Come to work or get fired-Hurricane Irma!!!

CelticGoddess, BSN, RN · Sep 9, 2017

I would hope LTCs/SNFs on the coast of Florida would evacuate, and we wouldn't have another Port Arthur situation.

They should, coastal SC has evacuated. (and people are panicking that have to take extra people, such joy)

CelticGoddess, BSN, RN · Sep 9, 2017

I am certainly going to do my best to get to work. I wonder if "nursing management" is going to show up for the disaster or if they are going to stay safe at home?

Sorry to serial post but: All three facilities I have worked for has had admin/management show up. The only people who didn't have to come in were the admin secretaries, research people, HR. I know that our CNO, CMO, and CEO were at our facility a few years back when we had a blizzard. The CNO took patients! I think maybe I worked for good companies

Blackcat99 · Sep 9, 2017

Yes I did see a Memo about a Team A and a Team B but no one seemed to know what it meant. We were told that it only pertained to "management staff" and not us. The Memo also said we would only get regular pay and that we would not be paid at all when not working on the unit.

cayenne06, MSN, CNM · Sep 9, 2017

Okay so you got a memo about teams and a staffing plan. If you guys weren't sure what "team A and B" meant, did you reach out to management to clarify?

We all know when the hurricane is coming. If you are scheduled during the storm, you will need to make arrangements to get there BEFORE the hurricane, and be prepared to hunker down for a few days. But your residents depend on you. If you have outside responsibilities that make it impossible for you to stay for a few days, that should have been addressed well before today.

Honestly this makes me worried for your residents. Was your plan to just peek out the window on the day of your shift, and hope for the best?!

It sucks majorly, I won't lie. You have my sympathy here. Especially if admin is being a jerk and not giving compensation for off duty time. Is that legal?! Probably

I hope you guys make it through okay.

Blackcat99 · Sep 9, 2017

Yes, we did ask management for clarification about Team A and Team B and they said "Don't worry about it. It pertains to "management only". Management's plan is that whatever shift is working when the Hurricane occurs, that shift gets to stay at work and not go home. Management said if it is our days off from work that we are to stay home. Management said we are to only show up at work at the actual time that our shift hours are scheduled. So yes, as per management's policy, we will be peeking out the window on the day of our shifts and hoping for the best.

elkpark · Sep 9, 2017

Yes, we did ask management for clarification about Team A and Team B and they said "Don't worry about it. It pertains to "management only". Management's plan is that whatever shift is working when the Hurricane occurs, that shift gets to stay at work and not go home. Management said if it is our days off from work that we are to stay home. Management said we are to only show up at work at the actual time that our shift hours are scheduled. So yes, as per management's policy, we will be peeking out the window on the day of our shifts and hoping for the best.

Does your management have any prior experience with severe weather emergencies?? Oh well, at least you know what the plan and expectations are.

Blackcat99 · Sep 9, 2017

No, I don't think our nursing management has any previous experience dealing with severe weather emergencies. They are "absolutely horrified" at the thought of having to pay overtime to nursing staff for any reason.

Julius Seizure · Sep 9, 2017

Yes, we did ask management for clarification about Team A and Team B and they said "Don't worry about it. It pertains to "management only". Management's plan is that whatever shift is working when the Hurricane occurs, that shift gets to stay at work and not go home. Management said if it is our days off from work that we are to stay home. Management said we are to only show up at work at the actual time that our shift hours are scheduled. So yes, as per management's policy, we will be peeking out the window on the day of our shifts and hoping for the best.

My guess is whatever staff is there when the storm hits should plan to be stuck there till somebody can make it in to relieve them - might be a little bit longer than a normal shift!

And yes, if staff isn't allowed to leave if desired, they have to pay you because they are making you stay.

Ruby Vee, BSN · Sep 9, 2017

Wow!!! This notice was posted at my job!!! Show up or get fired!!!! Do any other LTC facilities have these kind of notices too?

LTCs do it, hospitals do it, and any other business that expected to operate 24/7/265 does it. Law enforcement does it. Show up. Or get fired. (If you get fired, prepare to explain over and over on each successive interview why you didn't show up for work, what you've learned from it and what you would do differently next time.

Blackcat99 · Sep 9, 2017

Oh I forgot to mention something else very important on that Memo. They said nursing staff working during the Hurricane are responsible for bringing in their own food and water with them!!!

Mavrick, BSN, RN · Sep 9, 2017

Yes, we healthcare workers are considered "essential personnel" and can disobey all those silly rules for normal people like stay home if there is snow or rain or you have a sniffle or North Korea is in a bad mood.

WE GO TO WORK AND STAY UNTIL RELIEVED!

Hey, think of it as job security. You can sometimes get out of speeding tickets if you flash your badge. I actually got a police escort while returning to the hospital for a call-in during a super bad snow storm one Christmas Eve in Kansas City when the buses weren't even running.

nurse.ethel.RN · Sep 9, 2017

They'd have to fire me. Anyone who says we deserve to be fired can cover my shift for me.