Nursing neglect... Tornados

Nurses General Nursing

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Due to the recent events in Nebraska and the threat of a storm in the next 24 hours we were discussing whether or not we could make our patients as safe as possible and head to the basement. Is there a nursing statute that deals with this?

help

I was raised in Oklahoma, and spent my formative years/nights (sic) in a torando shelter. I remember coming up from the shelter and seeing the comforting green light on the downtown tower that signaled "All Clear" for our town.

In my heart, I don't think I could ever abandon anyone that would be comforted by my presence, or just words.

But at the last minute, (especially if I knew it was a "5" coming straight at me), my brain would take over, and I'd probably run like hell!

Survival is personal something we can't predict how we would deal with until it happens, and I don't think ANY POLICY will make us just stand there if we think standing there would kill us.

Specializes in NICU, PICU, educator.

I would do what I could and head for safety...My DH and my DD need me around.

I would do what I had to do. I dunno, I think it would be different depending on the situation, but I seriously doubt I would just kinda stand there and take it, if you know what I mean. Hopefully, I could get everyone to safety, but if not, then RUN LIKE CRAZY!!

This happened tonight at my LTC facility. We have had storms dodging us all day. We had tornadoes all around us today, we had several close calls this afternoon. The procedure and policy manual says move all residents to the central hall and wait for the all clear. At 8:30 tonight (05-30-04) the head of maintenance came in and told us that the sirens were going off downtown and to start moving the residents. :chair: Me, the other aide, the unit RN and a housekeeper began running from room to room trying to move the 35+ sleeping residents into the central hallway. We got them all into the hall and sat there until we got the all clear. Then we got to put all of the residents back to bed. It's a nightmare. You know that these people are depending on you to keep them safe and you do what you have to do. Thank goodness that it missed town. All of the news stations are on still. Their is a fresh line of storms coming. It's my day off!:) Of course if something happens I will go help out.

Gompers,

A nurse who taught health sciences at my high school was told us this story. She picked her daughter up from pre-school after her last home health visit for the day and then went over to the hospital to check up on a pt. She and her daughter went into the pt. room and she froze when she looked out the window. There was a tornado across the bypass tearing the roof off of Banana's Bar and Grill. She ran to alert the nurses, took her daughter and put her under the desk at the nurses station and helped with moving the pts. into the center hallway.

If your hospital sees fit to start moving those neonates get them into a room with no windows and doors. That glass will blow out and cut everything and everyone in that room. If you sustain a direct hit from the tornado it will break 95%+ of the windows out on all sides. You want to be in a center room or hallway with as few windows and doors as possible and you want to try to have a few walls on either side of you to prevent shrapnel injury. Make a plan ahead of time, the fastest safest way of evacuating the babies to shelter. When the adrenaline hits and you are afraid for your life and those of your pts. you just move and you move fast. My story in the previous post is a blur of a memory because I was moving so fast and I was so scared.

Hope my advice is helpful.

Chad

Chad, great advice .

I was raised in Oklahoma, and spent my formative years/nights (sic) in a torando shelter. I remember coming up from the shelter and seeing the comforting green light on the downtown tower that signaled "All Clear" for our town.

I not only grew up in Oklahoma, but I still live here. Some Oklahomans, on hearing the sirens, will actually go out into their front yards to see if they can see the tornado coming!

Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

Having lived in OK for 9 years, I can attest to that Hypnotic. NO ONE gets excited UNLESS the big one is coming, it seems.

We live in a tornado prone area..and I've done the drill quite a few times..#1 I call my hubby& son and make sure they are aware of possible tornado and make sure they are together to 'take care of each other' ..then start getting the pts in the hall..I just couldn't see myself leaving those defenseless pts no matter how scared I am.

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