OK - Here's a question I've been wondering about for a while, but don't want to ask for obvious reasons.
OK - I'm sure that all hospitals have this process - if there is an external disastor, our hospital has a process where all staff is called in - it has a code name, that I am reluctant to use it - lets just call it "fan out and go". Basically, its a process where all staff is called and expected to come in and help out because of some external disastor. Fine and dandy - I can come in if needed. But... (here's my question) what should one do if they have been drinking? Now, I would NEVER drink before going on duty, but we are talking about something happening on my day off.
do you
a) Say sorry I'm tanked, I can't come in = thereby giving you the reputation as the boozer nurse and basically destroying any chance of promotion.
b) Go in, but say "I've been drinking, I can't safely give meds, start IVs, etc, :saint:but can probably do basic nsg care, freeing up someone else to do what I am too tanked to do.
c) Go in, drink lots of caffeine and water in route, hoping that that plus the adrenaline rush of a true emerency will sober you up
or d) Just say, I've been drinking, I can 't come in, thereby basically destroying your chances for promotion as in # 1.
Don't say just don't answer your phone, lets assume your have answered and are now in this predicament.
Not that its ever happened to me! I'm just curious -(as I pour myself another rum and coke....)
I think it's important to have a clear understanding of one's priorities. There are a lot of things in my life that come before work.
This isn't to say that just because one comes before the other, allowances can't be made for 'lower' priorities.
Caring for my wife and our home means that I have to work. I have to pay for school.
It's also true that living in an area prone to hurricanes you have to be prepared. My wife has boxes of emergency supplies, and I've printed up maps for her to drive to my uncle's house Memphis.
My point is that I don't owe my place of work an explaination of my priorities that may have to come before work. "I can't come in" should be a sufficient answer. I don't owe whoever is calling me a reason why I can't come it.
My point is that I don't owe my place of work an explaination of my priorities that may have to come before work. "I can't come in" should be a sufficient answer. I don't owe whoever is calling me a reason why I can't come it.
No you don't. But I would hope that you find a job in line with your priorities, such as one where you don't have to work Sundays, or even one where you don't have to come in for disasters. (I've seen a lot of people take a job and then turn around and say "Oh I can't work weekends because of my kids and they are a priority...umm....why then did you take a job where you're required to work weekends? Duh.)
Offering an explanation during a disaster might be appropriate because they are going to be desparate for help and might fire you if you don't have a good reason. But again, finding a job that isn't going to conflict with your priorities is important.
I think it's important to have a clear understanding of one's priorities. There are a lot of things in my life that come before work.
This isn't to say that just because one comes before the other, allowances can't be made for 'lower' priorities.
Caring for my wife and our home means that I have to work. I have to pay for school.
It's also true that living in an area prone to hurricanes you have to be prepared. My wife has boxes of emergency supplies, and I've printed up maps for her to drive to my uncle's house Memphis.
My point is that I don't owe my place of work an explaination of my priorities that may have to come before work. "I can't come in" should be a sufficient answer. I don't owe whoever is calling me a reason why I can't come it.
This is similar to how I view the situation. A day off is just that, a day off. Disaster or not, why should anybody be forced to come to work on their day off? Sure, you can say it's uncaring and uncouth. You can even argue the humanity aspect of turning your back on fellow humans in need; however, where do priorities come in to play regarding work and a day off?
no you don't. but i would hope that you find a job in line with your priorities, such as one where you don't have to work sundays, or even one where you don't have to come in for disasters.
give me a little credit - i am a responsible adult.
the agreement i made with my manager when she hired me was that i'd work every saturday so i didn't have to work every other sunday. none of my (former) coworkers seemed to mind that arrangement at all.
"if any of you has a sheep and it falls into a pit on the sabbath, will you not take hold of it and lift it out? how much more valuable is a man than a sheep! therefore it is lawful to do good on the sabbath." matthew 12:11-12
as i said, i moved to new orleans to work on my mph&tm. i took a job that wouldn't interfere with my priorities outside of work. i left that job when it did interfere with my educational priorities.
This is similar to how I view the situation. A day off is just that, a day off. Disaster or not, why should anybody be forced to come to work on their day off? Sure, you can say it's uncaring and uncouth. You can even argue the humanity aspect of turning your back on fellow humans in need; however, where do priorities come in to play regarding work and a day off?
you're right, gila.
it is about priorities.
and human disaster trumps a scheduled day off, don't you think?
I have read the post and all of the responses....and I must say I am appalled. I thought this web site was AllNurses.com.not SomeTimeNurses.com..or...NurseWhenIFeelLikeit.com...Don't cha know nursing is a 24/7/365 day gig...you must bend over and say "Yes Please, May I have another...
You should hang around the nursing office on your days off...and on your off-shifts and ask is there anything I can do for you?
Be like me, the only time I have ever asked for time off is to have surgery so I could get a port-a-cath for TPN feedings an Ostomy and supra-pubic catheter so I can work with as minimal breaks as possible.
