Questions from a student about hospital emergency shifts

[Pavlov's Dog]

Hi, I've been a long time reader, now a first time poster.. Am a first year Canadian Practical Nursing student (if you are American, your input would be just as useful).

I've recently been directed to an older thread regarding nurses caring for clients for extended periods during unforeseen circumstances (weather, lack of staffing, too many clients).

Now this is has led to me questioning some certain aspects of this requirement..

1. I don't have kids technically.. I have two dogs, a elderly father, a reef, 2 FOWLR.. but say 2-week hurricane (I've never been in a hurricane lol), would I be expected to stay or would I be able to take care of my Dad and rest of the family too?

2. Could the hospital force you into work without having any premeditated shift or w.e.? Like you get a call, if you answer, you are instantly legally pulled into work? I really wouldn't want to be called in when I am sick (when I am sick, it just ain't good for nobody (I.E. Sheldon from Big-Bang)).

3. I want to be a psychiatric nurse, would any of this even apply to me?

4. If you were able to go home, would the hospital still force you to sleep in co-dorm during the emergency? I've read that one too and I could do it, but I'm curious.

But one thing I do not want to see is: "Don't be a nurse"

I see it everywhere, and it is just wrong to say to anyone because, usually, there isn't enough information to actually justify saying it.

^Sorry, really long time reader. :P

[Morainey, BSN, RN]

I'm American, FWIW.

This winter I was scheduled to work during a huge blizzard. It was made very clear to me that I was expected to be at work and that "the roads are bad" would not be accepted as an excuse. It was declared a state of emergency at one point and the roads were closed. People who were not allowed to leave (you really couldn't, so much snow) got a bed to sleep in for the night and for the most part left in the AM w/o any issues.

I don't believe they can call you into work if you're not already on-call. They can always call you and ask you to work, or ask you to stay over after your shift ends (or make you, that's called mandated and it happened a lot where I did my psych rotations). I always let phone calls from work go to voicemail so I can figure out if I want to do what they're asking, without being put on the spot.

And, as far as "don't be a nurse"... I won't lie, I don't think it's for everybody and some are better suited to it than others. I personally love my job, and I work with people who hate their job, hate the patients, hate dealing with families, etc. There's a lot of different opportunities in nursing, so keep in mind that not everyone is cut out to work med-surg for X amount of years years after they graduate until they get their dream position in the hospital.

[Rose_Queen, BSN, MSN, RN]

If this is something that concerns you, ask about the policy at any interviews. That way, you know what to expect. I've never dealt with a hurricane, but have dealt with snowstorms. We are also told bad roads are not an excuse. I remember quite a few nights spent sleeping on litters in the preop area and waking up early enough to get them wiped down and remade. No matter the weather, the patients always made it in for their surgery! I've never been mandated to stay, but on nights where third shift absolutely could not get in, we've generally had enough volunteers from second shift to stay- usually those who would have been trying to drive to the places third shift couldn't come in from.

[wooh, BSN, RN]

If you were in the hospital, would you want someone there to take care of you? Even if you timed that illness badly and made the mistake of getting sick during a snowstorm or hurricane?

How many nurses do you think don't have kids/parents/dogs/spouses? If it's more than half, then some of us with dependants are going to need to go to work to help those without dependants.

Are you under the impression that people don't have psychological issues during snowstorms or hurricanes?

Rather than "don't be a nurse," I'll just tell you, "Don't say you weren't warned."

[Glycerine82, LPN]

1. I don't have kids technically.. I have two dogs, a elderly father, a reef, 2 FOWLR.. but say 2-week hurricane (I've never been in a hurricane lol), would I be expected to stay or would I be able to take care of my Dad and rest of the family too?

If you are scheduled or if relief doesn't show up, yes.

2. Could the hospital force you into work without having any premeditated shift or w.e.? Like you get a call, if you answer, you are instantly legally pulled into work? I really wouldn't want to be called in when I am sick (when I am sick, it just ain't good for nobody (I.E. Sheldon from Big-Bang)).

