Hurricane coming: evacuate or stay and work?

Long Term Care Columnist / Guide · Aug 31, 2008

I'd tell my boys to hit the road and I would stay and work.
At least, hypothetically. In a real situation, where I'd be afraid for the safety of my family and I, I just hope I would live up to my expectations of myself. Everyone has a unique situation, and I respect the decisions one is forced to make in those circumstances. I'm very thankful never to have been faced with such a situation. We're people just like everyone else, and "just" getting yourself and your family through such an ordeal in one piece is an act of bravery. I wish that "RN" made me a superhero, but I'm certain it did not. When our health and safety are on the line, the only people that can make that decision is us. I would hope we may live with those decisions without being judged harshly by others, and without making judgments on ourselves.

Very well said. I'm right there with you.........I would more than likely tell my husband to take the family and pets to safer ground, and I'd stay at my building taking care of our residents, regardless of any personal risk. It's expected of me as a manager, but I also expect it of myself---these people are frail and cannot rescue themselves, so it's my duty to assist with rescuing them.

Besides, when you get right down to where the cheese binds, I've lived a good life and done most of what I set out to do, and if something were to happen to me in the course of a hurricane, earthquake, fire, bombing or other catastrophe, it would be OK. Better me than my kids or grandkids, I say, and I'd rather die in the process of trying to save someone than live with myself if they came to harm because I wasn't there.:stone

Dixielee, BSN, RN · Aug 31, 2008

A lot might depend on administration. Are they staying or are they taking the first train out of town? If we are expected to work under unsafe and potentially deadly conditions, are they? Is your nurse manager, house supervisor, administrator going to suit up and bag patients when the generators fail? Are they going to take your place after 20 hours so you can take a shower and a nap?

Are they going to feed me and pay me hazard pay for staying? Are they willing to risk their lives or is that only for those in the trenches?

Are they taking reasonable precautions and evacuating patients inland while there is time, or are they leaving things till it is too late to make good decisions?

If the answer is no to any of the above, then it will be no for me as well. Nursing is a JOB, it is not a religious calling. It is not my duty to put my life on the line because administration is too lazy or to afraid to act responsibly.

I have stayed during tornadoes, ice storms, fires and bomb threats. I have been hit, knocked down, spit on and cussed at by patients I was charged with "helping". I have worked 20 hour shifts with little or no breaks, I have worked years and years of night shifts, holidays away from family, too many week ends to count. I have stayed over, come in early or extra, covered when there was little or no staff. I have worked through pregnancies, headaches, back pain, and colds. I have at times been sicker than my patients. I have comforted and been comforted. I am tired, but I still go in every shift.

I have done my duty, now it is time for the "men in suits" to do theirs and protect us and our patients. We will see what they are made of, I know what I am!

labrador4122, RN · Aug 31, 2008

I live in FL, and I signed a contract with the hospital that in the event of a hurricane I HAVE to stay--- I just make sure that my daughter is taken well care of and is with my mom.

I am hoping one day to do something else, like perhaps work at a doctor's office or work in an outpatient center where it is not required to stay during hurricanes. hurricanes are very scary.

Long Term Care Columnist / Guide · Aug 31, 2008

I AM in administration.........and yes, if the collective excretory material collides with the oscillating ventilation system, I'm going to be in it up to my eyeballs, just like everyone else.

Not all "suits" are lazy, nor are we all afraid. In fact, my executive director and I would be the last ones on the last helicopter out if disaster were to strike.

Have a nice day.

labrador4122, RN · Aug 31, 2008

Very well said. I'm right there with you.........I would more than likely tell my husband to take the family and pets to safer ground, and I'd stay at my building taking care of our residents, regardless of any personal risk. It's expected of me as a manager, but I also expect it of myself---these people are frail and cannot rescue themselves, so it's my duty to assist with rescuing them.
Besides, when you get right down to where the cheese binds, I've lived a good life and done most of what I set out to do, and if something were to happen to me in the course of a hurricane, earthquake, fire, bombing or other catastrophe, it would be OK. Better me than my kids or grandkids, I say, and I'd rather die in the process of trying to save someone than live with myself if they came to harm because I wasn't there.:stone

That's awesome!

I am not there yet because my baby is only 2 years old, so she needs me and I need her!!

Dixielee, BSN, RN · Aug 31, 2008

I AM in administration.........and yes, if the collective excretory material collides with the oscillating ventilation system, I'm going to be in it up to my eyeballs, just like everyone else.
Not all "suits" are lazy, nor are we all afraid. In fact, my executive director and I would be the last ones on the last helicopter out if disaster were to strike.
Have a nice day.

