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.
This is VERY selfish on the part of the nursing home. I'd want to be with my family at a time like this, not somewhere based on the whims of my employee who might be breaking the law anyway... :angryfire
My questions are: Why are these residents not being taken to shelters?
Has law enforcement been told about this situation? I don't think they'd like the idea of these residents not being protected during this storm, and I don't think that they'd take too kindly about people being "locked" in anywhere!
I hope that you are going to get paid OT for this. Once this is over and everyone is safe, I believe you need to notify the Dept of Labor and your BON about this. This is what burns me, nursing home thinking of the almighty $$$ before the needs of their clients and employees. :angryfire
Specializes in Gerontology, Med surg, Home Health.
Not everyone in management is wicked!I'm the ADON. During our last huge blizzard here, the administrator drove into the facility....took him 2 hours. He picked up some of the staff nurses along the way. Then he called me...it was a Saturday and I was not scheduled to work. He ASKED me to come in...told me I didn't have to , but if I could come it would be great...I went. He picked me up...the mile and a half drive took almost 20 minutes. Unfortunately, I had to mandate some people to stay past their 8 hours. There was nothing else to do...no one could get in or out of the facility. My DON tried to make it in even though I told her it was too dangerous. She got stuck in a snow bank, the pollice brought her to the police station..called the next town but they said it was too dangerous. She spent 6 hours there before they'd let her out...then some of the staff had the nerve to say she should've gotten there sooner! We made beds, handed out meds, cooked meals, you name it we did it. The DON did not get paid to come in...neither did the administrator, but there they were. I was there for 36 hours straight...one hour of rest....but we managed to make the best of it
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.
Isn't locking people in the facility a violation of fire laws?
Whatever happens, whatever you decide to do, please stay safe and know that we are praying for you, Pensacola and all in the path of this vicious storm.
I could not work for someone who treated nurses so shabbily and spoke to you the way she did. It's appalling how some folks treat others. Lock me in?? I don't think so!!
Whatever you decide to do, please stay safe. My thoughts and prayers are with all of you down in the path of Dennis.
Specializes in Clinical Research, Outpt Women's Health.
I understand the facilities needs, but if you are mandated to be present you should be paid, food should be provided, some basic comfort needsshould be provided for. If people are treated that way I think the majority would be happy to pull together and do what is needed.
Having been through many a hurricane, it is commonplace to require the staff to be on site. Some facililtes have a system that decides who is coming in before/after the hurricane...others require that all employees be present at the facility at a certain time to ride out the storm. Usually if that area is not safe to be in (and the facility determines this based on emergency managemets call) then they evacuate...if not they stay. Now with regards to pay...they do not have to pay you the whole time you are there. You are in the building, but you should still only be working the shifts you were going to work....if by chance you have to work extra, then regular overtime would apply. Also,I've never been to a facility that didn' allow or encourage you to bring you families if you wanted. This issue comes up everytime there's a hurricane...which is alot in florida...I know...I just moved...was there in FWB last year with Ivan. Problem is no one really wants to stay...but these folks can't take care of themselves....and realistically, this is part of the responsibility we take on when we become nurses. No one should be in harms way, but evacuating a large nursing home population is not realistic when it is not necessary.....We saw alot of this last year with Ivan...facilities who had transferred people to hospitals without a real need...then hospitals in neighboring town (yes that would be you p'cola) are damaged and need to move some people to other hospitals...and lo and behold...no beds. There are also alot of factors that play into whether or not you need to evacuate in that area....chances are if you are even just a couple miles inland...and in a strong building...you will probably not evacuate, unless it is a horrible hurricane..cat 4 or 5. I guess my point is ( and not saying the OP is doing this) that come hurricane time....everyone wants to either bolt or b*tch...and someone has to take care of the pts....I can't speak for your facililty, but many of admin people have gotten burned by people not working during the storm...not to mention your co-workers who now may have to work endless hours without rest...and of course the pts...who need the care. Disasters are one of the few times that we need to really come together and really stick to the mission that we supposedly adhere to.... I think that's what separates the nursing professionals from those who just clock in and out day after day.
Kathryn
ps...don't know about the "locking you in" thing....I mean did they really lock you in against your will??? I know we have always locked doors during hurricanes....better chance for them to hold up against the wind.
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..............................................................
Now that's what I'm talking about! Stand back and no one will get hurt as I go through that door to find my family! Good for that LPN! :yelclap:
So..... What has happened? Anyone fired? Anyone reported to the state? Was this facility reported for chaining the doors and threatening staff? Did anyone knock the beans out of this DON? Choices have to be made by staff and administration in times of emergency. I would think it would be best for all concerned, treat each other with kindness and professional courtsey.
Oh my gosh!!! What a nightmare to work for!!!! There are many more jobs that have health insurance and benefits. Have you ever thought about doing home health????? One in particular has benefits now that I work for. I have a wonderful job, and enjoy it so much, that sometimes I wonder about a boss that would pay you really good, when you enjoy the work!!!!!! :)
Don't let her lock you in, either in your job or worse yet, the facility!!!! Get out and find a job that you would really enjoy and not dread going into day to day!!!!! Report her to the State, and get out and hunt another job. There is too many nursing shortages and DON'S that would appreciate a good nurse, than to stay for the die hard commander in chief aka Nurse Ratchet, that you work for!!!! LIFE IS TOO SHORT TO HATE YOUR JOB!!!! Good luck!!!!!
:angryfire
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.
At our facility, yes. Because they are mandating that you come in early. However, apparently there were some people in the respiratory dept. that didn't get paid and there was a big stink.
I'm going to have to read the policy again to be sure. But I know those who came in early last year clocked in when they arrived, whether they were asked to work immediately or not.
I work/live on the gulf coast and we missed Charlie last year but only because of its quick turn at the end into Punta Gorda. We were activated (we work and A team B team schedule for disasters) and I slept at the hospital and everything (for the most part) worked out. We were all happy we dodged a big one.
THEN we realized the hospital took the WRONG message from the near miss!! Now they think they are immune to the dangers these storms pose. They have since then refused to activate the emergency plan (how many hurricanes later I can't remember???) and we are told to get to work even if the roads are being reported as unsafe. If we have to come in significantly early to feel safe that is our responsibility (no extra pay!! :angryfire).
I just feel I am a nurse not a first responder and the hospital should activate me with enough time to get to work safely. They show how much they DON'T respect me or my role in the unit by not being concered with my personal safety. I am no good to them dead!
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Meerkat
432 Posts
I'm sorry---could you just PM me? I'm in Alabama so I don't know who is the largest in P'cola.
Thanks and I'll be thinking of you.