Hurricane Irma: Are per diem nurses USUALLY required to work during a hurricane/disaster?

[justSara]

Hey guys!

I'm not a nurse, but I am part of the nursing staff as a PCA. I have only been working in a hospital for a year, so I'm not sure what is usual or custom.

As the title suggests, I am located in South Florida and hurricane Irma may clobber us this weekend. If it is still a category 4 or 5 hurricane by Friday morning I have decided to evacuate my loved ones out of state. However, the hospital I work for is telling ALL per diem workers that we are REQUIRED to come to the hospital to work during the hurricane lock down.

So my question is, is that usual for a hospital? To require the PER DIEM employees to come in? There was a hurricane list made up in advance saying which full time workers would have to come in and who would be part of the "after" team, but I was never aware that per diem workers needed to as well.

I just wanted to know if my director/superiors are pulling one over on me by telling my it's required when it actually may not be what usually happens. My hospital has been known to lie to employees when it suits them.

Sorry for the long post, thank you for any answers in advance.

[Here.I.Stand, BSN, RN]

I worked at a residential school a couple of winters ago in my area when we had record-breaking snowfall. I still remember the upper management making announcements about who would be "frozen" i.e. not be allowed to leave pending the first storm.

Then the managers left the campus and stayed home for a few days until roads were clear. Meanwhile, staff staying were working insane hours and not getting real breaks. Management was a real "profile in courage"...

Spinning like a LATHE!!! Shame on that leadership

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[SummitRN, BSN, RN]

I've seen plenty of nurses sign up to go to Houston to help out for NO pay other than the ride on the private plane chartered to take them there. They were told they'd be sleeping on cots, eating in the cafeteria and helping out wherever needed. And the plane was full, so another was chartered.

If other nurses are willing to fly in for no pay and help out, why do some believe they should be exempt [from compulsory employment] from helping out their own community?

VOLUNTARY VS COMPULSORY

VOLUNTARY VS COMPULSORY

VOLUNTARY VS COMPULSORY

Ruby, you are a smart lady. I don't really have to provide dictionary definitions or explain the conceptual differences... I think if you step back from your indignation you'll see the logic.

I've volunteered 1000s of hours in my life for my communities and neighboring communities, and even other countries. That doesn't mean I am willing to be mandated by my 2 day month PD job. (If disaster comes, I'll have 5 hospitals/volunteer organizations clamoring for my time.)

It is easier to tell people to get to work on the internet. If you are so righteous about this, why aren't you waiting for that volunteer plane right now?

[Been there,done that, ASN, RN]

You are the only one that can make this decision. As for me, no job is worth my life.

[Loriehus]

Every hospital I have worked for makes it clear from the beginning that staff is required to assist during a time of great need. The desire and commitment to help others should have been the reason we decided to get into healthcare in the first place.

[JKL33]

The desire and commitment to help others should have been the reason we decided to get into healthcare in the first place.

Please. That is a severely reductive argument that should be used with care since it can be leveraged in attempt to justify all manner of obligations that others think nurses should have. I think we really don't want to "go there," at least I personally won't and I reject the manner in which you are using this premise.

[Med Surg RN, BSN, RN]

The desire and commitment to help others should have been the reason we decided to get into healthcare in the first place.

I agree with JKL33. This is the type of argument that management uses to justify lower salaries for nurses... We do the job "because we love it" and therefore we don't deserve an appropriate salary and it's okay to exploit us... They would NEVER ask this of or treat doctors this way. Yes some people go into healthcare to help others, which is why I went into nursing, BUT we should not be expected or required to compromise our own safety or the safety of our families. At the end of the day management sees staff as expendable and has no qualms about cutting benefits, pensions etc and firing veteran staff who are too "expensive" to be replaced with new grads at a lower rate.

[Purplemommy, BSN, RN]

It's completely normal. All PRN staff are part of Disaster staffing just like full time staff. We're nurses. This is a part of healthcare. This is how it works for all health care workers. We put others first. If you're going to stay in healthcare please make plan for your family that INCLUDES the fact that you know you'll be expected to report to the hospital for all emergencies. Forever.

[pishinurse]

if it came to life and death and a major disaster happening in my area, I would think about myself and my family's well being first, what are the expectations of these hospitals that you drive to work during the storm while the mayor is giving mandatory evacuations to residents and telling them not to drive, they expect you to show up and clock in on time. Sorry but i don't get paid enough as a nurse to sacrifice my life, I didn't join the military as far as I'm concenrned .I wouldnt do a no show but I would let them know I wouldn't be coming in and for good reason. Do what is best for you and your family if you suffered any injuries and wouldn't be able to work for the rest of your life, the only thing you would get would be workman comp to cover your medical expenses.

[Bchapm01]

I worked as an RN in the same hospital for my entire 20 year career. In that hospital, per diem were actually the same as ALL types of healthcare facilities. Most, if not all staff classified as per diem had no minimum work hours per week and they also had to extreme flexibility of their schedule. Our policy was actually written so it could be reviewed by the potential employee during the interviewing process and physically signed by both the manager and staff member. It explains the expectations of per diem employees since they are granted a higher wage. The policy takes effect during needs for a greater number of employees i.e. natural disasters which primarily include hurricanes and blizzards.

[tridil2000, MSN, RN]

Pet diem as in... No benefits? No guaranteed hours?

no, they really can't mandate you, unless you were already scheduled.

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

if it came to life and death and a major disaster happening in my area, I would think about myself and my family's well being first, what are the expectations of these hospitals that you drive to work during the storm while the mayor is giving mandatory evacuations to residents and telling them not to drive, they expect you to show up and clock in on time. Sorry but i don't get paid enough as a nurse to sacrifice my life, I didn't join the military as far as I'm concenrned .I wouldnt do a no show but I would let them know I wouldn't be coming in and for good reason. Do what is best for you and your family if you suffered any injuries and wouldn't be able to work for the rest of your life, the only thing you would get would be workman comp to cover your medical expenses.

In a major snow event, you leave early and allow plenty of time to get to work. Or you go to work before it starts. You plan ahead, much as nurses in hurricane prone areas do. This "it's not worth your life" argument is bogus. Patients need care regardless of the weather. If you cannot commit to emergency staffing, don't take a job where it is a condition of employment.

[Bchapm01]

Per diem as in....No benefits? No guaranteed hours?

no, they really can't mandate you, unless you were already scheduled

Excuse me, but you are sadly mistaken. In this day and age, there is no guarantee of job security. Basically, your employer DOES have the right to make you come in and/or work hours that you were not originally scheduled for if they are available. And no, I do not want to be perceived as argumentative.