Has anyone left nursing job due to COVID19 virus?

NurseBlaq · Mar 30, 2020

2 hours ago, OncologyCat said:
But yeah after this pandemic is over I don’t even know if I want to even work in healthcare anymore,

I'm afraid a lot of nurses are having this same thought and I don't blame y'all. Many students are looking at this too and thinking of changing majors. Again, I completely understand. This pandemic has exposed the realities of being nurses/doctors. People are starting to realize it's much more intense than what's on TV and we don't just click computers, pass pills, and whatever else perception they had of us. Yes, we've all heard these stereotypical things over time but now reality is upon us!

newrnonthefloor · Mar 30, 2020

2 hours ago, NurseBlaq said:
I'm afraid a lot of nurses are having this same thought and I don't blame y'all. Many students are looking at this too and thinking of changing majors. Again, I completely understand. This pandemic has exposed the realities of being nurses/doctors. People are starting to realize it's much more intense than what's on TV and we don't just click computers, pass pills, and whatever else perception they had of us. Yes, we've all heard these stereotypical things over time but now reality is upon us!

Sure, a lot of people go into various career's thinking that the job is going to be like something they seen on television but never in my years of studying for nursing was it expressed that I would be expected to work with patients who had a highly contagious infection without the proper protective equipment. I have taken care of patients with hepatitis, HIV, tuberculosis, and the list goes on but the difference there is that I was protected and never had to fear for my own safety of the safety of my family. I never entered a patient's room and wondered if this patient would be the one to directly kill me, or my family because I'm not allowed to wear PPE even if the patient is symptomatic, if no travel was done.

If I asked you to put an I/V or stop a patient from profusely bleeding out at an arterial site who had hepatitis or HIV with no gloves, would you? I highly doubt you would take that risk.

I think if anything, it is making people realize how much the hospital does not care about us at all. We're expendable, while the CEO's/governor's sit in their golden towers and pay millions of dollars to the CDC to continue to change their PPE requirements so they can legally and justifiably expose us.

StillSearchingRN · Mar 30, 2020

5 hours ago, OncologyCat said:
I have been thinking about quitting healthcare altogether the past few weeks ? In all seriousness, I was considering moving to outpt the past month. I’m working night shift inpt and it takes a toll on my body. I’m kinda burned out when I work inpt too (has been doing inpt for almost 3 yrs), so I thought moving to outpt with a reg schedule (no night/weekends/holidays) may be a better gig. But yeah after this pandemic is over I don’t even know if I want to even work in healthcare anymore, but the sad thing is I don’t know what else I could do, so I guess I’ll work outpt if I can secure a job.

Outpatient is no guarantee-they're drafting us into inpatient for extra hands with very limited training.

OncologyCat, BSN, RN · Mar 31, 2020

3 hours ago, StillSearchingRN said:
Outpatient is no guarantee-they're drafting us into inpatient for extra hands with very limited training.

That’s why I’m staying in inpt for now. I’m working on a covid unit so that’s the only reason why I’m provided with an n95 for my shift. I have an interview for a cancer center outpt clinic that was supposed to open in June, but with the covid going on IDK if the clinic is opening within that timeline.

My main reason for wanting to quit is the public has no idea how hard our job is, and I’m just frustrated I don’t have support from leadership, most of whom staying at home social distancing while us in the frontline have to work without proper PPE. The CDC constantly changes its guidelines to how much PPE we have left. Heck, Trump is accusing us of stealing PPE! We’re deemed essential, but seems like no one is taking care of the essentials. I’m enraged, but also stuck.

Beverly Poole · Mar 31, 2020

I work in Acute rehab and found out today that I will be pulled to screen patients at ED. I have anxiety and am terrified to leave my house let alone screen COVID patients. I am nearing the end of my career (I am 60) very healthy but loosing sleep over this. My husband is 63, and diabetic. I also have a daughter with CHD who is oxygen dependant who lives next door. I worry more for them than myself. I took last week off and am scheduled to return to work on Wednesday. I am a good nurse and love caring for my patients, but this situation was never in my plans or I would have signed up for ER or trauma, etc. I have worked in many different areas at different times but at this time in my career I chose a low stress area to end my nursing days. I do not feel like I have anything to prove or be a hero at this point. I feel that I will be putting my family at risk. I wish I could wake up from this nightmare. When I show up, there better be PPE or allow me to use my own or I will not do it. They can fire me. I have been at this hospital for twelve years without any disciplinary actions, write ups or complaints. Thanks for letting me vent. Prayers to all of my fellow nurses and stay safe.

