Nurses General Nursing
Published Apr 27, 2008
Nurses and other healthcare workers from across the globe are part of this
important debate on whether HCW would report for duty during a serious
pandemic.
A thread that has been running at allnurses.com since Oct 2007 questions us
about a deadly scenario. The administrators here have recently added a poll
to it, but just reading the comments will give you plenty to think about.
The most difficult question asked is this: will we work when the PPE runs out?
Does anyone expect that fire fighters would work without protective
gear? Of course no one would expect that, but does the public and the govt
really understand our very great concern that they might be expecting that
we should? Are our facilities going to assume that we should stay on the job
without protective gear? Would you do it?
Allnurses.com has caught the eye of many individuals and institutions globally.
Please understand that our opinions do matter greatly in that world wide
discussion.
I have permission from allnurses admin to point out the following link with
commentary about our poll and the opinions here at allnurses:
http://afludiary.blogspot.com/2008/04/hcw-debate-continues.html
That site is read by govt agencies as well as by many large healthcare
institutions so don't think that what you post about this issue is unimportant.
sirI, MSN, APRN, NP
17 Articles; 44,729 Posts
Thank you so much for pointing this out, indigo girl.
Yes, our opinions here at allnurses.com are indeed read by many who come here, never post, but take back to their corporations, the information given.
oramar
5,758 Posts
I have a suggestion for healthcare managment. If you want me to come in and be exposed to a deadly infectious disease during a pandemic you must promise me (and I probably should get it in writing) that I will be covered by workmens comp if I come down with the disease. No haggling about where or when I caught it, just the assumption that it was aquired in line of duty. I'm afraid I know to much about managment and their dirty tricks to trust them to automatically do the right thing. I have seen them attempt to wiggle out of infection related workmens comp claims and I ain't going into the line of fire unless I know they won't do that to me. This disease does not only kill, it can cause a long lasting illness and a long lasting disability. If I get it, I want all my medical claims to be paid and I want my wages paid just as they would be in any other workmens comp claim. No hassels, no arguments just do it. The federal goverment should pass a regulation stating that if a person caring for the sick in an institution should come down will the infection during a pandemic or epidemic that it will automatically be assumed the infection is work related. They should do it because that is the only way they will get me and a lot of others like me to show up for work.
indigo girl
5,173 Posts
Avian Flu Diary on the Allnurses Poll
A surprising number of govt and international agencies as well as
hospital staffers continue to read the Avian Flu Diary blog daily which means
that they are aware of the opinions of the allnurses posters on
this issue. Fla Medic has been invited to post on the HHS pandemic blog,
and has participated at a recent pandemic exercise in Washington D.C. at
govt request. What he writes, they read, and they have been checking out
our poll every time he looks in on it.
http://afludiary.blogspot.com/2008/06/catching-up-with-nurses-poll.html
While the polling question asked is whether nurses would work `during a severe pandemic with a shortage of PPE's', it is quite obvious from the responses that many nurses would be reluctant to work even with protective gear.Many nurses have families, often including small children at home,and they believe their first duty is to their loved ones. Some fear being`locked down' inside a hospital, and unable to leave for weeks. Othersfear taking the virus home if they are allowed to leave.The comments are well worth reading in their entirety, particularly if you are a hospital administrator, charge nurse, or pandemic planner.Although the numbers remain roughly the same as in late April, therehas been a slow but steady downward drift in the percentage of nurses willing to work during a pandemic (ostensibly without PPE's). In April the number was 50.46% and now, with the addition of more than 500 votes,that number has eroded to 47.08%.
While the polling question asked is whether nurses would work `during
a severe pandemic with a shortage of PPE's', it is quite obvious from
the responses that many nurses would be reluctant to work even
with protective gear.
Many nurses have families, often including small children at home,
and they believe their first duty is to their loved ones. Some fear being
`locked down' inside a hospital, and unable to leave for weeks. Others
fear taking the virus home if they are allowed to leave.
The comments are well worth reading in their entirety, particularly
if you are a hospital administrator, charge nurse, or pandemic planner.
Although the numbers remain roughly the same as in late April, there
has been a slow but steady downward drift in the percentage of nurses
willing to work during a pandemic (ostensibly without PPE's). In April the
number was 50.46% and now, with the addition of more than 500 votes,
that number has eroded to 47.08%.