Hello everyone. I am extremely conflicted in this decision. I work in an ICU which is now basically a COVID unit, on top of the PCU (the designated COVID unit) which we get pulled to regularly. It's no surprise there is an incomprehensible shortage of PPE, and shockingly bad backpedaling and safety recommendations from the CDC that had they made even 4 months ago would have cause a national uproar.
I have asthma and chronic bronchitis. Any little chest cold turns into full blown bronchitis for me. My girlfriend (we don't live together) has respiratory issues that require monthly injections of an immunosuppressant to manage. We haven't seen each other for almost a month now. Last week at this time, we had 1-2 two COVID patients.. at this point, all critical care units are overflowing and the safety precautions are terrible as they are everywhere else. The testing is awful with 4-6 day turnaround time. We get one N95 per shift no matter how many patients. They've increased nurse to patient ratio, which makes the one N95 even more unsafe. We can only wear it if the patient is undergoing aerosol producing procedures/treatments, otherwise, a standard surgical mask. I failed the fit test anyway. RN's are told to come in if exposed but asymptomatic, and if we are exposed to a positive patient, we only get tested if symptomatic. We have PAPRs but can only be used with positive patients due to lack of filter supply, but we won't know if they are positive until almost a week. To this day, I don't think they've been used yet. So by the time we CAN use them, it's pointless.. we've already been exposed. We are seeing younger patients with only a history of asthma or no real history crashing and burning.. going into ARDS and being intubated and placed in rotoprone beds. That's what scares me the most. Otherwise young healthy patients on the brink of death.
I really like my unit. I respect my manager, and my team, but I just don't feel safe and the anxiety is crushing. The healthcare system in general failed us. I feel it's not a matter of if but WHEN I will get this, and given my respiratory issues, will it take me out, or just hit me hard enough to cause permanent lung damage. That said, I was going to put my two weeks in but girlfriend suggested FMLA to buy some time to think about it.
I feel like I'm deserting my team when needed most. But I also didn't sign up to risk my life due to a comedy of errors, oversight, indifference, and/or just the never ending need for more profit by the powers that be. I feel what I'm doing is the logical, right, and safe move but can't get over this feeling of cowardliness and letting everyone down for doing it. However other times I feel I am being strong for giving up a well paying job with benefits for my physical/mental health and not allowing them to do me this way. Just looking for opinions one way or the other. Thank you and stay safe out there.
Megan, did you need a MD note for the FMLA. How much time did they give you. ML l am so sorry they're not working with you. You are doing the best you can in a very difficult situation. Maybe they will accommodate you
@Gingerpup I have a great primary MD who absolutely was concerned about my risk from this. He completed all of the FMLA paperwork. I got 12 weeks off. I know it may affect how my co-workers feel about me. It may affect my job, but.......My kids are so little and we would not even have anyone to watch them if we both got sick. Our house is too small for self quarantine. I have a weird medical condition that is worsened by stress, heat, etc, so the FMLA was an option. Hopefully by the time I go back there will be better PPE..hopefully......
I wonder if people hold the same opinions for other lines of work? What did you feel about the Parkland officer that didn't attempt to stop the school shooting? I bet he didn't sign up for that.
Nursing can't be compared to high-risk jobs like military, law enforcement, and firefighters. Survivors (spouse/kids) of military, police, fire dpt personnel get very good financial & insurance benefits. In my state, surviving spouse/kids get 100% pension + medical benefits.
What does a nurse get if he or she dies from caring for those with covid? As far as I know, absolutely nothing...probably not even funeral cost.
Nursing can't be compared to high-risk jobs like military, law enforcement, and firefighters. Survivors (spouse/kids) of military, police, fire dpt personnel get very good financial & insurance benefits. In my state, surviving spouse/kids get 100% pension + medical benefits.
What does a nurse get if he or she dies from caring for those with covid? As far as I know, absolutely nothing...probably not even funeral cost.
