Hurricane Irma

Nurses General Nursing

Published

So this is the first time I've worked as a nurse where we might actually have to use our emergency system. The problem is, my hospital cares very little about the safety of the workers that will be there.

Our emergency teams are set up in 2 teams, A and B. Team B comes first, prepares everything, leaves, then cleans up after the all clear. Team A rides the storm out. The problem is team B is expected to be there until immediately before landfall. So how are we supposed to evacuate our homes if we are expected at work so close to the storm? There is a mandatory termination policy for people who do don't show up unless they are excemt.

i asked my manager this question since in our area of Florida, there are TONS of bridges and they are closed pretty regularly for things like maintaince and car accidents. i was telling him how I'm concerned because I live over an hour away with traffic, now throw in closed bridges, evacuation traffic, and whatever else. And his response was, "well I just don't know." I feel they have absolutely no concern over our safety leaving.

families and pets are allowed, so I was thinking about team A, my problem is I will be 36 weeks pregnant during the storm, and we have NO maternity anything. No L&D, NICU, just whatever the ED can hodbodge together. So I would feel much safer not stuck there for days.

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my problem is I will be 35 weeks pregnant during the storm, and we have NO maternity anything. No L&D, NICU, just whatever the ED can hodbodge together. So I would feel much safer not stuck there for days.

That would be a deal breaker, for me!!

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I just realized I'm gonna be 36 weeks. So I really feel like they are not giving me any viable options or showing any concern if I did the first team.

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It might just be time for me to go on my leave.

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Specializes in SICU, trauma, neuro.
It might just be time for me to go on my leave.

Sounds like a visit to your OB provider is in order. I can't imagine them clearing you medically to be that far from medical help. I mean most airlines don't even want a 36 week pregnant woman in the air for three hours.

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Sounds like a visit to your OB provider is in order. I can't imagine them clearing you medically to be that far from medical help. I mean most airlines don't even want a 36 week pregnant woman in the air for three hours.

I agree. I just find it crazy that concern over employee safety is at zero

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Do you live in a mandatory evacuation zone? If so my understanding is that employers cannot terminate you for evacuating and not showing up to work. I don't know though if this rule applies to emergency medical staff. Regardless, the fact that they don't have any type of OB-GYN care for you is concerning. Irma is one of the strongest hurricanes we've ever seen, if I were in your position I would be out toot suite, enroute to somewhere with a fully functioning facilities and no threat of 150 mph winds and storm surge, job be damned. Especially if your residence requires bridge access to access resources. Please be safe.

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Specializes in SICU, trauma, neuro.

A few days ago, this meteorologist made the point that FL is an at-will state, so employees can be fired for failure to report... although it would be worth a contact with the EEOC to see what protected rights she has as a pregnant woman.

but again I agree job be damned. Neither the hospital nor her patients would have to live with it if she had a placental abruption or cord prolapse, and died and/or lost the baby, because she couldn't get to an OB-GYN.

That's why I suggested she see her provider -- if she can't be medically approved for a few hours on an airplane, there is no way I can see for it to be considered safe, for her to be stranded for days and days, with no access to OB or neonatal services. And really at 36 weeks, the baby could come at any time... especially if she'd be working for 16+ hours with limited hydration.

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Specializes in ICU.

Hopefully with the westward storm shift my southeast FL coworkers are off the hook for having to work. I, on the other hand, will be reporting to work at 5 pm tonight for a 72 hour shift ready for a direct hit from this thing. Really nervous about leaving my husband and dog at home, but we have a two year old house and have our hurricane shutters up. Our house is concrete block and is a little bungalow with no large trees or anything immediately adjacent to it, and is packed in pretty tight on a street next to other houses, so I'm hoping that will help shield us from some wind. Either way, pray to whatever power you believe in for us please.

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