NurseBlaq · Mar 31, 2020

10 hours ago, newrnonthefloor said:
Sure, a lot of people go into various career's thinking that the job is going to be like something they seen on television but never in my years of studying for nursing was it expressed that I would be expected to work with patients who had a highly contagious infection without the proper protective equipment. I have taken care of patients with hepatitis, HIV, tuberculosis, and the list goes on but the difference there is that I was protected and never had to fear for my own safety of the safety of my family. I never entered a patient's room and wondered if this patient would be the one to directly kill me, or my family because I'm not allowed to wear PPE even if the patient is symptomatic, if no travel was done.
If I asked you to put an I/V or stop a patient from profusely bleeding out at an arterial site who had hepatitis or HIV with no gloves, would you? I highly doubt you would take that risk.
I think if anything, it is making people realize how much the hospital does not care about us at all. We're expendable, while the CEO's/governor's sit in their golden towers and pay millions of dollars to the CDC to continue to change their PPE requirements so they can legally and justifiably expose us.

Who said any of that? Go back and read what I posted and understand it because you're ranting about something I didn't say nor mean. The rhetoric and extraness just expanded on what I said not make a separate point. But you know, go off though!?

Rsbrittany · Mar 31, 2020

My brother was exposed to a covid-19 patient on the floor who was not on any precautions at the time... the patient was later confirmed positive. Him along with multiple nurses,CNAs, even the director of the unit were all exposed with no protection.

hospital administration was minutes from testing all of them and decided against it last minute...

if you ask me they didn’t want to take 10 staff members out of commission pending confirmed cases. Handed them masks and were told to record their temps and report to management 3x daily.

selfish selfish selfish...

babatee, MSN, RN · Mar 31, 2020

I wouldnt blame any nurse for quitting for the safety of their friends and loved ones. The hospitals keep telling nurses not to wear surgical mask because of short supplies and not increase in pay to compensate for the risk and yet you expect nurses to risk their lives?

Simon C · Mar 31, 2020

I am 60 years of age, diabetic (T2) and a near life ending experience already with multiple organ failure - I am an NHS care worker on the wards. I live with and help care for my 85 year old father who just yesterday was informed by the GP he has to isolate for 12 weeks. I am scared for all of us now, and going to the wards to work is causing me massive anxiety. I'm waiting for a return call from the GP myself to see if I should stay put or work....but in the meantime I have my resignation letter in back pocket should I be ordered to the Covid-19 wards.

Nurselexii · Mar 31, 2020

On 3/28/2020 at 1:52 AM, Pyxis2 said:
I'm preparing to, I've been looking at my options as far as remote positions go. It's such a tough choice, but the way my hospital is handling things right now isn't acceptable. I'm not concerned for myself, but I don't want to bring this home to my family when one of them is already high risk.

Remote nursing jobs are Clinical documentation specialist, Utilization review, informatics (May require advanced degree) and telemedicine, they are salaried positions for the most part and is considered essential personnel however not essential clinician,

so you won't get time off for exposure to a covid anyone because in their eyes you did not obtain it from work. But you can work anywhere with wifi

Wuzzie · Mar 31, 2020

19 hours ago, OncologyCat said:
In all seriousness, I was considering moving to outpt the past month. I’m working night shift inpt and it takes a toll on my body. I’m kinda burned out when I work inpt too (has been doing inpt for almost 3 yrs), so I thought moving to outpt with a reg schedule (no night/weekends/holidays) may be a better gig.

I know you aren't saying outpatient is safer but I wanted to let others know that we in the ambulatory arena are getting massively exposed because patients aren't telling us they are symptomatic until after we come in contact with them. They are lying to the screeners so their appointments don't get cancelled. And because we are not directly taking care of known or suspected COVID patients they removed almost all of our PPE. We have one nurse out with it now and they aren't quarantining the rest of us because although our census is decreased we can't completely shut down. We are allowed one surgical mask per week! Things got real when they surveyed us for our skill set and we have been told some of us may be floated to the in-patient side or to the off-site COVID hospital that is being set up.

OncologyCat, BSN, RN · Mar 31, 2020

23 minutes ago, Wuzzie said:
I know you aren't saying outpatient is safer but I wanted to let others know that we in the ambulatory arena are getting massively exposed because patients aren't telling us they are symptomatic until after we come in contact with them. They are lying to the screeners so their appointments don't get cancelled. And because we are not directly taking care of known or suspected COVID patients they removed almost all of our PPE. We have one nurse out with it now and they aren't quarantining the rest of us because although our census is decreased we can't completely shut down. We are allowed one surgical mask per week! Things got real when they surveyed us for our skill set and we have been told some of us may be floated to the in-patient side or to the off-site COVID hospital that is being set up.

I’m working on an inpatient oncology covid unit right now, and that’s the only reason why I’m provided with an n95 for my shift. So yes, I agree, maybe working in Covid units/ED/ICU, is the safest choice for now, provided that staff is equipped with appropriate ppe. I know my colleagues on regular inpatient onc floor can still keep their pt on the floor if the team decides to rule the pt out for covid, but staff is not given any n95 unless an aerolising procedure is performed! Also, I know of an onc pt who was only on contact precautions for mrsa and had been admitted for a week, and as she started spiking fevers the team decided to test her for covid, and voila, she’s now positive and moved to my floor. Wonder how many staff went into that room without masks on when she was only on contact.