NunNurseCat

Well, I understand what you're saying like "we" as southerners, and this idea of doing things in an independent way, and...just I get it. ..but (of course a but) that goes out the window when it comes to us as healthcare workers and using precautions, planning, those kinds of things. We are always careful about infection control, and the economy does not really play into what we do at work. Instead we focus on what we can do to help our populations get healthy or not get sick at all. This epidemic poses unique challenges due to it being 1)droplet spread and 2)novel 3)virulent. The American culture also poses unique challenges because of independent thought and ways of doing things, people want to do what they want to do. However, when an illness begins to run through a shelter (a local outbreak of whatever) it must be reported to certain officials (required) and, historically we segregate the sick populations and make sick areas. But now with COVID-19 you might be required to wear a mask in parts of the shelter or, say, be required go to stay an area of the shelter with all of the people choose to not wear masks. Just as in a hospital some areas can require masks. So yes, I believe if a hurricane hit Texas, many people would care that SARS-Cov-2 is out there versus during Harvey when it wasnt. When we had like 10,000 people in the convention center it was hard enough. Now imagine 10,000+ people and some of them have COVID-19 and don' know it... Thanks for your reply, I appreciate your take.

Thanks herring I can always count on you! Stay safe everyone, and do your hurricane season preparation checklists that I know you all have and likely review daily. ?

I followed up my comment with another for the OP to consider that I live in Florida. That is how things are here. I'm glad those Canadian workers with protections can do what is right. I do wish [lifelearning] that you read my follow up post rather than conveniently filtering it out. In the past I endured serious financial hardship and stress when I took a stand, didn't go in sick a second day in a row, and was terminated. Furthermore I did not qualify for unemployment because the employer countered that I was warned that I may be terminated if I did not come in. While enduring said hardship I thought to myself, "Gee, wasn't that nice to make a stand?" Furthermore I had to explain why I lost that job to potential employers in interviews , it did't help sell me. Nurse managers don't want a revolutionary and a friend of mine who was a manager back then said it's a red flag to them because the interviewing managers don't know, truly, what happened... only what I say happened. Are you getting the picture yet guys? A bit clearer I hope because I lived it and, really, it was terrible! We live in some strange times, I know, but it's been this way for a while as far as this topic goes (here, in my state of Florida). So, Canadians and those living in lands that make sense: don't go to work sick. For those of us living in places where we can actually lose our jobs (yes despite corporate policies saying don't come in sick!): you'd better go over your bills and obligations first, and make dang good and sure you can afford to be out of work because you may pay a serious price for taking a stand.

Anyone who's ever had to deal with one is likely aware hurricane season is just a few weeks away. Here in Florida I do disaster health nursing with Red Cross (I'm sure there has to be another ARC nurse or few around here too, anyone?). I've travelled in the past, and have seen a thing or two...but the most insane times I've experienced have been while working evacuation shelters during and after a hurricane. When a big storm is hitting we might easily have 500+ people riding out the weather in extremely close proximity. Sometimes many MANY more. I believe our official guidance is we can get down to 10 sqft/person, but the reality is when the worst is hitting it can be even less. Practically shoulder to shoulder. Most times I've worked an evac shelter l've eventually gotten sick. It's a given. We take measures to prevent infection, but at some point it's about just making it through the moment, and getting sick next week can seem laughably far away and unimportant. But now we have COVID-19, an illlness that really could begin killing clients the next week, too. People are going to be hesitant to come in. Some folks won't have a choice and will be forced to evacuate to the usually steel-structured shelters (migrant workers, or the homeless for instance). Others will suddenly face a dilemma: "Do I go to the shelter and take my chances with COVID-19, or do I stay in my unrated residence and take my chances with "Hurricane ----?" This is a choice people are going to have to make, and not just in North America, but any place faced with natural disasters during an epidemic. My sincere hope is we don't get any big storms this year, but as the COVID-19 pandemic has played out, new preparations are becoming the name of the game. Disasters during disasters. What do some of you think about that? Do any of you work in disaster-related fields like your local EOCs, or on disaster planning teams in some capacity? Anyone in disaster-prone areas please feel free to opine. (Please note anything I say here is just my opinion and is not official word of the Red Cross).

