I live near the gulf where evacuating for hurricanes is a possibility around this time. The hospital where I work places nurses on teams. One team is forced to say, the other forced to come back 24 hrs after the hurricane is gone, and the other can come back when regular citizens come back.
My question can they legally do this? I was placed on the team that's forced to stay in the hospital with pts. They'll keep ICU, ER and MY floor open only.
There will be no extra pay, no bonus, just regular pay and time and 1/2 when you're in over time. Expected to sleep in the hospital, in semi-pvt room WITH ANOTHER CO-WORKER!
If the evacuation is mandatory how can they legally tell me to stay and WORK? Can I be fired for leaving?
I lived in New Orleans when Hurricaine Andrew came in. My husband took our boys to a relative, and I slept at the hospital. We got lucky that Andrew did not make a direct hit on us, and we were able to leave after the next day shift. Women from a variety of backgrounds - a dietician, for example - stayed in some empty beds in our unit.
We knew it was coming, and I packed 2 days' worth of clothes and such. Sometimes ya gotta do what ya gotta do.
BTW - hubby went to the wrong relative - they got the brunt of the hurricaine!
I live near the gulf where evacuating for hurricanes is a possibility around this time. The hospital where I work places nurses on teams. One team is forced to say, the other forced to come back 24 hrs after the hurricane is gone, and the other can come back when regular citizens come back.
My question can they legally do this? I was placed on the team that's forced to stay in the hospital with pts. They'll keep ICU, ER and MY floor open only.
There will be no extra pay, no bonus, just regular pay and time and 1/2 when you're in over time. Expected to sleep in the hospital, in semi-pvt room WITH ANOTHER CO-WORKER!
If the evacuation is mandatory how can they legally tell me to stay and WORK? Can I be fired for leaving?
OK, I may have a weird mind: I found it interesting that one of the biggest issues you have with this possible scenario, as evidenced by your use of the CAPS lock key, is that you'd have to share sleeping quarters with a co-worker!!!
And yes, I'd say they CAN "make" you do this---it's something they've made you aware of right up front and I guess now the ball is in your court as far as you keeping the job or moving on to one where such outrageous demands aren't part of the package...
You can't "abandon" a patient that you never signed up for caring for in the 1st place. The hospital should close it's doors, or pay me some extra money. I don't see being a nurse as "I put my life on the line for you" type of job. I am not a police officer, fire fighter...etc
And when a mandatory evac. is issued 911 services are stopped. No one will answer you are told "You're on your own" if you stay.
I'm not attorney, but IMO, coming to work, accepting your assignment of patients but leaving if the weather turns ugly means that you did indeed "sign up" to take care of them.
Your "every man for himself" attitude is heartwarming.
OK, I may have a weird mind: I found it interesting that one of the biggest issues you have with this possible scenario, as evidenced by your use of the CAPS lock key, is that you'd have to share sleeping quarters with a co-worker!!!
I know like OMG you'd have to sleep two to a room just like the patients.
I always ask for before team, but seeing as I live in a 1st evac zone I'd be tossed out by the PD during a storm anyway. Might as well get paid to do it.
See if there is someway to get someone to switch? Maybe someone who, like me, is a poor childless, petless sob story?
Agreed it can be a probelm...however, most professional organizations do make their policies known in their contracts..always read the fine print! In Virginia, Disaster Services asks registered nurses, RN or LPN, if they would be willing to volunteer during times of crisis....and i think you are required to register as such on the state's board of nursing web site.
As for mandatory...we have the same issue. We're open 24-7 and our patients are actually residents (all under age 21) with no where else to go...do we abandon or even think of abandoning these special kids? Heck no. We are, however, encouraged to bring our families and even our pets in during times of crisis...and frankly, it's not home, but it's a lot safer -- built to be hurricane-proof. Mind you, there are plenty of staff that don't show...and doesn't seem to be retribution...but then, nothing says co-worker bonding like a disaster. All for one and one for all....you just have to make your best judgement based on your situation and realize that you may very well loose your job..and next time you'll be more apt to find out about such policies. Good luck.. Here's hoping it's a mild hurricane season!! For us all!
I live by the Okefenokee Swamp n here a few years back it was on fire. I was working at that time as a LPN/PRN for a LTC facility. Everyone around my neighborhood was under a mandatory evac. and so was the facility I worked for. My trucks, 6 kids and husband was loaded and fixing to leave the house when I got a call from the facility for me to come in and help them evac. the patients. I told the lady on the phone what was going on at my house and that I couldn't come in.
They never called me back nor put me on the schedule of any kind. I called in several times to tell them what my schedule was at my other job and what days I could work for them. They would say 'OK', but they would never call me back.
A year later I got a letter saying that they had terminated my employment with them d/t not calling and giving them my schedule.
My question to you guys in regards to the original poster is; Is THAT fair??? And what is your opinion on that scenario???
Your PRN so they don't owe you anything. They hired you to come in when they needed you. They needed you, they call you said no your hours went to someone else who did. Permanently. Thats kind how per diem goes they expect you to be the most flexible.
OP, I worked the night Katrina struck Miami as a category 2 storm. I was working the night it damaged our facility. It sucks, I was stuck there, we had no power, but we made it work. Our coworkers were not able to come in, because debris and floods were all over the place. After Wilma, we did not have access to gasoline/power for weeks! It was HOT and stagnant for weeks. I'll say it again, it sucks, but someones got to do it.
After reading applewhitern's experience during a disaster, I think it's completely appropriate to provide 1) free food, 2) adequate sleeping arrangements for all who are staying (cots laid out in quiet areas, such as the conference rooms, would be appropriate), and 3) disaster pay.
The first two are providing for the basic human needs of your workers. The third is valuing the work your exhausted employees do and sacrifice in such a situation.
I live in an area where a snowmaggedon is a regular occurrence, at least once a season. My city is well-prepared for snow events, so, historically, there have been no more than two days in lock down, regardless of how much of the it falls. It still is, however, an emergency situation for our hospitals, and I've told my husband to expect me to stay, if necessary.
Specializes in Vents, Telemetry, Home Care, Home infusion.
Disaster duty has always been part of nursing and medicine for those employed in 24/7 settings as they never close.. Nursing Managers often have the delight on some seetings to fill in for staff when calloffs and no replacment available. Something ALL need to consider when choosing positions.
As others have related, I've packed bags+ stayed several days in hospital, or fellow aides nhome in area; picked up other night nurse and drove in 3hours early at start of snow so 2nd shift could leave. Even in home care have had my share of blizzard adventures: starting emeergency call tree telling my aides to go home from our office of aging clients, call police/911 to take those bedbound without caregiver to hospitals when 2 day blizzard coming and governor planning close roads then driving next day after sons shoveled out driveway to check on critical patients. My current Home care never closes if less than 12 inches snow-we just gear up day ahead wait till worst is over to head out.
merlee
1,246 Posts
I lived in New Orleans when Hurricaine Andrew came in. My husband took our boys to a relative, and I slept at the hospital. We got lucky that Andrew did not make a direct hit on us, and we were able to leave after the next day shift. Women from a variety of backgrounds - a dietician, for example - stayed in some empty beds in our unit.
We knew it was coming, and I packed 2 days' worth of clothes and such. Sometimes ya gotta do what ya gotta do.
BTW - hubby went to the wrong relative - they got the brunt of the hurricaine!