The hurricane is slated to arive 2-6 pm on Sunday. THe DON threatened the entire Nursing staff today saying that anyone who does not adhere to the new schedule (coming out tomorrow) will be fired!
Let me tell you what this new schedule entails - ALL nursing staff will come in on Sunday. Those that are scheduled to work Sunday will work. Everyone else will RELAX until their shift comes due (in my case more than 24 hours later).
This LTC locked us in the facility for 48+ hours during and after Hurricane Ivan 10 months ago!
I have 32 years experience as an LPN and I understand what quality of care means to my patients. But I do not like being threatened with my license and I do not like being incarcerated!
More importantly, I do not like the idea that this LTC facility is staying regardless of Dennis being a Category 3 or 4 hurricane. We are less than 1 mile from the Pensacola Bay.
The management and the DON and ADON are threatening the staff. They are putting their patients at RISK.
Then they wonder why people are quitting.
I need that great American dream - health insurance - so I can't quit.
Sounds like too many people are forgetting about the patients :angryfire Yes, it is an inconvenience to be "Locked" into any establishment, but what about your responsibility to your patients? I grew up in Pensacola, and EVERYONE knows of the dangers and inconveniences of hurricanes. Most facilities do NOT want to lock you in, but it is for everyone's BEST interest and safety. Maybe they could do a better job of explaining things to you, but remember, DON's are people too and are as nervous and stressed as everyone with this monster of a hurricane coming. Good luck to all who live in the path of Dennis!
When I say that the Management "locked" us into the facility I do not mean the doors and I am NOT talking about wanting to walk out INTO the hurricane as it is passing through.
What I am talking about is NOT ALLOWING people to leave 14 hours after the storm passed by. I am talking about the DON getting into nurses faces and saying "If you leave I will report you to the Florida Boards" - even though there was more than enough staff at that time to take care of the entire facility.
One person who replied to this thread mention that management at her facility helped out in the kitchen and laundry. Not at my facility. They go around threatening people that they better do their jobs or they will be fired - they DO NOT lend a hand.
My DON is not a person - by the way - who took time off today (during the day shift) to run to Mobile to check HER house - yep the DON.
Guess where the Administrator went today - HE WENT TO MONTGOMERY.
But I know facts will clearly demonstrate to everyone how bad this facility is and how bad they treat their Nurses and other staff: vendors supplying food and medical supplies will not unload their truck until they have a check in hand (for the full amount)! The electric company came by two weeks ago to cut off the electricity (it seems the management had received several late bills and the electric company had reported the delinquincy to the State) - so the management quickly had a check written out for 2 months of electricity (over $12K).
People who really care about their patients and staff do not behave this way.
If your facility is on the Bay they need to be EVACUATING the facility now. But they won't until forced by local Emergency Mangement. Same stuff happens the rest of your Gulf Coast neighbors, but last year they low lying and coastal NH started evacuating residents.
Their plan for evacuating is to take all the patients to their other facilities in northern Alabama! There are no plans for the local placement of residents.
if you are expecting a babysitter to be there for your children forget it...take them with you . they will not have power at home..at least the facility will have generators and you can get food and a/c . if they object to family members at hospital then decide that yo will have to look for something else after 'caine
forgive me for being mercenary but are you paid while you are waiting around for your shift to begin?
My kid is 31 yrs old and is taking the dogs and cats with her.
Last year I took both of my dogs to the facility. I also stayed 4 days - the run up and 3 days aftermath.
We were on the clock but we were only paid 8 hours a day - then they instituted a mandatory 12 hour shifts 1 week later (for a month). We HAD to go on 12 hour shifts because some CNAs walked out, didn't show up, and the same will nurses - LPNs and RNs.
The most memorable incident was when the DON got in the face of one LPN 8 hours after the storm had passed and said if the LPN left she (the DON) would report her for abandonment. This nurse had last talked to her husband 9 hours earlier when he told her that water was coming into the house and he was was going to get the kids out. Then the phone went dead. 9 hours this nurse didn't know what had happened to her family.
This nurse said she would come back after she found her family (she was going to contact neighbors and check the closest shelters). But the DON would have none of it. Finally the LPN told the DON she could do whatever made her happy but someone was going to take the chain and lock off of the driveway gate or she was going to ram it.
In times of crisis there should be compassion - for patients and for residents.
You need to call the state, local law enforcement and emergency management ASAP. Just check on the legality of this. If nothing else, the local law enforcement and emergency management need to be aware that there are tons of people locked in a facility in case they need to get to you to deliver aid. They need to know what they are dealing with, as I am sure they will only plan on giving aid to the number of people who are normally in the facility and will not arrive equipped to deal with extra people.
Also, I agree with the poster above me. If it turns out this is legal, I would demand time-and-a-half, double-time, overtime (or whatever it is that pays more) for every minute you are required to be in that facility. Good luck and I'll be praying for everyone's safety.
She said we should feel lucky that they let us work there.
NO JOKE.
Am I the only one who things that this group of management needs classes in motivating employees and team work and professional communication?
This would be a easy decision for me. It is not safe to endanger the lives of so many people , move inland please...But me as a mom, wife and daughter I have responsibilities on the outside to take care of my family. I could sing the words "I quit" as I danced out the door. I could never live on the coast, everytime the wind blew I would be packin. I feel sorry for all the people in the nursing homes, who are at the mercy of people who want to lock them up instead of spending a little money to move them to saftey....LAWD
I really care for the patients on my floor. That is why I am there. My patients are why I continue to work for this rotten group of management.
I care for most of my patients more than their families care for them. That is really sad - but it is the truth.
I deserve to be treated with respect. I am a nurse - I give out drugs, I answer questions posed by families, I actually talk, interact and play with my patients.
I do not like being talked down to. My license did not come in a cereal box. I am tired of people thinking that it did.
I want to quit..I MUST show up at the facility at 7 AM Sunday or I am fired. I AM NOT TO CLOCK IN!! ($$$$) Nurses aren't the only ones that are required to come in - CNAs, Dietary, Laundry, and EVEN the book keeper must come in!!!
But I have worked hard for my medical and dental coverage and for my vacation. Obviously 32 yrs experience doesn't include respect from management.
Specializes in Education, Acute, Med/Surg, Tele, etc.
Well...living in Oregon I can only have a terrified picture of what is going on...not like we have hurricanes (our earthquakes can be harsh though..LOL!).
Personally...I would do as others said and check with your local EMS. I know for sure they DON'T want a huge facility full of elderly residents (in different states of alertness/ambulation) to contend with if things go very wrong! Rightfully so...the residents must be safe and same with all staff which also includes EMS staff if they have to rescue a facility full of folks!
I feel your workplace is up for a harrassment/hostile workplace lawsuit at least!~ It is one thing to say "look, we are going to need all the help we can...please stay, we will pay double wage!" vs "your mandated to be there or the least of your worries will be unemployement!". I don't know...feel that is pretty hostile to me..who do they think they are!?!?!
Despite my benifits, which I too have struggled to get (what little I get!!!)...I view it this way, if I am not arround to take advantage of them...well, what is the point??? No one benifits from my injuries or possible death, so I would be going upland with my family. We will figure out what to do afterwards as that bridge comes :).
Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN
12,126 Posts
There's a difference between inconvenience and safety.
For patients and staff.