Gingerpup

These guys are dangerous.

The crux of the problem is that hospital administrators, safety planners, public health officials, FEMA etc. did not do their jobs. They did not pay attention to scientists who have been warning that something like this would happen sooner or later and it would be a good idea to prepare for it, despite the cost. Now, nurses and other health care workers are left with an impossible job that many will pay the ultimate price for. Please don't even begin to blame or judge nurses for the difficult decisions they're being forced to make.

Also, we might be seeing in the media nurses across the nation saying "this is what I signed up for". Keep in mind, this is a great media story, and they want to put these warriors on the 5 o'clock news. BUT, there are a ton of other nurses who are thinking the opposite - thinking when this gets to be too much, I'm outta here ---but they are not going to make it on TV. Solidarity ML- you are not alone.

ML - You seem to be extremely concerned about your co-workers judging you and many have given you excellent advice as to how to cope with that. I totally understand your feelings, and all this says to me is that you are at the core a dedicated, caring person who wants the best for your team and patients, but find yourself in an impossible situation. You have tried your best to come up with reasonable solutions, but admin is not working with you. Now, make a promise to your self that you have made the decision, make peace with it, and let this s*#t go. Be kind to yourself. We all need to be.

Regarding mandatory recall - they also need to ensure that if a HCW gets CoVid, they get a ventilator period, and they get 15K like the crisis travel nurses are being offered.

Megan, did you need a MD note for the FMLA. How much time did they give you. ML l am so sorry they're not working with you. You are doing the best you can in a very difficult situation. Maybe they will accommodate you

Subee, I was not implying that you were judging. You were not. We are on the same side. But I would like my comments not to be considered a rant per se (not just blowing of steam). I see it more as protest statement for change, solidarity and understanding. But yeah, we are on the same page.

Yes the hospitals are certainly entitled to blame, certain politicians are to blame, CDC deserves criticism (JUST DO THE RIGHT THING AT THIS POINT), local public health departments are to blame,...My point is, that this is a multifaceted issue which created a perfect storm and healthcare workers are holding the short end of the stick and absolutely that makes us angry. So please, do not judge for each choosing how to navigate the situation - leave, stay, be bold, accept ones limitations (physical, mental and emotional), super-nurse, quietly disappear, quit loudly, cry and rise up again.... - we all get to choose and without shame or guilt.

I am sorry they are fighting FMLA. Have you tried to get a statement from your PCP that presenting to work places you in direct harm (legal term) and that for medical reasons, you should not have direct patient contact? Tell them you are absolutely willing to work from home or in some setting in which your safety can be maintained. Put it in writing. I think if worst comes to worse, let them fire you because I think then you can apply for unemployment. (not sure on that). I think we are going to have to make many tough decisions ahead, and for some that will include leaving the job with not much safety net. The good news is you are going to be in HUGE demand once this all blows over, and it will be - sooner or later, but hopefully sooner

Healthcare workers signed up to apply what they learned in school as well as their natural compassion, and they are doing that. IF their ability to do this is interrupted by errors others made (ie, failure to plan ahead with enough supplies/staff for a pandemic that experts have warned about for years) that is ON the others. You need to remove the guilt part because what is happening now is out of your control. You can feel sad. You can feel despair and fear, but not one single healthcare worker needs to burden themselves further with any feeling of guilt. Do not allow others to guilt or shame you.

Who is fighting you tooth and nail?

Meant to reply above. You should not feel guilty. Hospital emergency planners should feel guilty. Public health disaster planning workers should feel guilty. Some politicians should feel guilty. We are 100% willing to show up and do our jobs "we signed up for" as long as we can be reasonably safe and protected....as long as we don't have to worry about bringing this home to our families.

If you feel unsafe and unprotected, you have every right to leave or go on FMLA. You do not need to give two weeks notice either. Things are going to get much worse in the next couple of weeks. People may judge, but that's not the end of the world. Your conflicted feelings are natural but think with your head and not your heart. Everyone gets to make up their minds here without judgment. You know if you did not have this pulmonary issue that you would be right there with everyone else. Accept that this is a limitation you happen to have, and that's simply how it is. Peace and love.

Glad you are protecting yourself. How long do you plan to be on leave. You should apply for disability. Best of luck to you and keep well.

Please keep us posted. My boss said I could get a medical leave and then I apparently get 30% of my pay using PTO and continue health insurance. I was thinking of asking for an accommodation instead which would be better because this could go on for 18 months or so. Currently my hospital is not allowing PPE use on less risky floors, meanwhile outside of the hospital walls everyone is staying away from each other like maniacs.

Disagree. Nurses are not martyrs. You would not send solders to war without guns, ammo or fire-fighters without water. I have spend 40 years in nursing and helped thousands. I have been underpaid and over-worked and exploited by almost every employer. I do not need to give up my own life to save another.

First of all, deepest gratitude to all of you on the front lines dealing with CoVid or PUI. I am so so so sorry that PPE is not available to you. It's unacceptable. May I ask about nurses who are not dealing with Covid or PUI (that we know of) like me. Are you using any type of PPE? My situation is that I am a 62 yo NP working in Hospital Employee Health, so we are trying to keep everyone healthy and fit. I see nurses for injuries and so of course we need to stay open and provide hands on care. I have asked about wearing a simple loop mask and was told NOPE. I am willing to bring in my own (I can get a cloth mask or maybe find loop mask online). I know I might sound like a wimp, but unfortunately I have heart issues and actually have a prior history or viral endocarditis - fully recovered thankfully. I want to protect myself. It seems so strange to social distance like a maniac outside of work, and then provide face to face hands on care 40 hours a week in an exam room and have a boss who rolls her eyes if I ask to wear a mask. At the moment I am sorta OK with this, but when things gets worse, basically anyone could have CoVid, especially my patients (nurses who are not being protected with PPE). Once again, you all are complete and total heroes and thanks to all.