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

Nurses General Nursing

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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.

Specializes in Critical Care.

Its a Cat 5 hurricane spanning over 500+ miles wide. After seeing devastation throughout the Carribean & Texas, MAYBE your facility is trying to get all hands on deck for 2-3 days of rotating schedules & god knows what coming in the doors after.

Its a disaster & you think calling in perdiem staff is lying to suit them or pulling one over on you?! Are you serious?

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I live in Illinois, so all we have to worry about is a blizzard- rarely happens. I'm a RN & I love my occupation, but family comes first- especially my children. People are saying to just drop off her toddler in GA. & go back to the keys & risk your life working as a CNA. The toddler is going to be scared & want his mommy. Dad is a Policeman & has to stay- so dangerous.. dads already risking his life & doing his duty. this child could end up being an orphan in the end. I say the CNA mom should with out a doubt evacuate with her toddler! If your employer does not understand this- no worries, you'll find work after. Stay safe

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.
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"...

I promise you, I will be side by side with the staff working, doing patient care. I won't be one of those managers who goes home and sits comfy while my teammates are killing themselves at work.

We are all in this together.

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I'm PRN at a union facility. Our collective bargaining agreement states that if it isn't our primary worksite, we aren't required to be on a team. Otherwise we are either during or post storm. I'm on the post team, and have 2 hours to report after the all clear is given, so I couldn't evacuate. Our jobs have been threatened if we don't return on time. It's a difficult position to be put in and has made me seriously consider leaving Florida for good.

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Specializes in MDS/ UR.

Is there even going to be jobs for awhile?

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Specializes in Pediatric Critical Care.
Is there even going to be jobs for awhile?

What do you mean??

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Specializes in Pediatric Critical Care.
Volunteer vs Compulsory

Volunteer vs Compulsory

Calling vs Job?

Volunteer vs Compulsory

Volunteer vs Compulsory

Think about it... all the emergency agency nurse contracts pull way more $$$ over PD or FT even with OT.

The agency contracts that I saw for Houston hurricane relief were all offering about $4000/week or so, for long hours (much more than 40/week), sleeping in the hospital and generally rough conditions. I inquired about going, but I never heard anything back and I don't know of anybody else who got a call or email back about it either. The only nurse that I know of who went, went as a volunteer with the Red Cross.

I'm not arguing either way, just saying my experience with emergency relief in Texas.

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Specializes in ER.
I'm not sure schedule flexibility plays a part in planning for a catastrophic, natural disaster.

Schedule flexibility means you don't have to be there unless you agree to the shift. And it would be a HUGE benefit during a disaster. You could leave town, or stay and work, and rake in overtime. Freedom of choice for the nurse.

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Specializes in OR, Infusion, IMC.

My understanding is; if you have accepted your patient assignment you can not abandon your patients. If you have not accepted your patient assignment ....look up the RN practice act for your state. Call the board to clarify. Good Luck.

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Specializes in All areas of Critical Care, ED, PACU, Pre-Op, BH,.
Hi , read the contract you signed for the per down job. If it does not mention hurricane coverage then you shouldn't be called in to work. I work in south Florida as well and am per dorm. I called Human Resources to verify that I did not have to come in because it is not part of my contract. The hospital will tell you that you are required to come in and that they will fire you but if you get confirmation from hr that you don't have to contractually work hurricanes administration can't fire you. My administrators told me the same thing they told you and hr stepped in and told them that I am not obligated to work hurricanes. I don't have benefits from the hospital, why should I go into work? I could be injured going to or from work , then I would be responsible for the bill.

If injured at work then Workers Comp would kick in to cover you. Workers Comp has to cover all employees whether they are FT, PT or even Per Diem without regular benefits.

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Specializes in All areas of Critical Care, ED, PACU, Pre-Op, BH,.
Pet diem as in... No benefits? No guaranteed hours?

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

I've worked plenty of Per Diem jobs before. The Per Diem positions at my hospital now DO require all staff work a minimum of shifts per month/week. Otherwise why would they keep their position for you? They do have some benefits too. All have to be covered by Workman's Comp. Cafeteria discount, the gift shop discount, the other discounts such as movie tickets at a reduced price, belonging to our Credit Union, having a 401K and other benefits. What they DON'T get is the medical and dental benefits and PTO hours.

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I've worked plenty of Per Diem jobs before. The Per Diem positions at my hospital now DO require all staff work a minimum of shifts per month/week. Otherwise why would they keep their position for you? They do have some benefits too. All have to be covered by Workman's Comp. Cafeteria discount, the gift shop discount, the other discounts such as movie tickets at a reduced price, belonging to our Credit Union, having a 401K and other benefits. What they DON'T get is the medical and dental benefits and PTO hours.

Well, who cares about PTO and medical benefits? Tell me more about this cafeteria discount!! :wacky:

Most places require that per diem employees be available for a certain number of hours/shifts. That doesn't mean they'll actually be scheduled ...and if they are scheduled, that doesn't mean they'll actually work. I've been canceled for two of my four last scheduled shifts.

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