No one ever said admin was lazy or afraid, I said whether I stayed or not would depend on how admin responded. I am glad you are responsible and appreciate the pressure of the job. I have been on both sides of the administrative fence, and you are not in the majority.

I hope we all have nice days.:wink2:

icyounurse, BSN, RN · Aug 31, 2008

A lot might depend on administration. Are they staying or are they taking the first train out of town? If we are expected to work under unsafe and potentially deadly conditions, are they? Is your nurse manager, house supervisor, administrator going to suit up and bag patients when the generators fail? Are they going to take your place after 20 hours so you can take a shower and a nap?
Are they going to feed me and pay me hazard pay for staying? Are they willing to risk their lives or is that only for those in the trenches?
Are they taking reasonable precautions and evacuating patients inland while there is time, or are they leaving things till it is too late to make good decisions?
If the answer is no to any of the above, then it will be no for me as well. Nursing is a JOB, it is not a religious calling. It is not my duty to put my life on the line because administration is too lazy or to afraid to act responsibly.
I have stayed during tornadoes, ice storms, fires and bomb threats. I have been hit, knocked down, spit on and cussed at by patients I was charged with "helping". I have worked 20 hour shifts with little or no breaks, I have worked years and years of night shifts, holidays away from family, too many week ends to count. I have stayed over, come in early or extra, covered when there was little or no staff. I have worked through pregnancies, headaches, back pain, and colds. I have at times been sicker than my patients. I have comforted and been comforted. I am tired, but I still go in every shift.
I have done my duty, now it is time for the "men in suits" to do theirs and protect us and our patients. We will see what they are made of, I know what I am!

I am so with you on the hazard pay!! I think its absolutely ridiculous to not offer this. Many hospitals dont. I was not paid hazard pay during Katrina or Ivan. Its a hot topic among staff at that particular hospital.

Long Term Care Columnist / Guide · Aug 31, 2008

That's awesome!
I am not there yet because my baby is only 2 years old, so she needs me and I need her!!

Yes, you SHOULD be with your baby. For those of us who've raised our kids and lived a decent length of time, it's different..........I wouldn't think twice about going in to work and doing whatever I could to help my residents in the event of a disaster.

Of course, it's really easy to say this when I live three thousand miles away from anywhere that gets hurricanes!:wink2: But seriously, SOMEBODY has to be there for those who can't help themselves..........might as well be me.

MissERN · Aug 31, 2008

Gustav is on his way...looks like we will get at least some of it! My hospital has A, B, and C teams... A= prepare B=stay C= recover

I'm on A team and so I got called in today and I'll work 7a-7p tomorrow and then leave town. Our B team will come in at 7am on Monday and then C team comes in once the roads are clear. Personally I don't want to live at the hospital for who knows how long without air conditioning. Especially if he hits at a cat 4...scary.

Today all of our critical pt's were evacuated and anyone we admitted from the ED was transferred...so sad to see some pt's come in because "my family's all gone to Kentucky"...I cannot imagine what it must feel like to be left by my family.

I threw enough food out of my freezer/fridge today to feed a small country...and what I didn't throw away I've eaten...glad no one's been counting my calories today!

Dixielee, BSN, RN · Aug 31, 2008

Miss ERN, my thoughts and prayers are with you and everyone in the path of this monster. I just pray it hits an area that has been able to evacuate. Our local response teams are geared up and ready to come help. A group from our area is set to deploy tomorrow to set up mobile hospitals and clinics where needed. I hope the lessons of Katrina are never forgotten and no one ever has to face the horrors that she brought.

texas2007, BSN, RN · Aug 31, 2008

My hospital has the A,B,C team system. Luckily I am not on the team that is supposed to ride out the storm. Even though it looks like this storm is going to New Orleans, my city is still in the "cone of uncertainty". I've had a few people ask me if I want to trade teams just in case but I politely tell them :no: Sleeping in a sleeping bag on the floor with no showers for who knows how long simply isn't that appealing to me even if they pay for you to be there the whole time...

icyounurse, BSN, RN · Aug 31, 2008

My hospital has the A,B,C team system. Luckily I am not on the team that is supposed to ride out the storm. Even though it looks like this storm is going to New Orleans, my city is still in the "cone of uncertainty". I've had a few people ask me if I want to trade teams just in case but I politely tell them Sleeping in a sleeping bag on the floor with no showers for who knows how long simply isn't that appealing to me even if they pay for you to be there the whole time...

And some places dont pay you to be there the whole time either.