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....)
Yeah, if you know about a storm days ahead of time you should be prepared to go into work if needed when it hits. Meaning, not getting hammered. I, however, live in earthquake country and we do not have the benefit of knowing when one will hit... I guess, I would base my decision to go in on the criteria previously mentioned, but if I'm off and have been drinking, NO WAY am I going in.
If I knew about a storm days in advance I'd be in another state when it hits, if you're talking about a Cat 4 or 5 hurricane.
If something happened and I was in the area, like a tornado, plane crash, earthquake (although really not any big ones where I live), or something like that, sure I'd go in. But if I knew the big one was coming I'd be long gone.
If for some reason I couldn't get out and I made it through the storm, I'd go to work after I made sure it was over and my loved ones were safe. But there's no way I'd leave my mother, girlfriend, or close friends in a Katrina type situation with looters, flooding, and God knows what else while I was at work. We'd all be finding a way out if for some reason we didn't leave ahead of time.
A job is just a job. It's what I do to earn a living and pay my bills. I give 100% to my patients when I'm there and I always strive to learn more, but no way I'm putting it ahead of my own self-preservation.
Specializes in CCU stepdown, PACU, labor and delivery.
I agree and disagree with this statement.
I live in Florida and we have to be prepared to come into work during a hurricaine. We have to plan for the safety our homes and our families ahead of time and it's just part of the job description that we also care for the community of patients. Some people, especially single mom's without families nearby will not leave their kids, and so they are put on the relief team, to come in after the hurricaine to relieve those who were there.
It's terribly selfish and unnecessary to committ to a nursing job in a hurricaine zone only to drop out when the do do hits the fan. There are plenty of other nursing jobs such as clinics, same-day surgery etc. that close down during hurricaines where these people can work.
It's not just a job, there are human beings that need us and that upon hire, we've committed to disaster preparedness.
Unexpected, no notice disasters are a different thing. One could be at a party "tanked" when there's an earthquake, fire or other disaster, but a hurricaine we see coming for days, but our plan of action for our property and loved ones should be already established.
I agree in responsibility and providing care but I am no use to anyone if I am dead! We were just informed our hospital does not evacuate for hurricanes, regardless of catagory. We were told our new building can withstand category 5 winds ( nothing was replied to when we mentioned storm surge. Our facility sits on reclaimed land on the mouth of a river ON the gulf!!! We are in a class A evacuation zone meaning it should be evacuated in all categories. A cat 3 storm surge in our location would put water into our second story!!) I feel for my patients but I have a greater responsibility to my family. Call me selfish....sounds terrible but I'd rather be selfish and alive to take care of my kids the selfless and dead to grow up without a mom. Sorry, I'm not the nurse marytr type.
Another thing to consider is that large-scale disasters are on-going events. If someone can't come in for 8, 12, 24, or 48 hours, there's still going to be work that needs to be done and a lot of tired people who can't work any longer.
Sober up, take care of your family, get some sleep, do whatever it is that needs to be done, then come in.
I'm sure everyone will be happy to see you when you arrive to take over.
i used to work for a defense contractor, and " i can't come in for the _________________(fill in disaster of choice) because i've been drinking. you would be in much more deep poo if you came in drunk.
I agree in responsibility and providing care but I am no use to anyone if I am dead! We were just informed our hospital does not evacuate for hurricanes, regardless of catagory. We were told our new building can withstand category 5 winds ( nothing was replied to when we mentioned storm surge. Our facility sits on reclaimed land on the mouth of a river ON the gulf!!! We are in a class A evacuation zone meaning it should be evacuated in all categories. A cat 3 storm surge in our location would put water into our second story!!) I feel for my patients but I have a greater responsibility to my family. Call me selfish....sounds terrible but I'd rather be selfish and alive to take care of my kids the selfless and dead to grow up without a mom. Sorry, I'm not the nurse marytr type.
One word. NO.
So they build the place in a location that makes no sense, seem to be in denial about the potential for serious injury or death, and then try to muscle you into staying? Buh-bye.
Specializes in CCU stepdown, PACU, labor and delivery.
One word. NO.
