Hello, I am a Nurse in the State of West Virginia.
We are currently in the wake of Winter Storm Jonas which has left our hospital in a bind with staffing. I am well aware of the mandation laws currently in action for the state of WV. I understand that a nurse can be mandated to work a 16 hour shift if staffing is needed for the safety of the patients, which I have no problem with and will gladly volunteer in this time of need. However, at our specific facility after a nurse has worked a 16 hour shift, management will not let us leave the building, even if we are not scheduled to work for several days, requiring us to sleep here.
They are at this point threatening us with discipline.
I have just worked a 12 hour shift and am not needed to work an additional 4 hours as my replacement has arrived, they have no use for me. They will not let me leave the hospital even though they have no need for me. They say, "they cannot guarantee that I will make it in for my shift tomorrow night and I am not allowed to leave due to this."
Although extreme, I feel that this is somewhat a hostage situation, lol. I live 5 minutes away from the hospital of which I work, I have even said that I can walk to work of for some reason my 4WD lifted truck cannot make the 2.2 mile trip.
This cannot be legal, refusing a nurse from going home if they are not mandated and are not needed. For instance, a nurse worked her scheduled shift this past Friday and was going to leave at 7pm. They told her she was not needed but she was not allowed to leave.
She isn't scheduled to work again until Monday morning and are forcing her to stay here throughout the weekend? I cannot see how this is legal in anyway, and then on top of forcing us to stay they are intimidating us by throwing termination in our face if we leave.
Sounds like my hospital... They did that to us too. A friend of mine had to stay all weekend even though she was off for the weekend and 3 following days. It's absolutely ridiculous.
Specializes in Med/surg,orthopedics,emergency room,.
I couldn't believe it when we had the blizzard, my nursing center said they would come and get people, if they were given notice. Well, I did and they told me then wouldn't come and get me, yet they got people who live further out than I did. I was a bit dismayed, but then I made up my mind I was going to just do my shifts and not volunteer for any others. No one should be forced to stay at work. That isn't fair and it's really quite selfish.
Can you pm me the name of your hospital? I am about to retire from the service and I need to work at a place that takes care of it people. Thanks :) sounds like your hospital is the place.
I gladly would but it's not a hospital. I've been in LTC for 21 years now. It has been a decent place to work though. That 3 day storm I was stuck at work for most of the management team stayed too. The administrator was in the kitchen cooking breakfast for the whole facility when the cook couldn't make it in. It wasn't a gourmet meal by any means, but I was real impressed by him diving in and cooking for 90+ residents. He was even careful to make sure everybody got close to the right diet. I mean nobody was worrying about sodium or diabetic diet restrictions too much, but at least if the resident required puree food or thickened liquids, they got it.
First time I have ever heard of a manager/administrator actually pitching in. So it does happen. Rare as hen's teeth but it does happen. Yeah, I think if they miss their correct diet for a day, it is not the end of the world. If they were out in the community, they would probably have the odd diet miscue without grave consequences. It is not like they are missing their cardiac meds like that poor nurse did. I have to wonder about the mindset and critical thinking skills of a management that would think it is okay for the nurse to go a few days without their cardiac meds. And the facility is being run by these people. Very scary. If they show such little regard for the staff the same probably applies to the patients. Just show them the money.
Specializes in orthopedic/trauma, Informatics, diabetes.
OP should have been aware of this policy and been prepared. We have safety education and severe weather policy training required every year that we have to complete and agree to the policy that we are considered "essential personnel" and that while the severe weather policy is in place, we may be required to stay for the duration as staffing can be iffy. We may be needed on other units. I always take changes of clothes (although we can always get OR scrubs) and an emergency toiletries kit, including my meds in case.
I believe most have some sort of policy like this so it should not come as a surprise to anyone.
One facility I worked at put us up in short/day surgery rooms. It was nice.
Someone should call a lawyer who knows work law in your state... In MA, if an employer mandates you to stay you must be paid for your entire time there including when on break or off duty to sleep etc...
OP should have been aware of this policy and been prepared. We have safety education and severe weather policy training required every year that we have to complete and agree to the policy that we are considered "essential personnel" and that while the severe weather policy is in place, we may be required to stay for the duration as staffing can be iffy. We may be needed on other units. I always take changes of clothes (although we can always get OR scrubs) and an emergency toiletries kit, including my meds in case.
I believe most have some sort of policy like this so it should not come as a surprise to anyone.
One facility I worked at put us up in short/day surgery rooms. It was nice.
I doubt the policy says you have to stay at work for days just in case the people booked on your days off don't come in. In adverse weather yes, you do get stuck there. But the OP did not specify that they would be allowed to leave if the weather improved. It was just stay there for a few days in case no one turns up for their shift. Well, no wonder they have a hard time keeping staff on board if this is the way they treat them. Yes disaster plans are one thing but keeping staff at work just because you can't get staff to work for you is another story.
JillianInTheNicu
1 Post
Sounds like my hospital... They did that to us too. A friend of mine had to stay all weekend even though she was off for the weekend and 3 following days. It's absolutely ridiculous.