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....)
Specializes in CCU stepdown, PACU, labor and delivery.
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 zone if you have no intention on fulfilling the job requirements?
Just my two cents.
We know our hurricane policy. The point is that it is dangerous to everyone including the patients. The aftermath team will either need to be great swimmers or have personal water craft to reach our hospital. I have met my requirements in the past ( one tropical storm which at only 74 mph knocked out our generators temporarily and flooded the ER and outpatient departments on the ground floor) but no where is it written that we are required to place ourselves in that type of physical danger. I don't refuse to work. Other area hospitals transport to inland hospitals and the staff go there to help. I have no problem with that. Unless I plan to work an hour away, all 3 area hospitals are in evacuation zones for cat 4 and up. My family already has an evacuation plan ( which yes, does include me staying behind to help which I'm okay with) it just doesn't include drowning. The point is we would like a way as employees to advocate for ourselves and our patients for safer policies. The reason given to us was the expense of tranporting all these pt ahead of time and the landfall location changing last minute. Where I live developement has gotten out of hand, land has been made where it was water and wetlands have been drained to allow for building. 3/4 of my county is in a flood zone! it is not my job requirement to drown!
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.
Hospitals and places that plan to stay open have a plan. It's best to know that plan if there's a chance you can't be a part of it.
Often some of those Red Cross and other positions are volunteers from out of town. I konw during evacuations around here a call goes out to nurses to volunteer to help at "special needs shelters". A group of my coworkers have volunteered during some of the close hurricanes, especially the devasting Hurricane Andrew that hit South Florida in the 90's. During Katrina I almost went but was in a RN to BSN program then and didn't know what to do with the dogs - priorities. (Interesting enough work lets me bring them there during an evacuation.) But now I'm out of school and my sister can watch the dogs, so I might volunteer next time.....which hopefully won't be anytime soon we need a chance to recover and I don't like paying high insurance rates.
We know our hurricane policy. The point is that it is dangerous to everyone including the patients. The aftermath team will either need to be great swimmers or have personal water craft to reach our hospital. I have met my requirements in the past ( one tropical storm which at only 74 mph knocked out our generators temporarily and flooded the ER and outpatient departments on the ground floor) but no where is it written that we are required to place ourselves in that type of physical danger. I don't refuse to work. Other area hospitals transport to inland hospitals and the staff go there to help. I have no problem with that. Unless I plan to work an hour away, all 3 area hospitals are in evacuation zones for cat 4 and up. My family already has an evacuation plan ( which yes, does include me staying behind to help which I'm okay with) it just doesn't include drowning. The point is we would like a way as employees to advocate for ourselves and our patients for safer policies. The reason given to us was the expense of tranporting all these pt ahead of time and the landfall location changing last minute. Where I live developement has gotten out of hand, land has been made where it was water and wetlands have been drained to allow for building. 3/4 of my county is in a flood zone! it is not my job requirement to drown!
I know what you mean. I live in the most densely populated county in Florida. 900,000 people and most of us in an evacuation zone. Authorities have made it clear that in a Cat 5 there's probably no way for us all to get out, especially since we're a peninsula and there's only a couple of ways out and there's 2 million people in surrounding counties who also need to go somewhere. If a Cat 5 hit, I'm sure we wouldn't drown where I work because of our elevation, but more than likely there'd be floods all around and we'd be stuck there for a few days unless someone swims or comes on a boat. Guess I'll have to face that because my home would be flooded anyway and I'd have no where to go, unless I totally left town, which I know I won't do. It's understood the relief team doesn't come in at the end of the 8 hour shift but a few days later. So far in 16 years only once was a direct hit coming and it switched paths at the last minute, but I showed up for work with clothes packed and a little food. I just can't imagine how awful it would be. A friend of mine was in a direct hit in Port Charlotte about 4 years ago (Hurricane Charlie, the one that turned at the last minute) and it was a nightmare where she worked, lights out and some windows broke.
Good luck with getting them to change their policies. Are there any state authorities you can have look at it? The cost of moving patients is a lame excuse.
Specializes in CCU stepdown, PACU, labor and delivery.
It'll be a new experience that's for sure. I worked Opal and it was not pretty. We ran out of food and water. Luckily that facility provided for our families ( our current hospital does not permit them to come except in extenuating circumstances like single mom, ect. which is A-okay with me. We own a travel trailer and hubby, the kids, and dogs will evacuate the area) But they also took far more precautions that my current facility ( boarded windows, sandbagged main level entrances, enforced not having everyone in the community stay with dad, grandma, ect in the hospital. The cut it down to basic operations and kept people levels low to help avoid supply issues.) I'm not afraid of hurricanes per say, I worked during 3, one a direct hit from hurricane earl in panama city, FL. And I'd glady work a special needs sheter. I just refuse to stay in an area that every single structure around us is required to leave for safety due to storm surge. It's not the winds that are the big killer in these storms. I grew up in the Bay area and living in the panhandle opened my eyes. The Tampa area hasn't seen a direct hit from a decent strength hurricane in forever. Alot of people will be caught offguard there.
Specializes in CCU stepdown, PACU, labor and delivery.
I know what you mean. I live in the most densely populated county in Florida. 900,000 people and most of us in an evacuation zone. Authorities have made it clear that in a Cat 5 there's probably no way for us all to get out, especially since we're a peninsula and there's only a couple of ways out and there's 2 million people in surrounding counties who also need to go somewhere. If a Cat 5 hit, I'm sure we wouldn't drown where I work because of our elevation, but more than likely there'd be floods all around and we'd be stuck there for a few days unless someone swims or comes on a boat. Guess I'll have to face that because my home would be flooded anyway and I'd have no where to go, unless I totally left town, which I know I won't do. It's understood the relief team doesn't come in at the end of the 8 hour shift but a few days later. So far in 16 years only once was a direct hit coming and it switched paths at the last minute, but I showed up for work with clothes packed and a little food. I just can't imagine how awful it would be. A friend of mine was in a direct hit in Port Charlotte about 4 years ago (Hurricane Charlie, the one that turned at the last minute) and it was a nightmare where she worked, lights out and some windows broke.