Generally, No. This doesn't mean that you shouldn't go help out your co-workers and patients if you are able, though. If you called out sick for that shift--yes they can make you come in during a natural disaster. A sick nurse is better than no nurse.

3. I want to be a psychiatric nurse, would any of this even apply to me?

How would it not apply to you?

4. If you were able to go home, would the hospital still force you to sleep in co-dorm during the emergency? I've read that one too and I could do it, but I'm curious.

They aren't forcing you to sleep anywhere. They are providing you with a place to sleep, and it may be co-ed. If they are having an emergency and staff can't leave for days on end you aren't going to care where you sleep.

Where ever you get hired will have it's own policies but in my experience the above is generally how it goes. If you choose nursing you need to be prepared to go to work no matter what. If a natural disaster like a hurricane or snow storm is expected to arrive and you are scheduled to work during it, you are expected to do whatever necessary to make it to work. Sometimes this means coming to work a day early.

You should make arrangements for your loved ones and pets for if/when this kind of thing happens.

[KelRN215, BSN, RN]

Hi, I've been a long time reader, now a first time poster.. Am a first year Canadian Practical Nursing student (if you are American, your input would be just as useful).

I've recently been directed to an older thread regarding nurses caring for clients for extended periods during unforeseen circumstances (weather, lack of staffing, too many clients).

Now this is has led to me questioning some certain aspects of this requirement..

1. I don't have kids technically.. I have two dogs, a elderly father, a reef, 2 FOWLR.. but say 2-week hurricane (I've never been in a hurricane lol), would I be expected to stay or would I be able to take care of my Dad and rest of the family too?

2. Could the hospital force you into work without having any premeditated shift or w.e.? Like you get a call, if you answer, you are instantly legally pulled into work? I really wouldn't want to be called in when I am sick (when I am sick, it just ain't good for nobody (I.E. Sheldon from Big-Bang)).

3. I want to be a psychiatric nurse, would any of this even apply to me?

4. If you were able to go home, would the hospital still force you to sleep in co-dorm during the emergency? I've read that one too and I could do it, but I'm curious.

But one thing I do not want to see is: "Don't be a nurse"

I see it everywhere, and it is just wrong to say to anyone because, usually, there isn't enough information to actually justify saying it.

^Sorry, really long time reader. :P

I am American and no longer work in the hospital but can answer some of these based on when I did.

1. They can pretty much always force you to stay in an emergency. My state recently passed a law outlawing mandatory overtime but in includes an exception which reads: "An exception is provided for "emergency situations" where "the safety of a patient requires its use and when there is no reasonable alternative." Even in the event of an emergency, however, before mandating overtime, hospitals must make a good faith effort to cover the overtime on a voluntary basis. Additionally, the law creates a Health Policy Commission that, among other things, will develop guidelines to define an "emergency situation.""

2. Generally no unless you are "on-call". Don't answer your phone if you don't want to be talked into working.

3. Psych patients still need nurses in the event of a natural disaster or other unforeseen emergency.

4. I guess it would depend. Earlier this year in Boston, we had a total city lockdown while a manhunt was in place for the Boston Marathon Bomber. ALL the hospitals in the area were on lockdown and not allowing anyone to leave. The night shift got stuck there all day and patients couldn't be discharged. It didn't matter that a majority of these nurses lived in communities that were not locked down and probably could have made it home ok... the city and the hospitals were on lockdown so everyone stayed put. That's a unique situation, obviously, and one we hope to never encounter again but that's how it happened.

[Kay28]

I'm an RN in southern mass. We got stuck at work for three days because of some bad snow storm. Everyone there really pitched in and we all worked double shifts together. One night we all slept on stretchers in the ECT treatment room and the other they squeezed several of us into an empty patient room. Food and drinks were provided for us and we washed our scrubs in the units washers. Only thing was that we were mandated not to leave the grounds. It actually could have been a lot worse.