When I die I gonna have 'em mount me with arms out stretched in the classic 'Jesus Christ' pose so I can at least be an IV pole.:)
Well, I guess it depends. Taking care of my family and myself and making sure they are safe and in a stable environment are my priorities in a disaster.
I have read the post and all of the responses....and I must say I am appalled. I thought this web site was AllNurses.com.not SomeTimeNurses.com..or...NurseWhenIFeelLikeit.com...Don't cha know nursing is a 24/7/365 day gig...you must bend over and say "Yes Please, May I have another...
You should hang around the nursing office on your days off...and on your off-shifts and ask is there anything I can do for you?
Be like me, the only time I have ever asked for time off is to have surgery so I could get a port-a-cath for TPN feedings an Ostomy and supra-pubic catheter so I can work with as minimal breaks as possible.
When I die I gonna have 'em mount me with arms out stretched in the classic 'Jesus Christ' pose so I can at least be an IV pole.:)
Very good points. I see many nurses like this. They give everything to nursing. They compromise their families, wellness, and health so that they can be good nurses. I know some nurses who really think the world will stop turning and the speed of light will change if they do not come to work and save humanity. IMHO, this is dangerous. It leads to burnout and compromises your personal relationships and your helath. And yes, eventually patient care will suffer.
Nursing is a job. I owe my employer a set number of hours a week. When I am at work, I will provide the best nursing care possible. Because it is my job to do so and like any professional at work, I strive to provide high quality service. This is what I do to pay my bills and ensure I have three hots and a cot. However, nursing is not who I am. I am a husband, son, brother, etc. This is how I want to be remembered, not as a good nurse.
I was once like this. I would rush to work every time the ER would become overfilled and the supervisors would call wanting help. I would show up at the steps of the ER everytime a dust storm would sweep through town and a 20 car pile up would happen on the I. However, I burned out and could have lost everything that I really found near and dear to me. (My family)
So, yes. Provided my family and myself were safe and secure, sure I would come in and help in a disaster. However, I do not look down on people who say, "you know, I really want this day off."
I know, the off topic ninjas are on the way to slice me up.
I think people are talking from 2 different levels here - a disaster is not "3 people called off for ER on a Saturday night" - a situation where I can see saying no - I'm off duty tonight. A disaster is a plane crashed into the river and they are fishing out survivors or the fog rolled in and there is a 40 car pileup on the interstate near our small hospital (both real examples). In those kind of cases I think that only the immediate protection of your own family should be a reason for not coming in if you are physically fit to do so. For anticipateable disasters such as hurricaines you should already have made plans for your family's safety. For the last one I was in - Wilma - we knew it was coming a week ahead of time!
To answer the OP's question - if I had been drinking, or had taken a med which made me unsafe to work, I would tell the caller so and offer that in "X" number of hours (8, 12 or whatever) I would be glad to come in to relieve those who had worked through the crisis and needed to go home to sleep. Then I'd set my alarm and go sleep it off.
give me a little credit - i am a responsible adult.
the agreement i made with my manager when she hired me was that i'd work every saturday so i didn't have to work every other sunday. none of my (former) coworkers seemed to mind that arrangement at all.
"if any of you has a sheep and it falls into a pit on the sabbath, will you not take hold of it and lift it out? how much more valuable is a man than a sheep! therefore it is lawful to do good on the sabbath." matthew 12:11-12
as i said, i moved to new orleans to work on my mph&tm. i took a job that wouldn't interfere with my priorities outside of work. i left that job when it did interfere with my educational priorities.
i apologize. i didn't mean to be insulting and i wasn't necessarily saying you had your priorities messed up personally.
Well, I guess it depends. Taking care of my family and myself and making sure they are safe and in a stable environment are my priorities in a disaster.
I would hope that no employer anywhere is going to ask you not to take care of those priorities, because most of them have kids and families too. Some employers, such as my employer which is in a no-flood zone and hurricane resistant construction will remain open during a hurricane.
So I have to prioritize, which are the same priorities as you, in the same order, with with one additional.
1) family and self safe
2) home safe
3) go to work
That's just the way it is. So I'd best have a plan now on how to carry that out. I might not like it, but it's the agreement I have with my employer and the community I choose to serve during times of disaster.
Again, if I'm having a day off and enjoying the day off and I'm tanked, naturally I won't go to work. But if I'm having a day off and an unexpected diaster strikes, it's not in my moral fiber whatsoever to not come in, as long as family and home are safe. I'll try not to judge those coworkers who don't want to be bothered on their day off, but it would be hard.
aeauooo
482 Posts
I think it's important to have a clear understanding of one's priorities. There are a lot of things in my life that come before work.
This isn't to say that just because one comes before the other, allowances can't be made for 'lower' priorities.
Caring for my wife and our home means that I have to work. I have to pay for school.
It's also true that living in an area prone to hurricanes you have to be prepared. My wife has boxes of emergency supplies, and I've printed up maps for her to drive to my uncle's house Memphis.
My point is that I don't owe my place of work an explaination of my priorities that may have to come before work. "I can't come in" should be a sufficient answer. I don't owe whoever is calling me a reason why I can't come it.