Nursing, Hurricanes, and Floods.

Nurses General Nursing

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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.

I'm scheduled to work Saturday and Sunday evening, but I have to report in today as part of Team A, E1 etc. There's already enough nurses for tonight, so I guess it's to make sure there's adequate staff for the weekend. My concern is that the area where I work is prone to flooding during a "regular" storm, and this storm is supposed to keep going through Tuesday or so for the Houston area.

As long as the electricity and internet stays up to watch Game of Thrones, I'll be happy (First World problems).

The employer should pay you from the time you are required to arrive, not just for when you are actually working.

It's sort of a situation in which you each (you and the employer) have to be reasonable and give a little. It's not really right to not pay you from when they tell you to arrive, it's not really wrong of them to not require people to get to the work facility early enough that they are able to beat the storm.

Some places tell you you can't leave the premises during your off-time. They provide food, shower, linens, a bed or stretcher. But they aren't paying you. And you also are expected to not leave. You might not work for 16 or 24 hours, but you're stuck there. You should at least get call pay. What is your situation?

Have you talked to Mom?

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Hope OP and her mom are safe.

But to the comments about being paid for down time in the hospital during a rare but major devastating state of emergency, does anyone go in with the attitude of doing for the better good?

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Now that the storm has hit, hope you and your family are doing well. In South Florida we have to choose to be on two teams -A and B, A must arrive when the hospital says, no matter your shift and you must stay until relieved by the B team. If the B team can't make it you are there until.... I decided to pick B last time, it was a huge mistake. It is just my 10 yr old son and I and I was stressed getting everything ready for the storm prior to, stayed up all night, no by choice, but worried about tornados, during the storm then had to go work 12 hours the next day... This year I signed up for A shift because I would rather just stay at the hospital with my son, they offer that, and go home afterwards. Although I have pets, they will be ok, I have friends who will help. If they were calling for a Cat. 5 and it was going to be a direct hit, I do not know what I would do, Andrew was horrible and the damage was incredible. Many things have changed here in Florida = gas stations and grocery stores have generators so food and gas are available right after the storm now, this is as long as they have supply. It is tough, but we have a responsibility....

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Specializes in Geriatrics, Dialysis.
Hope OP and her mom are safe.

But to the comments about being paid for down time in the hospital during a rare but major devastating state of emergency, does anyone go in with the attitude of doing for the better good?

This may sound a little [or a lot] callous but no, I wouldn't stay at work around the clock for no compensation for any reason, disaster or not. I have my own family to worry about as well, if work isn't paying me to stay I can take care of my own family and not get paid just as well as I can stay at work and take care of patients without getting paid.

Now if work was offering perks like the ability to bring my family there for safety in a disaster, well that'd be totally different. Heck it'd even be preferable to be stuck at work instead of at home. Backup generators would keep power on and supplies would be much better stocked than most homes.

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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.

What happened when you didn't make it in during crisis event shifts?

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Specializes in Critical Care.

I'm safe! I'm a little insane! And YES I am being compensated for ALL my time here sleep and duty. I am also being fed by the hospital. I slept in a hospital bed and took a hot shower. My mom is safe.

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Specializes in Critical Care.

Update: I am still safe. Mom is still safe.

Entire city is underwater. Rain is not forecasted to stop. The tropical phenomenon has opted to lag and stay ove us. I'm completely disconnected from the mainland. This may last all week.

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Is your hospital in need of volunteer ICU nurses? I'm trying to figure out how to deploy out, but it's a convoluted process.

-MICU background, floats frequently among a large ICU cluster in a Trauma 1.

Keep up the good work CardiacDork

-Fletcher, RN, BSN, CCRN-CMC

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Specializes in Geriatrics, Dialysis.
Update: I am still safe. Mom is still safe.

Entire city is underwater. Rain is not forecasted to stop. The tropical phenomenon has opted to lag and stay ove us. I'm completely disconnected from the mainland. This may last all week.

Hated "liking" this update as your situation truly sucks! I do like that you and Mom are safe though. Stay safe and hang in there!

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Specializes in Critical Care.

Our entire city is underwater. My Facebook feed is filled with request for boats and rescue missions. The Coast Guard has been deployed. It has been truly bitter, but with a touch of sweet for sure.

Seeing all the Texans coming together.

I've read about people volunteering their fuel for the boats so they have the fuel to rescue others. I've seen on the news people whose own homes have been destroyed begin to render physical aide by helping rescuers, because it's the last thing they have left to offer.

All in all, I'm proud of my state.

This is far from over, there is more rain expected.

And knowing that most of my friends, families, and colleagues have lost their homes is truly sad. But I pray everyone is safe... because we can replace material things.

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No one should be forced to stay at their job without pay. Period. No other first responders is required to stay somewhere without pay. But somehow we just accept this.

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Specializes in Critical Care.
No one should be forced to stay at their job without pay. Period. No other first responders is required to stay somewhere without pay. But somehow we just accept this.

Well I am being paid 24/7 and being fed and provided a bed. I appreciate my employer and their efforts.

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