I'm in the path of hurricane Florence, scheduled to work this weekend and honestly don't know what to do.
I love my job and appreciate my patients, but my job sent out an email saying we have to be to work. I have a child to think of, so I'm clueless. I'm trying to wait until it happens to see if the conditions are actually drivable but at the same time plan ahead.
So what are your thoughts on Nurses having to chose between their jobs and safety of themselves and family??
Specializes in Psychiatry, Community, Nurse Manager, hospice.
I'm going to say something different here. Being a nurse does not come before being a mom to a 2 year old.
Protect yourself and your family at all costs.
During hurricance Sandy, a nurse in Staten Island set off in her SUV with her 2 small boys in the car to drop them off at daycare. En route, there was a storm surge, think ocean waves crashing in the street. Her car began to fill with water. She unstrapped her kids from their corificeats and put them on top of the car. Then suddenly, a wave came and swept her children away. They were both killed. She survived, swimming and walking the streets for hours looking for them.
Do not be her. If you can't go in, other people will have to stay which isn't the end of the world. If your employer fires you for it, at least you and your family are safe. You can always get a new job. My love and prayers to you.
I'm going to say something different here. Being a nurse does not come before being a mom to a 2 year old.
Protect yourself and your family at all costs.
During hurricance Sandy, a nurse in Staten Island set off in her SUV with her 2 small boys in the car to drop them off at daycare. En route, there was a storm surge, think ocean waves crashing in the street. Her car began to fill with water. She unstrapped her kids from their corificeats and put them on top of the car. Then suddenly, a wave came and swept her children away. They were both killed. She survived, swimming and walking the streets for hours looking for them.
Do not be her. If you can't go in, other people will have to stay which isn't the end of the world. If your employer fires you for it, at least you and your family are safe. You can always get a new job. My love and prayers to you.
Thanks Dear, I agree entirely and Trust me I won't be that nurse no matter what others say.
I'm going to say something different here. Being a nurse does not come before being a mom to a 2 year old.
Protect yourself and your family at all costs.
During hurricance Sandy, a nurse in Staten Island set off in her SUV with her 2 small boys in the car to drop them off at daycare. En route, there was a storm surge, think ocean waves crashing in the street. Her car began to fill with water. She unstrapped her kids from their corificeats and put them on top of the car. Then suddenly, a wave came and swept her children away. They were both killed. She survived, swimming and walking the streets for hours looking for them.
Do not be her. If you can't go in, other people will have to stay which isn't the end of the world. If your employer fires you for it, at least you and your family are safe. You can always get a new job. My love and prayers to you.
Except she wasn't dropping them off at daycare and she wasn't heading to the hospital. She had instead chosen to not evacuate herself and her children and when she realized they were no longer safe she tried to get to her mother's house by driving on the flooded streets in the middle of the storm! She drove into a hole and was able to get the kids out and then tried to hold onto them both while hanging onto a tree. The water washed the kids away and when she asked for help at a nearby home she was turned away. She happened to also be a nurse but this tragedy had nothing to do with her going to work. It doesn't make it any less sad but let's not conflate the two separate issues.
Specializes in hospice, LTC, public health, occupational health.
ok...
Am I wrong?
It's clear you came here looking for support to call out due to a hurricane. So I'll leave you to it, but just know it's equivalent to calling off because it's too hot in Phoenix or it rained in Seattle or it snowed in Minneapolis.
I agree that your employer should have some sort of plan in place. I can imagine times when it might be necessary for staff to stay at work for three days, but they would have rest and hygiene needs. They certainly couldn't work for three days straight. Some sort of relief plan would have to be figured out in advance.
I agree that your employer should have some sort of plan in place. I can imagine times when it might be necessary for staff to stay at work for three days, but they would have rest and hygiene needs. They certainly couldn't work for three days straight. Some sort of relief plan would have to be figured out in advance.
Thats all I'm saying. Just thinking the worse and hoping for the best. I've always have come to work in bad weather like snow storms. But I'm freaking fearful of rain, plus my facility is old. All i keep picturing is that pic that showed the nursing home flooded and those poor clients in that water. But I'll see how it plays out. Plus what worries me is that the electric went out before and the power didn't generate once for about an hour and it was just a regular thunder storm.
It's clear you came here looking for support to call out due to a hurricane. So I'll leave you to it, but just know it's equivalent to calling off because it's too hot in Phoenix or it rained in Seattle or it snowed in Minneapolis.
Wow. did i say that? were those my exact words. I'm not here to debate with you. Geesh
While the employer should be held accountable for a plan to keep their employees fed and clean and rested during a storm they are required to work through, it is on the employee to ensure that they plan ahead for child care and travel to work before the worst of the storm hits.
Asking this during the storm is just poor planning on your part.
I have small children as well, but I live in AZ. the worst we get is severe dust storms and mostly short length torrential downpour. At most we might be late to work if caught in a storm and have to pull off the road or detour around flooded areas. But, if I lived in an area that had the potential for natural disasters such as hurricanes, I would make sure to plan well in advance. Such as as soon as the storm warning is broadcasted. Plans for who children and pets will stay with and how I would get to work and how long I should be stuck there, should all be figured out early.
Yes your employer should have sent something saying that they would have beds and food or to plan to come the night before the storm or whatever, but nothing prevented you from emailing or calling them a week ago to ask what their plan is and when they will be expecting you. It really does go both ways.
Obviously at this point it's a touch late and you should very much protect you and your children by doing what is safest at this point. But it won't relieve you of the possible backlash from your employer for not planning this days to a week ago.
Also consider, the nurses who decide not to show up may prevent another nurse from being able to leave ahead of the storm and protect their own families. They then have to rely on and hope that their friends and family have gotten their children and pets to safety in time.
Or if by not showing a day early to beat the storm, some nurses are going to be stuck working overtime and in less than ideal circumstances. This could lead to patient harm and resentment once the storm passes.
Specializes in critical care, ER,ICU, CVSURG, CCU.
During Hurricane Rita (05), alll area hospitals did a massive evacuation of all patients, at that time I lived. Near the gulf coast in SE Texas.......my hospital ask for employees willing to ride out the storm to come in, could bring our family......it's a good thing some of us did.....as we were the only functioning ER within almost 100 miles....others flooded etc......it was miserable as AC was not on the generators......long hot shifts.........thank goodness when FEMA medical team came a couple days later, brought 18 wheeler size generator......and a team like a MASH unit, dozens of ambulance and Mets....it was a nightmare
I see some of you have taken this the wrong way as if I was looking for a cop out or just now planning for myself. It was a friendly posts about tips and to share some of your experiences. At the end of the day my family comes first. Sorry I won't be super nurse. The site isn't for me as well. I've read slot of forums and a lot of rude and smart mouth comments. I won't be coming back on here or using it again. Yes everyone have opinions but just smart ass ones I can't deal with. I will not be using this site again.
FolksBtrippin, BSN, RN
2,322 Posts
I'm going to say something different here. Being a nurse does not come before being a mom to a 2 year old.
Protect yourself and your family at all costs.
During hurricance Sandy, a nurse in Staten Island set off in her SUV with her 2 small boys in the car to drop them off at daycare. En route, there was a storm surge, think ocean waves crashing in the street. Her car began to fill with water. She unstrapped her kids from their corificeats and put them on top of the car. Then suddenly, a wave came and swept her children away. They were both killed. She survived, swimming and walking the streets for hours looking for them.
Do not be her. If you can't go in, other people will have to stay which isn't the end of the world. If your employer fires you for it, at least you and your family are safe. You can always get a new job. My love and prayers to you.