Thank you for pointing that out. Something I meant to include in my last reply but got caught up with everything else haha. But it's sad and true nonetheless. And when that happens, nurses from far and wide won't be able to leave work to attend the funeral, nor will there be police escorts, a 12-gun salute, folding flags, or people saluting the heroism of the RN as they do in the other professions. Not that any of that is needed.. it's just more insult to injury when hearing the "you signed up for this!" response.
Nursing can't be compared to high-risk jobs like military, law enforcement, and firefighters. Survivors (spouse/kids) of military, police, fire dpt personnel get very good financial & insurance benefits. In my state, surviving spouse/kids get 100% pension + medical benefits.
What does a nurse get if he or she dies from caring for those with covid? As far as I know, absolutely nothing...probably not even funeral cost.
Specializes in Perioperative, peds ,floor nurse,scl nurse.
You are concerned for your life. That’s no sin. I am disabled but feel guilty because I am not on the front lines. It is our nature as nurses. You are fortunate that you have leave. We owe it to ourselves to do what we can to care for our own selves. Our jobs & government sure won’t ! Stay well !
Absolutely there is a difference between the military and nursing. I am retired military and there is a huge difference. The military basically has a break it, you buy it policy. If a military member catches Covid19 for any reason (work or social contact), if there is permanent lung damage the soldier will have free treatment for life and disability pay. They won’t be burning PTO or sick leave, they will just be off duty to recover. I guarantee you don’t see a military nurse wearing a bandana right now......
yes, a nurse does accept a level of risk, but our hospital leadership should be doing everything they can to decrease the risk. That includes planning and preparing. I know my hospital has been purely reacting, I still see no efforts to come up with plans for what is coming. We had Covid19 in our area and our monthly training was on bedside report!
I volunteered to go back on active duty as I feel the PPE will be better, planning will be better, and compensation is surely better. I could not make myself quit my current position (but would love to) so I will likely not get called up. Probably a stupid mistake for me, I don’t know why I am being loyal at all. Solely for my co-workers....
You've got to take care of yourself first. No job is worth your health and wellbeing. As nurses, we often sacrifice ourselves endlessly, but there has to be a limit and this is clearly one for you. All the best.
Know who's the cowards? Admins working from home spewing the edicts that we have to reuse N95s and there are no iso gowns...because it will blow their budget and their year end bonus.
I thankfully was PRN as a nurse...notice I say....WAS. When this started...I had a few pts in Dec that I literally was like...yeah...Flu. Nope. Tested neg. And we all went about our business with no PPE on AT ALL because of that negative flu swab.
So when this broke...I resigned. I was threatened with all sorts of weird "emergency powers" these idiots thought was legal bc Cheetoh says it's an employer free for all now. Everything is legal when it comes to businesses staying solvent.
I have another job in the hospital that is direct pt care but not like ER nursing. We magically have all the PPE we need....why? Because we are the money makers of the hospital...our department bills directly for the exams we do. Yeah, the outpatients are less...but we are doing a lot of these "r/o" pts...and THAT is what is overwhelming hospitals right now.
NOT actual infections. It's the insane "r/o" activity...with no real evidence these patients have anything but normal, everyday pneumonia.
But no. YOU are not the coward. We signed up for SAFE WORKING CONDITIONS. This is not some backwater third world country where we know that drinking the water can cause schistosomiasis and kidney failure or sleeping without a fine mesh wrapped around us can end in malaria. We luve in the wealthiest country with the "best economy ever!!"....and after WEEKS....and 2T of banks and hedge funds getting bailed out...WE STILL HAVE NO PROPER OR CONSISTENT PPE.
I wouldnt go back to nursing now if you paid me triple time. and its nothing to do with the virus. it's EVERYTHING to do with how we are seen as entirely expendible.
Hello everyone. I am extremely conflicted in this decision. I work in an ICU which is now basically a COVID unit, on top of the PCU (the designated COVID unit) which we get pulled to regularly. It's no surprise there is an incomprehensible shortage of PPE, and shockingly bad backpedaling and safety recommendations from the CDC that had they made even 4 months ago would have cause a national uproar.
