Can nurses be forced to work during pandemic

HippyGreenPeaceChick · May 11, 2009

I just love drama. I am addicted to Days of Our Lives.

Peace and Love

caroladybelle, BSN, RN · May 23, 2009

Most contagious illnesses, yes. And with this current round of H1N1 I'd agree totally. It may be pandemic, but it's not very lethal or problematic. However- would you feel the same if this mutated into a form as lethal as H5N1 with a greater than 50% mortality rate?

I have worked in Africa as a volunteer, where PPE is limited, and where bluntly there are many diseases as well as physical risks that have an elevated or higher mortality rate. When you worry about making it to get supplies, because you have a very real risk of being shot at, kidnapped, raped (in area where HIV+ is rampant), or contracting one of the many filoviral/hemmorhagic/parasitic illnesses, flu is less frightening, especially in the USA where we have a reasonably safe blood supply, sterile supplies, and ability to access a higher level of care.

And, at the time that I worked with AIDs patients, pts generally died within several monthes to 1-2 years of diagnosis. There were few antivirals, whatsoever, PCP pneumonia had a 50% fatality rate. Not that much was known about HIV at the time.

Equinox_93 · May 24, 2009

During your time in Africa did you have small children waiting at home for you?

I have worked in Africa as a volunteer, where PPE is limited, and where bluntly there are many diseases as well as physical risks that have an elevated or higher mortality rate. When you worry about making it to get supplies, because you have a very real risk of being shot at, kidnapped, raped (in area where HIV+ is rampant), or contracting one of the many filoviral/hemmorhagic/parasitic illnesses, flu is less frightening, especially in the USA where we have a reasonably safe blood supply, sterile supplies, and ability to access a higher level of care.
And, at the time that I worked with AIDs patients, pts generally died within several monthes to 1-2 years of diagnosis. There were few antivirals, whatsoever, PCP pneumonia had a 50% fatality rate. Not that much was known about HIV at the time.

caroladybelle, BSN, RN · May 25, 2009

My child was older at that time, but I have a mother who is ill and depends on me.

It is really dismissive to those of us that do this work, to assume that we have no one that depends on us....therefore we do that work. I like to teach my child and now her children that we have a responsibility to others. She as well as her husband have worked in law enforcement.

I will also add that the vast majority of those that I did that work with, were married, had children and other dependants.

There are risks everywhere when you enter a helping profession. Did the healthcare workers/EMTs/paramedics/police/firemen of 9-11 expect what faced them? Were they neglectful of their families when they went to do their jobs? And did they back off saying, "Well, I know that I took this job, knowing the risks....but I just can't do it now....I have a family."

There are also plenty of military parents out there, also, that face much greater risks.