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 knew there was a reason I don't live in Florida!
LOL.
It was that way in North Carolina too. Kind of scarey that someone can walk up and say "you're fired" and not tell you why. Happened to a good friend of mine back home who lost a job as a secretary and her boss said "I am not going to tell you why" and there was nothing she could do about it. Turns out he wanted to hire a friend of a friend and pay her a lot less.
Yep. Forgot about that one. Of course in Florida you can be fired for no reason.
yeah, i too live in an at-will state.
but what i did find out, is depending on your length of employment (usually 1+ yrs), if you are terminated "just because", good chance you can sue for wrongful termination.
i learned from an employment atty, that there is an 'implied' contract w/employees of 1+ yrs service.
obviously, the longer the better, or, more in the employee's favor.
to be fired in the absence of blatant wrongdoing, after yrs of employment, an employee actually does have a leg to stand on, if they're willing to go that route.
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."
Been there and done that (x3) but who cares.
Don't count on going "a few miles away" inland to help much, as my friends at the little hospital in Arcadia (about as far as you can get from both coasts) found out when Charlie headed inland. Storm surge didn't get them, but all the other effects of the hurricaine hit them hard. When I spoke to a friend shortly after the eye passed they and all the patients were still all huddled in an interior hallway. I lucked out that year and left for an AZ contract a couple of weeks before the first one hit.
As a traveler I see all kinds of situations that require staff to stay for the duration (hurricaines, blizzards, wildfires, etc.) so I just keep a bag packed with a spare set of scrubs and a few necessities that I can just grab and go. (Though I've got to say this earthquake stuff out here in NV has me a bit spooked - I want the earth itself to behave!)
It's not dedication to my employer (I'm a traveler) but who I am on a personal level that makes me go in when these things occur, just as others decide the opposite.
Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
can you say "caller id"? i don't answer the phone; i let the machine take it. then if i want to, i can call them back and say i'm coming in. if i don't want to, whether i've been drinking, just took my ambien or took flexaril for my sciatica symptoms, i just don't call back. if anyone asks, i say i didn't get the message. i know my manager thinks i should check my messages more often, but i have the phone for my convenience, not for the convenience of my employer!
However, it's probably a bad idea to say, "I have to wait until the joint I'm smoking wears off, but shouldn't be long, you're totally killing my buzz."
This is hilarious. The look on the managers face would be priceless. Of course, you would have a lot of urine cups in your future.
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 Indyskies post was tongue in cheek humor and I don't think she meant it seriously. I just hope no hospital managers sees it, or they might get "ideas".
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............
Five words: Hurricanes Charley, Frances, Ivan, Jeanne
been there, done that
and many lost their job for refusing to come in
"Team A works the hurricane and Team B comes in afterwards."
I didn't really like the Team A/Team B plan, as our Team A got screwed because the majority of Team B had evacuated and never came in.
Five words: Hurricanes Charley, Frances, Ivan, Jeanne
been there, done that
and many lost their job for refusing to come in
"Team A works the hurricane and Team B comes in afterwards."
I didn't really like the Team A/Team B plan, as our Team A got screwed because the majority of Team B had evacuated and never came in.
That indeed was a very bad year and put many to the test around these parts. This is why people need to think ahead of time "what is it I'm willing to do" and perhaps think about leaving a position they can't do disaster in. To wait until the event to refuse it lame, but that's the problem with nursing is many take the attitude "I can always find another job" regarding not just issues with disasters but with anything they don't want to cooperate with and they don't get their way about.
aeauooo
482 Posts
Oh, and by the way, I'm going to sue you for firing me without just cause.