatment here, either. She obviously asked that all nurses be treated equally in the situation, not just her.

Don't even get me started on admin's and physicians getting special treatment. That's why evil unions are a necessary evil, in my opinion.

I'm starting to ramble a bit. Need food. But don't sweat the vitriol, squatmunkie. These are legitimate questions -- nursing is patient centered, but that doesn't mean at the expense of the well being of the nurse.

Asystole RN · Jul 31, 2012

So are unionized hospitals immune from natural disasters? I am not sure how a union would resolve the OP's dilemma of having to work during a natural disaster.

tothepointeLVN, LVN · Jul 31, 2012

The unions pay for special disaster protection spell that covers the entire area.

FlyingScot, RN · Jul 31, 2012

she doesn't sound entitled at all. she's asking legitimate questions --
which were answered honestly (snarky comments aside) but the op didn't like the answers.
from what she describes, she could be at the hospital for a week and unable to leave. what is she suppose to do, expect her children to hunt & gather while mommy is prisoner at work? it is ultimately her responsibility to know what is required of her, but it is her prerogative to put up with it or not.
she did not mention children being the issue that was another poster. she mentioned not getting special pay and having to share a room with a co-worker as the big problem.
the "if you don't like it, leave" attitude is hardly beneficial here. if that was always the attitude, then we'd all have no country (let alone place of employment) to call home.

the truth is if this is a policy she can't live with then her only option is to find another place to work. the hospital is not going to change its policy based on her complaints so this is actually pretty sound advice.

Jasel, BSN, RN · Jul 31, 2012

I'm done with this forum. I'm not going to sit here and read all the "oh just move to a different climate, you just got into nursing for the money, quit your job comments"
Where I work it's not "we'll all pull together as a team" you're family can stay, daycare for kids in the hospital utopia. I don't know why people ask anything on this site in the 1st place. Everyone here acts like "I'm miss supernurse who can do no wrong...so compassionate willing to pitch in and do anything for my pt's and co-workers. My question....where are all you people in MY hospital? Ha. What a joke.

I honestly don't blame you. Some of these responses were over the top.