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?
Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
i've already spent my entire career "cut(ting) family women (and men) some slack" (or, at least, being expected to) -- i need the holiday off, i have children; i have to call in, my child is sick; i need to be off, my child is in the school play (or my child's team has a game); etc., etc., etc ... i'm not much inclined to give them special consideration on this issue, too.
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i have to admit that this paragraph really resonated with me. i, too, have spent my entire career cutting colleagues with children some slack. and it's not so much that they negotiate for concessions -- they expect it. i pay higher co-pays on my health insurance "so we can support families." i'm not much inclined to continue to cut slack for co-workers i know would not expect to cut me some slack as i age and have health issues.
Specializes in Oncology; medical specialty website.
i have to admit that this paragraph really resonated with me. i, too, have spent my entire career cutting colleagues with children some slack. and it's not so much that they negotiate for concessions -- they expect it. i pay higher co-pays on my health insurance "so we can support families." i'm not much inclined to continue to cut slack for co-workers i know would not expect to cut me some slack as i age and have health issues.
Well, the thing about kids, that it true. Don't call of and stick us working short cause "your kid is sick and you can't find a babysitter." But to fault people for wanting to spend time with family or something like that, no, not every nurse should give up everything. Kids, however, are a choice.
I love taking care of patients. I love being a nurse. I have never seen in my job description that I must place my personal safety or my very life below that of my patients. If a patient attacked me, I would press charges. If there were some sort of disaster or epi-/pandemic, and I was at home, I would stay there. My life and the lives of my husband and children trump anyone else's needs. Sorry. I am important, too. And I value my family over my "job." Ultimately, that's all it is, and I don't intend to sacrifice my life for it.
I agree with you Ruby. Asking for vacation and expecting it are very different things, and I think people do tend to expect a lot of things out of their job.
As for the pandemic situation, I would give a pass to someone that chose not to work, kids or not.
Edit: I would also add that if my patient showed up infected I would not abandon them (especially seeing as I'm already exposed) and if I didn't come in to work to avoid being exposed I would not be shocked if I got in big trouble for it.
As long as it's not zombies, I'd probably go to work.
Seriously, I work in a crazy busy ER. We don't have enough iso rooms so it's not unusual to keep our iso patients in plastic tents that I don't really trust. I also live in a very big city. If there was an epidemic, I'd probably be exposed before they realized something was going on. I would protect my family by not going home. I don't see it as self-sacrificing but a small risk of the area I work in.
relevant username
seriously, though. I had a nightmare last week where all our patients were on paralytics because they had the zombie bug, but we ran out of the drug so they started chasing me and then the badge reader wouldn't work and I got into the locked room just in the nick of time. scary stuff man.
Specializes in Gerontological, cardiac, med-surg, peds.
My children are grown. It's just hubby and me and we have a wonderful warm, loving relationship. He is my best friend.
That said, if there were some sort of pandemic and the neighborhood hospital desperately needs me, I would go in. It would have to be desperate ominous circumstances, since I am only PRN staff in the facility. I have a fulltime job elsewhere as a nurse educator. I feel an obligation to my community and in a time of crisis, would want to help.
I would not leave the facility to go home to expose my husband or others. I would stay under lockdown and work for the duration.
If you were the one infected wouldn't you want someone to come care for you?
No. If I am dying of a deadly and contagious disease I don't want someone else to expose themselves just to make me comfortable. Let me stay at home, give me lots of good drugs at my bedside, and leave me alone.
When care is scarce we need to triage our resources. I have no problem with the doctors in nurses who made the (rumored) decisions to euthanize those without a chance of survival.
No. If I am dying of a deadly and contagious disease I don't want someone else to expose themselves just to make me comfortable. Let me stay at home, give me lots of good drugs at my bedside, and leave me alone.
Who is going to give you those drugs for your bedside?? And what if you're not dying but are still contagious? If there was a chance to survive I would take it!
Who is going to give you those drugs for your bedside?? And what if you're not dying but are still contagious? If there was a chance to survive I would take it!
If I am not dying then the caregiver is risking illness but not death, so it becomes a balancing act. Lots of shades of gray, I'm not smart enough to address all the possibilities.
But if I had ebola? Someone must have found me and asked if I wanted to go to the overrun hospital or not. My answer is no, I'd be dying in filthy chaos, and exposing everyone around me. I'll stay home, and I've got my own stinking drugs...though a little extra would be appreciated, just in case. I'm also not discounting suicide if the alternatives are a certain painful death or risking the lives of others just for my own comfort.
Specializes in Certified Med/Surg tele, and other stuff.
There are two kinds of disasters. Natural and illness. If it was a natural disaster and my family was safe, then fine, no problem. If I could get to work then great. Off I go. However, I still stick to my previous post. My kids and family come first. I'm the primary bread winner. My husbands health is precarious and I have children, one being special needs. If I die, who will support my family?Who is going to be there for my daughter? Anybody can call me 'scaredy cat' or what-have-you. My family will always come first. With that being said, I bust my butt for my job now. I'm constantly going in for committee work. My 36 hr job is more like 45 PLUS. I'm very devoted to my place of employment, but not going to sacrifice myself.
Do you think the hospital will have some fundraiser for all the familes that lost their moms and dad? Heck NO! What they will do post our position, looking for some newbie that needs a job, and forget we even existed.
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Ruby Vee, BSN
17 Articles; 14,051 Posts
i have to admit that this paragraph really resonated with me. i, too, have spent my entire career cutting colleagues with children some slack. and it's not so much that they negotiate for concessions -- they expect it. i pay higher co-pays on my health insurance "so we can support families." i'm not much inclined to continue to cut slack for co-workers i know would not expect to cut me some slack as i age and have health issues.