Evacuation of New Orleans hospital...(link to article inside)

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Specializes in LDRP.

Heroic efforts made at Charity hospital to save patients

07:14 PM CDT on Tuesday, August 30, 2005

Associated Press

As floodwaters rose around Charity Hospital, nurses hand-pumped ventilators for patients who couldn't breathe. Helicopters landed on the garage to airlift critically ill babies. Doctors canoed supplies to and from Charity and three nearby hospitals.

see whole article here...

http://www.wwltv.com/local/stories/WWL083005charity.d037f7f.html

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[i am a ccu nurse who works prn at several local hospitals, and for a temp service. my heart goes out to all of you. I know many of you have also lost your homes. I would be glad to sign on for the next two to 4 weeks, full time plus overtime to give you some relief. i can not find a source to link me to you and the phone lines are jammed. my name is tina thacker rn. bsn., i have a tennessee nursing liscense, if you can utilize me in any of your surrounding facilities. I can hop a plane, or drive down if i have a contact. god bless you all. tina thacker

IQUOTE=HappyNurse2005]Heroic efforts made at Charity hospital to save patients

07:14 PM CDT on Tuesday, August 30, 2005

Associated Press

As floodwaters rose around Charity Hospital, nurses hand-pumped ventilators for patients who couldn't breathe. Helicopters landed on the garage to airlift critically ill babies. Doctors canoed supplies to and from Charity and three nearby hospitals.

see whole article here...

http://www.wwltv.com/local/stories/WWL083005charity.d037f7f.html

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:o How terrifying for the patients/families. I can't even imagine the stress on the nurses, how could you continue to give your patients the emotional support they need under those conditions, and having the added stress of knowing your home and neighborhood has been destroyed.

On a side note, hindsight is always 20/20, but I had a discussion with DH about how I thought that the govt should have assisted in the evacuation of the hospitals before the hurricane hit. Then again, I'm a pessimist, always think the worst will happen.

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Specializes in ICU, ER, HH, NICU, now FNP.

Me too - just point me to where to go - I'm Texas licensed. I have a few days between classes and clinicals and could go back and forth for a bit

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They are actually evacuating all patients from New Orleans. Soem are actually going to transferred to Washington DC, as well as the Memphis area.

One number that I have so far to call is 1-888-357-3532. They are trying to care for patients tonight that are in the prcess fo being transferred. A compact license is required.

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Specializes in ICU, ER, HH, NICU, now FNP.

I don't have a compact license - but am told the BNE is issuing them on an emergent or temporary basis so I will check into that first thing in the morning when they open.

It sounds like things have gotten worse there than they were earlier in the day. How frightening for the patients, staff and all of their families.

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Specializes in ICU, ER, HH, NICU, now FNP.

For Texas nurses wanting to help:

http://www.texasnurses.org/forms/V2_Hurricane_Katrina.pdf

http://www.texasnurses.org/RTNS_Notice_1.pdf

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I am sorry but this is almost ridiculous. These hospitals had plenty of warning of this potential category 5 hurricaine and they CHOSE NOT to evauste their patients??????? I really cannot understand and imagine the lawsuits waiting to happen !!!

Common sense must not have prevailed.

Why didn't they evacuate?? Did some but not others???

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Specializes in ICU, ER, HH, NICU, now FNP.

Given the severity of the storm the decision was made that most of the patients were safer where they were - and in most cases that would probably be true. However, the flooding that occurred AFTER the storm due to levees breaking unexpectedly is what caused the problems they are now experiencing, not the storm itself.

Evacuation is not a risk free process by any means - especially when you are talking ventilated and critical care patients. At the time the storm was expected, the risks inherent in moving them were higher than the risks involved in leaving them where they were. Yes it was a gamble - every bettin' man knows you don't win every hand. 2500 patients are being avacuated tonite by putting them in choppers which are taking them to boats which are taking them to ambulances...it will be a long process, some patients will be lost - just as they would have been if they had been moved in the first place.

They expected the storm, and had resources to cope - what they didn't expect was the broken levees and resultant flooding.

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Specializes in ICU, ER, HH, NICU, now FNP.

or wait....licensed in Texas mean I DO have a compact license ??? I'm confused - someone enlighten me....

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or wait....licensed in Texas mean I DO have a compact license ??? I'm confused - someone enlighten me....

Go to the TX BNE website, do RN search using your SS# and it will show if you have a compact license or not.

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Specializes in ICU, ER, HH, NICU, now FNP.

Thanks - it says I'm not compact licensed - guess I will call them tomorrow.

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