Nursing, Hurricanes, and Floods.

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DowntheRiver

983 Posts

Specializes in Urgent Care, Oncology.

Lifelong Floridian here and been through my fair share of hurricanes. At the hospital we were encouraged to bring immediate family members and a change of clothes. We were warned that we were expected to make it into our shift on time, and if weather conditions were going to be bad that we should "plan ahead" i.e. leave really, really early for work but we won't pay you once you get here but show up or you might lose your job. One nurse who called off due to unsafe conditions ended up losing her job, but she called all our holidays, so I think that was cumulative?

If family isn't welcome you might want to take your mom to a shelter depending on needs. When I worked for the state we had several people of varying age ranges show up at shelters and all were welcome.

Most importantly, make sure your prescriptions are full, you have food, and you have clothes. OH! And that you made arrangements for your pets as well!

Specializes in Critical Care.

This is a pain in the butt.

rianne_w, BSN

40 Posts

Specializes in OR.

I also work in Houston, but live about 60 miles from my hospital. I have packed a bag to take to work tomorrow, just in case. I'm lucky enough to have family here, so if I do get stranded, someone will be able to take care of my daughter while I'm stuck at the hospital. The storm isn't supposed to come in until late Friday/early Saturday, so since I work days, I'm hoping I will make it home just fine. I'm still going to be prepared, though! Good luck to you, and hopefully Harvey isn't as bad as they're making him out to be!!:(

allnurses Guide

NurseCard, ADN

2,847 Posts

Specializes in Med/Surge, Psych, LTC, Home Health.
I think my mom will be able to care for herself. I'm just worrying excessively. She works full time as massage therapist and is fit and healthy apart from her hypertension. I bought her food and supplies and our apartment is on the second story. She is also inviting a friend over. My mom is 60 years old in September.

This is my second hurricane actively in the hurricane.

My first hurricane was Hurricane Rita which we evacuated for. Second hurricane was Ike which we stayed and it SUCKED!!! We were without power for almost 2 weeks and I had to eat MREs and stand on like for water.

This will be my third hurricane. This is my first hurricane as an RN on duty.

Yeah, your mom sounds even healthier than my husband, whom I would fully

expect to take care of himself and our kids, should a situation arise in which

a snowstorm or such occurred, and he had to stay at home, and I'm stuck

at work.

You all be safe! I have family in Texas...

If your hospital is right on the coast, how come they're not evacuating?

But I do wish you and your Mom all the best. By the way, 60 isn't that old. (smile) I am trying to insert a smiley face but can't get it to appear.

If your hospital is right on the coast, how come they're not evacuating?

But I do wish you and your Mom all the best. By the way, 60 isn't that old. (smile) I am trying to insert a smiley face but can't get it to appear.

I worked in a hospital right along Florida's coast. We didn't evacuate until catagory 3. I have worked during a hospital evacuation for other reasons-it made working during a hurricane look like a piece of cake.

Specializes in Critical Care.

I think they are evacuating patients? But they are keeping essential staff for crises.

Ruby Vee, BSN

17 Articles; 14,030 Posts

Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
No experience here (just snowstorms), but sending you well wishes for both you and your mom (worrying about mom must be a little overwhelming ... on top of your job).

Keep safe ❤️.

I've only been through two hurricanes (but a lot of snowstorms, a few earthquakes and a volcano erupting). My husband and I were both at work for the hurricanes (several blocks from the water). We knew we could be there for days, so carried changes of clothes, prescription meds, cellphone charger, bottled water and a case of protein bars in the mini-van, parked in and inside row of the parking garage. We couldn't leave the dog home by himself, so he hung out in the van until the ambulance crew decided to sneak him into their call room and feed him sandwiches all night. The hospital was actually a pretty safe place to be. The mother is a concern, but presumably the hospital warned all the employees well ahead of time so the OP could plan.

Sending well wishes for everyone in the path of the Zombie storm.

Ruby Vee, BSN

17 Articles; 14,030 Posts

Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
My biggest worry is truly not being able to make it. I mean if the roads are flooded, am I suppose to risk my life to make it to work? Sigh. I guess we will see how this plays out.

I already bought 50 bottles of water, batteries, flash lights, 2 large jars of PB, two large loafs of bread, cans cans and more cans. Nuts nuts and more nuts. Dried fruit and of course gummy bears. I'm gonna leave the most of these things for my mom and pack my own emergency bag and extra clothes for work.

You've got plenty of warning for the hurricane. You're supposed to get to work before the roads are flooded. Just like you would get to work before you were snowed in if the issue was a winter storm. Not much you can do to plan ahead for tornados, earthquakes and volcanos, but you are still supposed to go to work.

MurseJJ

2 Articles; 466 Posts

Specializes in Neurosurgery, Neurology.
My biggest worry is truly not being able to make it. I mean if the roads are flooded, am I suppose to risk my life to make it to work? Sigh. I guess we will see how this plays out.

I already bought 50 bottles of water, batteries, flash lights, 2 large jars of PB, two large loafs of bread, cans cans and more cans. Nuts nuts and more nuts. Dried fruit and of course gummy bears. I'm gonna leave the most of these things for my mom and pack my own emergency bag and extra clothes for work.

At my hospital we're expected to make a good faith effort to make it in (in NYC its usually snowstorms/blizzards, sometimes hurricanes). If we absolutely can't (no you're not expected to risk your life to come in), we're able to use benefit time. Typically staff already at the hospital prior to the storm, as well as staff that plan ahead and come in earlier will bring extra clothes and stay over (they give you break/sleep time).

All the best!

This will be my first experience being a nurse during what could turn out to be a catagory 3 hurricane. I work ON the coast. My hospital literally has a view of the entire beach. I'll be there as the storm is making landfall.

Any other nurse experience being a nurse on duty while a hurricane is hitting? What was your experience like?

Im also concerned because I feel going to work is mandatory and I'm not sure what to do with my mom whom is a senior now and has no one else but me here in Texas.

Going in is not mandatory. It all depends on how you want to play the game. Sometimes I felt like sleeping at the hospital and working during a blizzard, sometimes I didn't.

Specializes in critical care, ER,ICU, CVSURG, CCU.

You work with a dampened towel rung out around your neck.....

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