I have asthma and chronic bronchitis. Any little chest cold turns into full blown bronchitis for me. My girlfriend (we don't live together) has respiratory issues that require monthly injections of an immunosuppressant to manage. We haven't seen each other for almost a month now. Last week at this time, we had 1-2 two COVID patients.. at this point, all critical care units are overflowing and the safety precautions are terrible as they are everywhere else. The testing is awful with 4-6 day turnaround time. We get one N95 per shift no matter how many patients. They've increased nurse to patient ratio, which makes the one N95 even more unsafe. We can only wear it if the patient is undergoing aerosol producing procedures/treatments, otherwise, a standard surgical mask. I failed the fit test anyway. RN's are told to come in if exposed but asymptomatic, and if we are exposed to a positive patient, we only get tested if symptomatic. We have PAPRs but can only be used with positive patients due to lack of filter supply, but we won't know if they are positive until almost a week. To this day, I don't think they've been used yet. So by the time we CAN use them, it's pointless.. we've already been exposed. We are seeing younger patients with only a history of asthma or no real history crashing and burning.. going into ARDS and being intubated and placed in rotoprone beds. That's what scares me the most. Otherwise young healthy patients on the brink of death.
I really like my unit. I respect my manager, and my team, but I just don't feel safe and the anxiety is crushing. The healthcare system in general failed us. I feel it's not a matter of if but WHEN I will get this, and given my respiratory issues, will it take me out, or just hit me hard enough to cause permanent lung damage. That said, I was going to put my two weeks in but girlfriend suggested FMLA to buy some time to think about it.
I feel like I'm deserting my team when needed most. But I also didn't sign up to risk my life due to a comedy of errors, oversight, indifference, and/or just the never ending need for more profit by the powers that be. I feel what I'm doing is the logical, right, and safe move but can't get over this feeling of cowardliness and letting everyone down for doing it. However other times I feel I am being strong for giving up a well paying job with benefits for my physical/mental health and not allowing them to do me this way. Just looking for opinions one way or the other. Thank you and stay safe out there.
First of all we are all human first and foremost. Our only "part"in this crisis is to stay healthy and do our jobs to the best of our abilities. For the OP, his best means stepping down for awhile.
And btw, NOBODY signed up for a pandemic without proper PPE. That is insanity. I have two children, and I will NOT leave them without a mom for some kind of nonsense martyr "higher calling" rubbish.
Finally, you know what would happen if most nurses boycotted work right now? In big enough numbers to affect the system countrywide? I bet we'd see some PPE and hazard pay magically appear incredibly quickly
Damn straight.
In the Prez' press conference today it was stated that there are thousands of vents, masks, etc. being sold to the highest overseas bidder by these bastard big companies, also that there are reserves of them in some secret place controlled by the Fed gov.
CDC, WHO, NIH whoever changed from saying N95's were essential to no masks or only surgical grade masks were fine - and then only if some aerosol were present. As if one could stat mask and glove, gown, etc. if a pt is about to cough/sneeze. I really think that every last one of them is a traitor, a treasonous traitor because they are protecting only themselves and don't give a damn about health workers.
They also said that police detectives have plenty of PPE so they can investigate homicides. Great. Still inadequate supplies for frontline nurses, docs, EMS, etc.
I hope God is writing all of this down.
Never mind He actually already knows. He is well aware of man's inhumanity to man.
MeganMN
1 Article; 89 Posts
@Gingerpup I have a great primary MD who absolutely was concerned about my risk from this. He completed all of the FMLA paperwork. I got 12 weeks off. I know it may affect how my co-workers feel about me. It may affect my job, but.......My kids are so little and we would not even have anyone to watch them if we both got sick. Our house is too small for self quarantine. I have a weird medical condition that is worsened by stress, heat, etc, so the FMLA was an option. Hopefully by the time I go back there will be better PPE..hopefully......