Has anyone left nursing job due to COVID19 virus?

Snowleopard · Apr 1, 2020

At my facility in Western Mass we are expected to use the same N95 for the entire shift. But now they want us to use one N95 per WEEK. If it gets to that point - I am out.

Gingerpup · Apr 1, 2020

Regarding mandatory recall - they also need to ensure that if a HCW gets CoVid, they get a ventilator period, and they get 15K like the crisis travel nurses are being offered.

Nurselexii · Apr 1, 2020

6 minutes ago, Gingerpup said:
Regarding mandatory recall - they also need to ensure that if a HCW gets CoVid, they get a ventilator period, and they get 15K like the crisis travel nurses are being offered.

LOL I love it, “mandatory recall

included in this package: personal ventilator and completion bonus of 15k to be distributed to survivors only :p”

11blade, RN · Apr 1, 2020

On 3/25/2020 at 9:09 PM, kailaniRN said:
Have lymphoma in remission and am 60 yo. I fear a mandatory recall. Is this possible?

Mandatory? Who would mandate that you go to work? The job? The state paying your unemployment benefits? You did apply for UI?

Guttercat, ASN, RN · Apr 1, 2020

I love my job role, I love my coworkers, I love my manager, I love the doctors I work under, and I love my patients. (Sometimes I even love the hospital system I work for. ? )

I've walked into many infectious fires both at home and abroad as an RN over a long career.

This bug is different, though. This one has me nervous.

I've decided I will stay on as long as I am allowed to utilise my own PPE in the absence of hospital-provided PPE (which I have purchased with much research into standards of application).

If I run out of my own supplies, or the hospital runs out, or I am disallowed by administrative entities to use either...then it's time for me to go.

I am not young, and I have a very high-risk adult living with me.

I would like to see hospital administration nationwide do an about-face and work with us in transparency. This is not a time to "save face." These are extraordinary times, and it will take extraordinary cooperation, information sharing, and trust between us all.

PeachyERNurse, BSN, RN · Apr 1, 2020

6 hours ago, Snowleopard said:
At my facility in Western Mass we are expected to use the same N95 for the entire shift. But now they want us to use one N95 per WEEK. If it gets to that point - I am out.

We’re expected to use ours for TWO weeks...I’m certainly planning my exit and praying I’m not infected before then.?

Belinda Henderson · Apr 2, 2020

I am temporarily out of work by choice because of my age. I have been a nurse for 35 years- on one hand, I feel like I have given enough, on the other hand, I do feel guilt.

but not enough to go back!

the VEGAN Professor · Apr 2, 2020

On 3/25/2020 at 4:48 PM, otgd8 said:
I am considering it. My job is giving raises depending on the results of annual evaluations (up to 4%).
That's nice but I would really rather have temporary health insurance given to me from the hospital since I am per diem and don't qualify instead of paying $200-$300 a month for health insurance. I keep teetering between staying and leaving. It's horrible. =(

WOW!, is that insurance quote for the entire fAmily?

does anyone here know of a better company?

super_psych_nurse1221, BSN · Apr 2, 2020

I am not leaving my job, but I do have an issue with an employee. I work in a low covid area in the US. I am a supervisor of a group home. Due to a natural disaster in December, our clients are being housed in a relatively large dorm on our main campus. We have had NO positive covid test on the entire campus of this institution. We as nurses have the perfect set up. We have very minimum contact with our clients. There are no visitors and the employees are being screened every shift prior to contact with clients. I have an LPN who is refusing to come to work. She is 50 and is concerned for her health. She has an implanted defibrillator. However, she leaves campus every 2 hours or so for smoke breaks (that's how good we've got it). He husband is going to the grocery store for her, so she is not exposed. She had her doctor write a note stating that she should probably stay home IF SHE CHOOSES. I have told this employee that she can take off, but she will use PTO time, not medical leave. She states I am being unreasonable. I let her take off! True, we all should be at home but we ARE NURSES! This is what we do!! Am I being unreasonable? I feel like I am a pretty lenient supervisor.

HiddenAngels · Apr 2, 2020

1 hour ago, CJ Higginbotham said:
I am not leaving my job, but I do have an issue with an employee. I work in a low covid area in the US. I am a supervisor of a group home. Due to a natural disaster in December, our clients are being housed in a relatively large dorm on our main campus. We have had NO positive covid test on the entire campus of this institution. We as nurses have the perfect set up. We have very minimum contact with our clients. There are no visitors and the employees are being screened every shift prior to contact with clients. I have an LPN who is refusing to come to work. She is 50 and is concerned for her health. She has an implanted defibrillator. However, she leaves campus every 2 hours or so for smoke breaks (that's how good we've got it). He husband is going to the grocery store for her, so she is not exposed. She had her doctor write a note stating that she should probably stay home IF SHE CHOOSES. I have told this employee that she can take off, but she will use PTO time, not medical leave. She states I am being unreasonable. I let her take off! True, we all should be at home but we ARE NURSES! This is what we do!! Am I being unreasonable? I feel like I am a pretty lenient supervisor.

Hi there, I know it’s tough but yes you should let her use her medical leave,.. I know, I know it seems unreasonable and the fact that you mentioned her smoke breaks with the Defibrillator ummmm.. But hey, to each its own..

I know you don’t have Covid patients “now” but it can be insidious. Hence all the asymptomatic vectors waltzing amongst us. The fact that you are screening employees and you all do go home from work is why I say yes you should let her have medical leave. You can never be to sure with this virus. She is high risk if she gets it and you don’t want that on your hands...

super_psych_nurse1221, BSN · Apr 2, 2020

Thank you for your response. I agree she has a right to be concerned. We all are. And yes, she is getting her time off. I definitely did not stop her. She can take all the personal time she wants if that is what she wants to use it on. She is not sick at this time, so medical leave cannot be used. Those are not my rules, but HR rules. I was simply the messenger. I believe I was not clear about that and I apologize. I think if the institution allowed this we would lose half our nursing staff. Even the hospitals in our area are not letting nurses off who may be high risk, but moving them to a safer area. I think this is more than fair. As I stated before, as of right now, we are very safe. However, that may change after she returns and has used all of her PTO time. That was also a concern. I am hoping our area is close to its peak and we will soon see the light at the end of the tunnel. Again thank you for your input. Please be safe!

GoodNP · Apr 2, 2020

6 hours ago, super_psych_nurse1221 said:
She is 50 and is concerned for her health. She has an implanted defibrillator. However, she leaves campus every 2 hours or so for smoke breaks

? ? ? ???

People who all of a sudden NOW give a crap about their health crack me up

But...she's right, she's at risk of being exposed. We all are. It's everywhere.

When you say she wants "medical leave" do you mean she wants use FMLA? Because if that's the case at least you won't have to pay her.