Was watching "Downton Abbey" Sunday night and it got to where the great Spanish Flu pandemic of 1918-1919 hit.
Program seemed to get much of the details down right; healthy young persons were fine one minute, greatly ill the next and often dead within 24-48 hours.
From one's own (limited) research on the matter found out that many nurses and other medical persons came down with and subsequently died from being exposed to the flu whilst caring for patients. Of course many knew they shouldn't have been anywhere near such sick persons but "duty" kept nurses on the wards and in the cases of public health nursing going from house to house caring for the stricken.
With almost one hundred years of hindsight and modern adances in medical care one would think if such a thing hit again things would be different. However one does wonder if a bulk of nurses today have the "self sacrificing" gene.
Say this because clearly remember what things were like during the 1980's when AIDS began to appear. Was working as a CNA and often it wasn't the most shining hour for some nursing staff. Indeed on more than several occasions it came down to threats of being written up for insubordination to get some nurses anywhere near afflicted patients.
If there was a major outbreak of unknown or serious disease such as another major flu outbreak would *you* go in? If the hospital was going on lock-down for the duration would you stay or bolt for the door before it's locked?
Have you noticed what "dying of old age" actually looks like? Dementia, incontinence, recurrent GI bleeds, CVAs, cancers, decubes? Needing vitamin D because you never get in the sun? Never feel the wind on your face or hear the birds sing, just left in a corner with sludge poured down a PEG? I'm the tail end of the baby boomers, there won't be a decent place for me when I need a bed because there'll be 20 years of Boomers on the waiting list for it. So I'll probably end up in one of those places where when we see that our new admit patient came from there, our hearts sink.
Getting old scares me a LOT more than something that takes me out in a matter of hours.
I'd be right there and I have 2 kids at home, which my husband is fully capable of taking care of by himself if he HAS to. I'd also be staying at the hospital to keep from exposing my own family to it. I feel like God has given me the ability to help people and I'm not going to turn my back on patients during the toughest times.
Specializes in Vents, Telemetry, Home Care, Home infusion.
Having started in healthcare in 1973, you often won't realize an epidemic has hit until your in the middle of it.
Excellent hand hygiene and wearing masks for respiratory isolation has kept me here since we didn't use gloves for everything until late 1980's. Important to keep hydrated, protein snack with you, and learn to say NO OVERTIME when exhausted. Recharge those batteries on your day off important ---along with a fine cup of Tea -full of antioxidents.
I'm a single girl, and if I had to stay over when the hospital went on lockdown, I would stay. If I were called in, I would hope there would be haz-mat suits before I go in. In that kind of situation, everybody has to help, and I guess I would feel obliged. That's what happened last year in Joplin. Everybody in every department did their part.
I would like to think that when that moment came I would be all over it. In reality, I am not sure what I would do. It would depend on so many different things my family, what it is, how bad it is. I do know however that my family would come first no matter what. As long as I can keep them safe that is what is important to me.
I would like to think I would for infectious disease. As someone else pointed out, PPE would have to be in abundant supply. Dead nurses aren't good for anyone.
nerdtonurse?, BSN, RN
1 Article; 2,043 Posts
Have you noticed what "dying of old age" actually looks like? Dementia, incontinence, recurrent GI bleeds, CVAs, cancers, decubes? Needing vitamin D because you never get in the sun? Never feel the wind on your face or hear the birds sing, just left in a corner with sludge poured down a PEG? I'm the tail end of the baby boomers, there won't be a decent place for me when I need a bed because there'll be 20 years of Boomers on the waiting list for it. So I'll probably end up in one of those places where when we see that our new admit patient came from there, our hearts sink.
Getting old scares me a LOT more than something that takes me out in a matter of hours.
I'd sign up in a minute.