My hospital is implementing new policy that states that any nurse who wishes to take a temporary travel assignment for Covid-19 relief in hot spots will be terminated. As if that isn’t enough, they’re making those nurses ineligible for rehire if they resign appropriately. We are in a small city with about 300 cases thus far. Our hours are being cut, bonuses and raises will not be distributed this year, and we are expected to perform with dwindling PPE. I feel that it is completely unethical to deal such extreme consequences for nurses who want to 1) help those who are in dire need, and 2) maintain a comparable income to pre-covid.
I’m curious to hear about what other hospitals in low-risk zones are doing about nurses wanting to participate in relief efforts. I would also like to know how one would go about fighting this while remaining anonymous to the establishment for which I work.