By definition we don't 'socially distance' while we practice face-to-face. We use infection prevention and control, aseptic techniques, etc. Everyone else calls it social distancing...

Edit: You know what, I'm in Florida so consider that in my words. Workers' rights here are if you don't like it, well then have the right to work someplace else.

When looking for a mask one of the most important things to consider is fitment. If the mask doesn't seal well it's arguably worse than nothing. Check for gaps by blowing air up, do you feel it on your eyebrows or eyelashes? How about to the side do you feel air on your cheeks? Those would be unacceptable. The next thing I consider is the mask build. How many layers/ply are involved? What are these layers made of? More layers offer a higher probability of catching droplets and particulates in the air. The 'cloth' itself is important also. A woven item like cotton, on microscopic examination, offers patterns that line-up, (think.... like a chain link fence lets things through). You want materials that are NON WOVEN someplace in there, at least in one layer. These layers are produced in ways that microscopically they do not follow a pattern at all, every thread is different, there is no orientation at all, and your aerosolized particles are unlikely to find a straight-on path of least resistance into your airway. Finally no use wearing a mask if we don't use our common sense and practice proper hygiene. If we wear a mask and then touch things in an at-risk environment, and then we bring those same things into the environment where we don't wear a mask and proceed to touch on them...well we've just contaminated ourselves and our environ AND have let down our guard, increasing the chance of a significant inoculation. THAT is why some who have stayed at home except for their essentials will still get sick because they don't decontaminate (properly hand wash, clean fomites etc) once they're home. Over time its a losing battle; it's practically impossible to go out and about AND not contaminate eventually. The whole point is not for all of us to never get sick, but rather to avoid getting sick for as long as possible.

Okay, welcome to nursing and one of many Catch-22's of the job. So you haven't been at that workplace for long huh? Your words seem idealistic and innocent. We've all been there. If you are sick and don't have sick-time, or if your organization explicitly says you must come in and then you don't anyway, expect to lose your job ( yeah, be fired). Once you've been working someplace for a while you might get a little more leeway. My advice? Go to work if you need the job.

Spotting nurses at the mandatory meeting on their day off.

I can agree with that. What you said is kinda broad, but I know what you meant from your past posts. Some folks would say if we harden schools, then shooters will move to softer targets (ex. a school bus). Yet others would say if we restrict access to certain firearms, then criminals will just obtain them illegally. Though both arguments use the exact same logic, many people would not agree with both. People pick and choose when to follow logic depending on their perspective or motivations. I'd like to see a serious federal investment and push for objective private research into the issue (CDC, NIH grants). However a problem we face is the conflicts of interest occuring at the federal level wind up politicizing an issue and we get nowhere. Regular Americans pay the price. Imagine if objective research were absent from nursing practice. We'd be going around spouting what we think is best, acting on opinion, and patients would pay the price as the profession failed to advance. So again, I sure wish we'd collectively apply that same logic to solve other real problems. And olddude: please don't completely stop posting in the thread, as you convey an important perspective that makes us think.

Should any of us live our lives to please others? Should others live to please the OP? Heck no. Let the OP be uptight and miserable; perhaps one day they will get tired of it and find another way. BTW one film I loved was GI Jane, when the CMDCM says "She's not the problem. We are."

So assuming what you say is true, then one professor said something stupid. Who cares?!

You made a med error, not a chart falsification. Your intent is important. You did this by mistake, so it's an error. If you had gone back and altered the chart to cover up your mistake THAT would be falsification.

Just...*HUG*

I suggest you skip the ADN program all together and go the Accelerated BSN route. It will save you time and money in the long run. Although if you're already in an ADN program that might be a hassle. Have you looked into CareerSource? Not too long ago I heard someone talking about how they will PAY for nursing school. I just looked it up and it's the Workforce Investment Act (WIA), a federal program. You'll have to look it up on your own to confirm whatever it's called in your state, but from what I just read all you have to do is be 18 and eligible to work in the US.