Coworkers Going Out During Pandemic, Hospital Admin Hypocrisy...

[chachanurse101]

...Can anyone relate to this? Since the Summer I've had coworkers going out, posting photos, going to Disney World, clubs, meeting up with friends and family in groups...they post it all on social media and at the same time ask everyone to "mask up!" and have the "I can't stay home, I'm a nurse!" filter on their profile picture...what has really bugged me recently is my unit is hosting a holiday party at a charge RNs house. How does that make sense? Inviting all of management and staff, plus any guests they decide to bring with them, to a house party in the middle of a worsening pandemic to drink and hang out? I feel disgusted. I will not be attending the party. I can't look some of them in the face anymore, it is so bad.

Another thing that is bothering me is the way management and the hospital I work for is responding to the conditions we are in. My hospital is funding and hosting events all around town (that is corporate healthcare systems for you...) and literally inviting people to gather in public settings...all while we still don't have adequate staffing, PPE, supplies, and work in abhorrent conditions.

Can you all relate? How do you cope? I feel so sad these days. I feel like I am living in a fake profession. I am having a hard time finding anyone who still takes the pandemic seriously. I want to quit and work somewhere else where the culture is better, the staff actually cares, and management is on board. Does this exist? I was recently told if I quit "the grass is not always greener on the other side". Does anyone work somewhere right now where things are not as bad, behavior-wise?

[caliotter3]

I'm thinking of one agency whose SOC included ascertaining that the patient was using a ventilator, when none could be found in the home.  Now that is what I call being sharp and to the point!  Like assessing the status of a nonexistent limb, or the missing eye.  You get the picture.

[Kitiger, RN]

Just now, caliotter3 said:

I'm thinking of one agency whose SOC included ascertaining that the patient was using a ventilator, when none could be found in the home.  Now that is what I call being sharp and to the point!  Like assessing the status of a nonexistent limb, or the missing eye.  You get the picture.

I would run, screaming, away from that agency! 

When I first started looking for an agency to do home care, I ran into one with a big problem. I had filled out an application but had not done an interview. A couple nights later, the scheduler tried to send me to a home, when I knew that they had not yet seen my nursing license. I pointed this out to the scheduler, but she said it would be OK. 

I declined, and told the agency to stop the hiring process. 

Is there another agency that you can use, or all of them in your area the same?

[caliotter3]

The agencies in the area, to one degree or another, pretty much have the same level of environment and none of them have a terrible plethora of available work at the time.  Worse so, than in non-Covid times.  Around here if you "got a job, need a job, and want a job, you better keep the job that you got".  Yet another reason for me to look forward to the day when I stop the race of rats altogether.  I feel like a withering mouse amongst them all.

[GadgetRN71, ASN, RN]

On 1/3/2021 at 3:06 AM, Sour Lemon said:

Lockdowns started 10 months ago where I'm at. People are tired of it. I don't care what anyone does on their personal time, as long as they're using the proper and effective precautions at work.

The social media proclamations annoy me too, but it's easy enough to log off.

Yes. I wear my mask and social distance but I still go out to eat, I go shopping and I’m  going to Disney World in a few months. I will take precautions but I’m not going to stop living my life. 

[toomuchbaloney]

13 minutes ago, GadgetRN71 said:

Yes. I wear my mask and social distance but I still go out to eat, I go shopping and I’m  going to Disney World in a few months. I will take precautions but I’m not going to stop living my life. 

My extended family continues to remain vigilant about minimizing unnecessary social contact.  Some of them have work which requires travel across the country.  They appreciate not having to dodge scores of poorly compliant locals when they try to get dinner, etc.  Some of them have gotten at least the first doses of their vaccines.  We are all already talking about traveling and visiting one another when this nightmare is over. 

[JBMmom, MSN, NP]

We have a coworker always posting group gatherings on social media, no masks in sight. No one was surprised when she ended up being an asymptomatic carrier.

I just make sure I'm wearing my PPE at all times. No difference between getting COVID from her, or from my coworker (or myself), out doing necessary grocery shopping and taking all appropriate precautions. 

We are not responsible for, nor entitled to, dictate "appropriate" activities of our coworkers. Try not to pay attention to things you can't control. Sorry you're frustrated. 

[kbrn2002, ADN, RN]

While I agree people are just over this having a health care employer sponsoring events is a little much.  I know I can't do anything to stop an individual coworker or even a group of them together from going out to a house party so I just don't stress it. 

I would have a harder time with my company participating in a public gathering though. It is pretty hypocritical of them to support COVID precautions and even require them of their employees on one hand and then turn around and throw a party with a bunch of guests!  All I can think is it must be fundraising season and the powers that be decided those benefactors donations were more important than public health.