Volunteer Nurses Needed for Hurricane Emergency!

nurse/realtor · Sep 3, 2005

Maybe you misunderstood me, I don't mind going through orientation, but our orientation is over a week away, and I was told it was on food distribution. I don't mind doing WHATEVER is needed of me including handing out food, or helping recover the dead if necessary. I just was hoping that with our nursing skills we could get the orientation quicker and get down there to help our brother and sister nurses who haven't eaten, slept or showered in days. I don't care where I have to be housed or what the conditions are. People are dying, the nurses down there are burned out and I bet to them a week to two weeks to wait for relief staff seem like a long time.

And why would that be???????
You ARE asking for special treatment. ALL volunteers need to complete certain basic training, including healthcare personnel. And just because you hold the title, "Nurse" does not mean that you have any idea how it is to function as part of the Red Cross team. And we all know nurses that we wonder how that survived nursing school much less Boards, and we all have worked with those that do not deal well with pressure or behave tactfully in a crisis.
Also, just because you are nursing does not mean that the Red Cross needs you in that capacity. You my find yourself doing some things that may feel are "beneath" your capacity as a nurse and be expected to do them, with a smile on your face.
And why do people not seek out this training BEFORE the crisis....which would make sense? If those in your local office are a bit terse, it is because there have been plenty of opportunities to train since the last Hurricane season....with plenty of time to assess whether you are able to do the tasks that you are assigned to. Especially, when they would have had plenty of staff to do the job right instead of rushed though due to personnel being stretched thin. Why do people rush in at the last minute, thinking that they can do training in a pinch and function as required? That is rude, also.
The vast majority of red cross volunteers have jobs, family and lives that are important to them. Their time is valuable and their skills ALL contribute to the success of the project. Therefore, they all need to attend much of the same training so that they are all working "from the same page". Some of these volunteers have companies that they run and have 6 figure incomes, and they still take training.
If volunteering is that important to you, take the time to do the right thing and get trained the right way.

pellio3 · Sep 3, 2005

I talked to the Red Cross this morning, and they will only take people who will give them a 3 week block of time. We would be looking at a week at best.
Dan

I am a RN licensed in IN but am willing to give some time to help out where ever I can. But I am also soul support of myself so I can not give an undetermined amout of time. Please let me know if there's a group or organization needing my helpl. By the way Red Cross said they didn't need my help and that Indiana Red Cross were not sending nurses.

pellio3 · Sep 3, 2005

Maybe you misunderstood me, I don't mind going through orientation, but our orientation is over a week away, and I was told it was on food distribution. I don't mind doing WHATEVER is needed of me including handing out food, or helping recover the dead if necessary. I just was hoping that with our nursing skills we could get the orientation quicker and get down there to help our brother and sister nurses who haven't eaten, slept or showered in days. I don't care where I have to be housed or what the conditions are. People are dying, the nurses down there are burned out and I bet to them a week to two weeks to wait for relief staff seem like a long time.

Maybe you don't understand. I know of RN's going to other places of disasters to help without going through an orientation. If the Red Cross doesnt' want the help maybe there are others that do.

pellio3 · Sep 3, 2005

Maybe you misunderstood me, I don't mind going through orientation, but our orientation is over a week away, and I was told it was on food distribution. I don't mind doing WHATEVER is needed of me including handing out food, or helping recover the dead if necessary. I just was hoping that with our nursing skills we could get the orientation quicker and get down there to help our brother and sister nurses who haven't eaten, slept or showered in days. I don't care where I have to be housed or what the conditions are. People are dying, the nurses down there are burned out and I bet to them a week to two weeks to wait for relief staff seem like a long time.

I think if you represent the Red Cross you might need to adjust your attitude. Do you have a problem with nurses?

pellio3 · Sep 3, 2005

This is the e-mail i received:
Thank you for your offer of help to the Louisiana people in our time of crisis. I'm sorry this is not a personal email, but we are receiving many communications at this time.
Here are the current contact numbers for LA Dept.of Health and Hospital for assignment to aid in disaster relief: 225-763-5770 and 225-763-5740. You may have to keep trying to call, because phone service is sporadic right now. You may also contact them at [email protected] (the first letter is a lower-case "L"),
There is currently no lodging available. You may be sleeping in a shelter with evacuees. Please bring a sleeping bag and anything else you think you may need.
Bring your current RN license from your home state and a picture ID.
This is a difficult time for us, and we sincerely appreciate your willingness to help. Thank you again for your generosity in volunteering!
Louisiana State Nurses Association

Thank you

tony0314 · Sep 3, 2005

how will the license issue be handled?

copied from the ana nursing world website:

volunteers from other states need a current license from their home state and a picture id. after assignment in la they are asked to notify the louisiana state board of nursing. the louisana state board of nursing office can now be reached at the lsna office: 1-800-457-6378, 225-201-0993, or fax # 225-201-0971. you can email them at [email protected].