So they build the place in a location that makes no sense, seem to be in denial about the potential for serious injury or death, and then try to muscle you into staying? Buh-bye.
Made a great marketing strategy for those that aren't responders. " Private and semi-private rooms with a water front view!" is advertised in our hospital pamphlets!!! And if you stay for a storm you will literally be "on the water" should be included.:chuckle
i'd just tell them that i've had a few drinks. Like was earlier said, if it's that big of an incident they're going to need people to come in in the next 8-16 hours to relieve people. Let them know you will be for a relief shift fit to work.
Made a great marketing strategy for those that aren't responders. " Private and semi-private rooms with a water front view!" is advertised in our hospital pamphlets!!! And if you stay for a storm you will literally be "on the water" should be included.:chuckle
Our new location will BLOW YOU AWAY!!!!!! :yelclap: :roll :monkeydance:
I agree in responsibility and providing care but I am no use to anyone if I am dead! We were just informed our hospital does not evacuate for hurricanes, regardless of catagory. We were told our new building can withstand category 5 winds ( nothing was replied to when we mentioned storm surge. Our facility sits on reclaimed land on the mouth of a river ON the gulf!!! We are in a class A evacuation zone meaning it should be evacuated in all categories. A cat 3 storm surge in our location would put water into our second story!!) I feel for my patients but I have a greater responsibility to my family. Call me selfish....sounds terrible but I'd rather be selfish and alive to take care of my kids the selfless and dead to grow up without a mom. Sorry, I'm not the nurse marytr type.
It's my opinion that you probably should be on the team that comes in after the hurricane, if you have such a thing.
Or go to HR and your manager now and inform them that you will refuse to work a Cat. 5 hurricane.
People need to know their hurricane policies prior to a strike and if you refuse to work perhaps that's not the place to work. There are other jobs to take that close during a hurricane. It's not selfish because you need to do what you need to do, but why work in a place that is an evacuation center if you have no intention on fulfilling the job requirements?
Just my two cents.
Of course it's a no brainer if family and life are in danger you take care of family and self. But with planning............
Another thing to consider is that large-scale disasters are on-going events. If someone can't come in for 8, 12, 24, or 48 hours, there's still going to be work that needs to be done and a lot of tired people who can't work any longer.
Sober up, take care of your family, get some sleep, do whatever it is that needs to be done, then come in.
I'm sure everyone will be happy to see you when you arrive to take over.
Gee, I finally agree with you. :)
This is why many places have teams. Such as where I work: Team A works the hurricane and Team B comes in afterwards. We know ahead of time which team we are assigned, and we can work with administration if the team assignment doesn't work out. But to not be on a team and refuse to cooperate when the do do hits the fan should be grounds for termination in my opinion. Better yet, don't take such a job.
But there are many scenerios of sudden disaster where a person can't come in and they could then volunteer to come in to relieve people.
Such as where I work: Team A works the hurricane and Team B comes in afterwards. We know ahead of time which team we are assigned, and we can work.
I think the place I just quit has something like that. I wasn't obliged to be part of either. (If you can't tell, I wasn't very invested in that job - it paid the rent. I've had worse jobs, but I wasn't sorry to leave this place!)
I lived in New Orleans several years before the storm and volunteered with the Red Cross. It was my understanding that as a nurse I might be asked to work in a shelter during a hurricane, but I left before that ever happened. I would have done it in a heartbeat.
bigjim
137 Posts
If I knew about a storm days in advance I'd be in another state when it hits, if you're talking about a Cat 4 or 5 hurricane.
If something happened and I was in the area, like a tornado, plane crash, earthquake (although really not any big ones where I live), or something like that, sure I'd go in. But if I knew the big one was coming I'd be long gone.
If for some reason I couldn't get out and I made it through the storm, I'd go to work after I made sure it was over and my loved ones were safe. But there's no way I'd leave my mother, girlfriend, or close friends in a Katrina type situation with looters, flooding, and God knows what else while I was at work. We'd all be finding a way out if for some reason we didn't leave ahead of time.
A job is just a job. It's what I do to earn a living and pay my bills. I give 100% to my patients when I'm there and I always strive to learn more, but no way I'm putting it ahead of my own self-preservation.