Has anyone left nursing job due to COVID19 virus?

Nurses COVID

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I am curious to find out if anyone has decided to leave their current job due to the risk of this virus? I work in the Emergency Department and we are now being asked to reuse PPE and to prepare for a surge of COVID 19 patients. This makes me sick to my stomach and concerned for my co workers, other patients along with the risk we bring home to our own families.

Specializes in Cardiology.
2 hours ago, angelberry said:

The enforced and proper use of full PPE virtually eliminated infection of nurses caring for Covid-19 patients in China. Before a "PPE Taskforce" was put in place over 3,000 nurses there contracted the disease (Desperate for Covid-19 answers, U.S. doctors turn to colleagues in China). PPE is the one effective means of protecting us against from becoming infected, and while hospitals keep reporting that "supplies could run out," I firmly believe that they still have them on hand. In my opinion they are hoarding supplies just like the public and putting workers at risk as a result. If enough people quit perhaps they will trust that more supplies will be available and they will free up those they have in storage for safekeeping.

This is just my opinion, but where else are all of these masks disappearing to? At the VA they didn't provide eye protection for weeks. Finally on March 23 they gave each unit ONE set of goggles for all employees on that unit to SHARE. Not one set per day. One set period.

My VA put all the PAPRs in a central location and is basically hoarding/rationing them. We were designated the covid floor (not by choice) and we still have to argue with them to give us more. Originally we were told that we had pallets and pallets of face shields for the PAPRs and now a week later we are being told to be cautious and not waste supplies.

This is the final straw for me. I'll stick through this and work my floor but when this passes I'm finding a different gig in the VA.

In regards to your question they probably have more than they claim but not enough to be comfortable. We are just now getting fit tested for N95's just as a backup in an emergency.

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Kudos to you hiddenangels for leaving that job! I agree that we are spreading disease caring for people without some type of barrier. What is the point of social distancing if the medical facilities are counteracting everyone's efforts?

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3 hours ago, MaineRn1230 said:

So at my nursing home they are telling us that we can't use a mask unless a patient has a positive Covid test or has a test pending. We can't even wear a simple surgical mask. Meanwhile I am high risk and my doctor's office is telling me "Because half of all people will never show symptoms, you have to assume everyone you interact with has it and take precautions with everyone."

2 hours ago, NurseBlaq said:

...They're creating incubators for this virus.

I literally sit back and wonder how many of these new cases come from medical staff who went home or out at the grocery store on their day off or what have you, or floated to covid units to help out and next day placed on regular units and we're the culprits of spreading this due to lack of PPE. Yes, we mean well and many are working their heart and soul to help those in need, but we have to also look at ourselves as being carriers.

Yes, my mind is blown by the staff not ALLOWED to wear masks. It's one thing if the facility doesn't provide them (which I disagree with, but that's another issue), but to not allow staff to wear their own masks is worse than ridiculous - it's dangerous. Even a simple home made cloth face mask will filter about 50%. Obviously, not as great as N95, but better than nothing, especially if you have multiple masks that you change throughout the shift (and then wash on hot after your shift). If we think of healthcare workers as vectors, then a mask on a sick person/vector is going to do more to prevent virus spread than masks on well people who are around sick people hacking up their secretions.

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I am considering it. We are already being told to use 1 mask for 12 hours. The hospital insists there is no shortage of PPE. People are being told they can wear a mask "if they want to," but I also saw a transporter chastised for wearing one.

I have a hx of pulmonary edema, new hypertension, and two small children (one is 6 months old). I just don't know if this is worth the risk. Does anyone else feel this way?

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Specializes in Registered Nurse.
2 hours ago, HiddenAngels said:

...and that's the thing.. that is the biggest problem now. The symptoms are showing up much later and by the time we realize it they are on a vent and we are trying to backtrack and see where this patient was and who may have been exposed...

Exactly!!

Also, I had my qualms about my previous workplace before all of this transpired. Just over this flu season, a nursing supervisor told a pregnant staff worker she could not wear a mask unless she was working within 6 feet of the resident. This place also claimed to follow CDC recommendations against the flu and sent a letter out the parents of the residents stating that they were doing all they could to prevent the flu... The truth is they were lying and breaking the law in the meantime. In NY state, we must get a flu vaccine if working with patients or residents OR wear a mask. Many workers would not get vaccinated and not wear a mask. Obviously this workplace knew this because flu vaccines are tracked. Places like this are what spreads pandemics.

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I’m currently only every other weekend. I’m not picking up any extra hours. I feel very guilty that my coworkers are suffering, but I have to also think of my family.

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Specializes in ER, ICU/CCU, Open Heart OR Recovery, Etc.

I'll help man the Covid-19 phone lines, but no way am I going to do direct care.

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Specializes in ER, ICU/CCU, Open Heart OR Recovery, Etc.
On 3/25/2020 at 10:42 PM, MeganMN said:

You cannot even imagine how much I needed to hear this right now! I am also at high risk of com applications and have been struggling with what to do. I ultimately decided to take a leave of absence and was fortunate enough to be able to use FMLA so my job is protected....for now. I had so much anxiety that I could of handle it. We have no PPE, and the risk of getting sick was too great. Even more stressful, I am the only income for my family. I have a husband who has been caring for our young children while I work. So now I am on leave with only a few weeks paid. It buys me time, though, to think about what to do. I cannot help but feel like a coward in some respects, but I never agreed to fight a fire with a sprinkler. There are always calculated risks that come with our job, it I could not accept what I was being asked to do with improper gear. My family is in a worse situation if I get sick and/or die. I think each and every one of us has to make a decision that is right for us, and it will not be the same for anyone else. No matter what, we have to support each other and not be judgemental. And it truly is brave no matter what decision you make. In order for me to make my decision, I had to be willing to accept huge financial risk. But for me, I know that I have to place my family first.

You are so not a coward. I'm planning on returning, to volunteer to man the Covid-19 phone lines for the state hotline. I'm not doing direct patient care, because no one can guarantee I will have the PPE I need. I am not going to do anyone, any good, if I willingly put myself in a position to die and worse yet to potentially bring this home to my spouse. Nope. They can't pay me enough.

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Specializes in ER, ICU/CCU, Open Heart OR Recovery, Etc.
6 hours ago, chacha82 said:

I am considering it. We are already being told to use 1 mask for 12 hours. The hospital insists there is no shortage of PPE. People are being told they can wear a mask "if they want to," but I also saw a transporter chastised for wearing one.

I have a hx of pulmonary edema, new hypertension, and two small children (one is 6 months old). I just don't know if this is worth the risk. Does anyone else feel this way?

It isn't worth the risk. Period.

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I have a history of cancer and low wbcs since I finished treatment 2 years ago. Since my unit was closed I got a CBC day before yesterday and it showed my wbcs were lower than normal and that I am neutropenic, so I am on mloa as requested by my oncologist. I feel really guilty about this because I want to be able to help during this time, but I dont want to get sick either.

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Specializes in ICU, Research, Corrections.

Truthfully, I have not been at work since March 10. I am an organ transplant recipient of 20 years and do take immune suppressants. I am out on FMLA currently. I feel no job is worth my life. I do feel like I am letting down my coworkers by being out. Money be damned, my life is more important!

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On 3/25/2020 at 2:09 PM, Lilysart said:

I am considering quitting because I am a senior with asthma. My step-daughter is immunosuppressed and my husband has asthma. It is a difficult decision. I have put in 40 years +. If I do work, I will stay in a hotel or something.

The hospital should let you stay there. Wouldn't there be an empty room,

somewhere?

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