Again about abandonment during huracane in FL

[Lapa]

I live in Palm Beach County. So, as you know, we have been directly hit by 2 huracane recently.

When Frances hit, I worked as a nursing associate in a big hospital: The work schedule was very orginized: I knew I was going to be in "after huracane" team, and reported to job immideatly when it became safe to drive.

Then I 've got an LPN job in nursing home (I just got my LPN license in September) - my first job as a nurse!

That is when my nightmare started. Huracane "Jean" (cat. 3)was supposed to hit Saturday, 24th, at 10 p.m. My shcedule was Friday, 23d - 3-11p, then the next day Saturday 7-3p. At 3.30 p I realized nobody coming to replace me. They always relied on agency's nurses for this shift (although during huracane they shoul have engage the staff nurses). Nursing supervisor whined that "she had to go home too". Three agency's nurses called in sick. I HAD TO GO HOME TO BOARD UP MY HOUSE!!! At 4 p.m. the wind started to pick up. I understood - if I stay longer, I would not be making it home. My husband called in panic, saying that he needs help to board up the house, he can't do it by himself. About 4.30 p.m. nobody at job volonteered to take my assignment - not RN, who was scheduled till 7 p.m., nor nursing supervisor. I never agreed to work after my shift.

If you leave in this situation - is it abandonment?

[TELEpathicRN]

You should contact your state board of nursing for their specifics on abandonment, each state varies some. Most states say that if there is nobody to "take" your pts from you and you leave, it is abandonment. Depending on your employer/co-workers, they could call the board and report you. Did you actually leave or did you stay?

[Tweety, BSN, RN]

Unfortunately if you left the residents/patients without a nurse, then yes it would have been abandonment. The nursing board would have looked at you cold and stonefaced as you told your tale of woe of having little sleep and a hurricane on the way, as they charged you.

How did it turn out. Did you stay? Did someone take your patients?

[mattsmom81]

I agree with Tweety and Telepathic. Once we are there we have the duty. The agency nurses who canceled were within their rights to stay home and protect their loved ones and property altho I know it left YOU in the bad situation.

Once we're there taking care of those patients it is our duty to secure another professional before leaving them. I remember being stuck in blizzards at the hospital and we had to be very creative to meet everybody's needs. Sorry you got stuck in this situation, it must be heartbrteaking to make choices like this when you're worried about family, and worrying about the consequences of leaving and possibly losing our livelihood by the BON if we feel we MUST leave to care for our childrern, etc.

I want to think facilities will work with nurses instead of against them in these situations, instead of retaliating when nurse has to make this difficult decision: my family or my patients. But...not all of us are working with managers this compassionate, nor managers who prepare sufficient backup plans. Too many will resort to 'do it or else' threats.

Hope everything goes well for you and other Fla nurses; and you didn't sustain unmanageable problems following the hurricane crisis.