tony0314 · Sep 3, 2005

copied from ana nursing world website:

volunteers from other states need a current license from their home state and a picture id. after assignment in la they are asked to notify the louisiana state board of nursing. the louisana state board of nursing office can now be reached at the lsna office: 1-800-457-6378, 225-201-0993, or fax # 225-201-0971. you can email them at [email protected].

tony0314 · Sep 3, 2005

i am a nurse nhere in michigan and would love to donate my time and skills ..however, i am not licensed in louisiana nor mississippi.
only licensed in michigan, wisconsin and california.
if you need my help please let me know how i can help. please contact me through private messaging. thanks.
judy

volunteers from other states need a current license from their home state and a picture id. after assignment in la they are asked to notify the louisiana state board of nursing. the louisana state board of nursing office can now be reached at the lsna office: 1-800-457-6378, 225-201-0993, or fax # 225-201-0971. you can email them at [email protected].

sored · Sep 3, 2005

YOU ARE NOT ALONE. THE CAVALRY IS ON ITS WAY. REMEMBER: THEY TELL YOU ON AIRPLANES IF YOU ARE TRAVELLING WITH CHILDREN AND AN EMERGENCY OCCURS GIVE YOURSELF THE OXYGEN FIRST OR YOU CANNOT HELP THE CHILD. THANK YOU. I KNOW.

Here is a post from a hospital worker on another BB. If you can go, please do. BE SAFE!
You can read the post here: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=2916641&postcount=43
The entire thread can be read here: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=224654&page=1&pp=20

dawn1rhino · Sep 3, 2005

WOW this thread is an emotional ride - so glad to have found this website early in my career, I'm learning so much.

Thankfully I was provided a way to directly help the healthcare workers and patients in New Orleans. I'm in B'ham AL, where AirMed International (an air ambulance service) is located. They are transfering patients from New Orleans to the B'ham airport for triage and then ground transpo to the various hospitals here. Fortunately my hospital alerted us to this and we were invited to bring supplies to the airstrip so that the returning flights are loaded with supplies. What a great feeling to know that the water I bought today will be hydrate someone tonight!!!!!!!

I was feeling so frustrated by not being able to help.... I just graduated in May and so taking time off is really not an option at this time.

I am glad to learn of the orientation requirements to participate in disaster relief. Does that type of training count towards CEUs?

One relief organization I have not seen mentioned in this thread is Operation Blessing, http://www.ob.org I don't know if they utilize medical staff, but I don't see why not....

They are the only relief effort I have heard of that is addressing the communication problem. They have purchased satellite phones and are equipping their volunteers so that refugees can call loved ones.

I just wonder if that is feasible for a 501 charity to provide for victims why it isn't feasible for the government to provide for first responders!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!

I find myself so angry over the fact that 911 presented a first responder communication crisis & the tsunami presented a communication crisis. And now this. First responder communication has long been identified as the key to saving lives and yet the US repeatedly ignores this need. I think it is high time for the nurses, doctors, firefighters, EMS, police, etc... to ban together and demand our government to provide us the most basic tool needed in emergencies - reliable communication. I find it infuriating that in 2005 our primary problem is a communication breakdown - ARGGG.

If anyone knows of how I can get involved in pressing this issue in a constructive way (I've repeatedly signed petitions) please let me know.

God Bless all those putting themselves in harms way for the sake of others.

I will be praying for peace for those who find waiting around to give help intolerable.

skl1010 · Sep 3, 2005

How will the license issue be handled?

On medical sites they indicate that Louisiana has suspended all medical licensure activities. If you have a license in hand and a photo id you can practice I believe. I read this on medscape

gauge14iv, MSN, APRN, NP · Sep 4, 2005

For those who want to volunteer to provide medical help in the disaster

area, teams are being formed now and over the coming week. From what we

understand, DHHS will provide transportation from an airport near you to a

site that needs help. Any US citizen with

medical/nursing/IT/Security/Safety/medical admin/allied health backgrounds

can sign up online to volunteer to provide medical and medical support help.

Expect field conditions in the environment - very austere - be prepared to

sleep in a tent, eat boxed meals, no promise about regular showers, no air

conditioning, portable toilets, 12 hour shifts.

To volunteer, go to http://www.hhs.gov, click on Hurricane Katrina on the upper

right .

There will be a list of the medical and medical support skillsets needed and

then scroll down to fill out the form with your information and click

"submit".

Have your Social Security number and Medical/nursing license # & expiration

date (if you are a provider) onhand before you go online to sign up.

If you can't get on the website, don't get frustrated and try again

later -the site was overloaded due to the media announcements today.

After you sign up, you will be contacted regarding further details about

your assignment.

God bless and please pass the word along for how to volunteer.

Best

Loretta

Loretta Schlachta-Fairchild PhD

President & CEO

iTelehealth Inc.

6935 North Clifton Rd

Frederick MD 21702

phone - 301-371-8495

fax - 301-371-8538

email - [email protected]

http://www.itelehealthinc.com

http://www.preventingsuicide.com