Good luck with getting them to change their policies. Are there any state authorities you can have look at it? The cost of moving patients is a lame excuse.
I understand, I am a born Floridian. The idea of evacuation isn't to leave the state though. It's a matter of sometimes only moving a few miles away to be out of storm surge. Guess I am not very "devoted" since I don't fulfill my "responsibilites."
I don't mean to judge and I understand what you're saying. It's just not safe there during a hurricane. No one should be made to work in an unsafe environment, or come in when it's not safe to drive, etc.
I'm mainly talking to people who accept jobs in a facility that will remain open and decide they will work for that facility, collect a paycheck, but then say there's no way their working a disaster when it's understood that we work before, during or after a disaster. Doesn't seem right to me to take a "I'll rewrite the rules to suit myself". But there of course are always circumstances that should be considered individually.
But you're right about Tampa Bay, the "big one" when it comes, and we all talk about it, is going to devastate us and catch us unprepared for sure.
Specializes in CCU stepdown, PACU, labor and delivery.
The "but who cares?" reffers to our management. Should have been more specific. We are run but alot of transplants from up north that have no clue. Guess you didn't read my post all the way. I WILL stay for a 1-3. If "the big one" comes NOBODY ( with a big INCLUDING our patients) should be there. I'm not talking just staff, I mean NO One should be in that building. With the exception of a new additional tower the 75% of the rest of our hopital was built in 1954. I don't wish to cme accross snotty, it's just a big concern that several ( including both our clinical managers) are afraid of.
The "but who cares?" reffers to our management. Should have been more specific. We are run but alot of transplants from up north that have no clue. Guess you didn't read my post all the way. I WILL stay for a 1-3. If "the big one" comes NOBODY ( with a big INCLUDING our patients) should be there. I'm not talking just staff, I mean NO One should be in that building. With the exception of a new additional tower the 75% of the rest of our hopital was built in 1954. I don't wish to cme accross snotty, it's just a big concern that several ( including both our clinical managers) are afraid of.
I did read your post, and noted that you've been there for hurricanes before and I do understand, and I think I said several times that no one should put themselves in a dangerous situation. Most of my posting wasn't talking about your situation.
It definitely doesn't sound good. And you're right management probably is clueless. I'm kind of the opinion you are, during a Cat 5 around here, we all should get out because the computer maps show most of us flooded, not to mention what the devastation is going to be.
You know what I find interesting in this whole thing? This quote here:
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".
Out of curiosity, why is this such a secret? Our hospital's disaster code is "Operation Orange." Others use "Orange Alert," or "HICS" (for Hospital Incident Command System). The OP makes it sound like this is some sort of Black Op...
Hospital:
Hello. Is your refrigerator running?
OP:
Yes it is, but I'd rather not catch it.
Hospital:
Identity confirmed. We have a Fan Out and Go situation: a bus rollover on Route 66. I will now start the countdown. If you do not hang up before the count of One we will expect to see you in 30 minutes. 10...9...8...7...
Jeepers. I've been in several Orange Alert situations--the phone call has always been rather straight forward:
Hospital:
We're activating an Orange Alert. Can you come in to work, and if so, how soon?
Me:
Yes I can in XX minutes/ No I can't.
Hospital:
Thanks. [Click]
No chitchat, no explaination. Yes or No. You even have the right not to go in because you simply don't want to. How you deal with your conscience is your problem.
Jeepers. I've been in several Orange Alert situations--the phone call has always been rather straight forward:
Hospital:
We're activating an Orange Alert. Can you come in to work, and if so, how soon?
Me:
Yes I can in XX minutes/ No I can't.
Hospital:
Thanks. [Click]
No chitchat, no explaination. Yes or No. You even have the right not to go in because you simply don't want to. How you deal with your conscience is your problem.
Usuaully it goes more like:
No, I can't come in.
Why can't you come in we really really need you, it's imperative, it's an emergency.
None of your business.
Please, there aren't enough people and we can't handle it, we're overwhelmed.
That's not my problem. I said no.
Your job is on the line, you'd better have a good reason.
I don't have to tell you. Goodbye.
You're fired.
Good. I hated working there anyway and I find find another job in one phone call.
LandDRN
78 Posts
We know our hurricane policy. The point is that it is dangerous to everyone including the patients. The aftermath team will either need to be great swimmers or have personal water craft to reach our hospital. I have met my requirements in the past ( one tropical storm which at only 74 mph knocked out our generators temporarily and flooded the ER and outpatient departments on the ground floor) but no where is it written that we are required to place ourselves in that type of physical danger. I don't refuse to work. Other area hospitals transport to inland hospitals and the staff go there to help. I have no problem with that. Unless I plan to work an hour away, all 3 area hospitals are in evacuation zones for cat 4 and up. My family already has an evacuation plan ( which yes, does include me staying behind to help which I'm okay with) it just doesn't include drowning. The point is we would like a way as employees to advocate for ourselves and our patients for safer policies. The reason given to us was the expense of tranporting all these pt ahead of time and the landfall location changing last minute. Where I live developement has gotten out of hand, land has been made where it was water and wetlands have been drained to allow for building. 3/4 of my county is in a flood zone! it is not my job requirement to drown!