Rita's coming-my hospital won't close!!

HONEYBEAR · Sep 23, 2005

I'm sorry....no job is worth your safety.....I would have been gone the day after all the pt's had been sent else where.

Need all of your input before possibly my last shift here today:
My hospital is about 4-5 blocks from the gulf and right in the path of Rita which is currently 170-175 mph winds.
They keep reporting on TV how the hospitals here are evacuating which they are, our last patient was air lifted out last night.
But...they are making us stay here and ride it out for the stragglers who didn't follow the mandatory evacuation.
We have absolutely no patients in this hospital but they refuse to close it and are keeping our ER open which consequently means that we need OR, ICU, etc. beds open as well.
The storm surge is expected to be quite high.
I'm thinking of leaving here today after my shift is over and evacuating and will probably get fired.
Am I crazy?
What would you all do if you were me?

oldnurse newnurse · Sep 23, 2005

GET OUT NOW!!!!! :specs:

imenid37 · Sep 23, 2005

I hope you're outa there. I am quite sure you can get another job somewhere else. Come to PA. We really need nurses. Please stay safe. Your employer isn't looking out for you and your family, so please step up and do it. I hope you're on the road or in a shelter right now. God bless!

GingerSue · Sep 23, 2005

thinking of you - please stay safe

CHATSDALE · Sep 23, 2005

sometimes you just have to make your own decisions . if you are in a body bag you can't help anyone...leave and then come back on monday and help anyone who needs you then...

DO NOT STAY...i have seen too much over the since katrina don't want to hear about nurses killed in overswamped hospital

lsyorke, RN · Sep 23, 2005

They just interviewed a local EMS worker. They are ALL evacuating and are NOT responding to calls. Sorry, I just don't buy the "someone has to stay to treat the injured". If people choose to stay after Katrina, it's at their own risk, not at a nurses risk who has been mandated to stay because of their foolish decision.

gobblers · Sep 23, 2005

Need all of your input before possibly my last shift here today:
My hospital is about 4-5 blocks from the gulf and right in the path of Rita which is currently 170-175 mph winds.
They keep reporting on TV how the hospitals here are evacuating which they are, our last patient was air lifted out last night.
But...they are making us stay here and ride it out for the stragglers who didn't follow the mandatory evacuation.
We have absolutely no patients in this hospital but they refuse to close it and are keeping our ER open which consequently means that we need OR, ICU, etc. beds open as well.
The storm surge is expected to be quite high.
I'm thinking of leaving here today after my shift is over and evacuating and will probably get fired.
Am I crazy?
What would you all do if you were me?

I would consider it my last day. Why would you want to work for an irreponsible organization that puts you and you colleagues in harms way?

As I see it, if the ones that did not follow the mandatory evacuation rules, then they are on their own.

austin heart, BSN, RN · Sep 23, 2005

And as the poster is from Texas, there is the risk of being "blacklisted" on the Group One website, which would impair her ability to get another job.

FYI: Group One is not used Texas wide. It is mainly used in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. It is used for a very small percentage of places outside that area. I would not use this as a reason to stay.

With that said, LEAVE! I was put on a 24 hour call this afternoon at 3 and it is a good possibility that will be re-upped tomorrow. I am a weekend ER day shift RN and would not be surprised to receive an increase in EMS traffic through our small ER as the larger hospitals have taken patients from the Galveston/Houston area. I say bring em' on so that those healthcare workers in the direct hit zone can flee to safety. My thoughts and prayers are with you!

Liddle Noodnik · Sep 23, 2005

....I'm thinking of leaving here today after my shift is over and evacuating and will probably get fired.
Am I crazy?
What would you all do if you were me?

You have to do what feels RIGHT - if you lose your job what employer is going to fault you for what you did?

Read this journal series of a nurse in New Orleans, then see what you think. Go to the site, ( http://www.livejournal.com/users/auryn24/2005/08/29/ )

Make sure the start date is Aug 29, and just keep hitting "next" as you read.

I'm not trying to discourage you from staying .... oh yes I am, that's a lousy thing for them to do! ship the patients but make you STAY - does that mean they will pay for the psychiatrist bill, or medical bill, or funeral arrangements?

Sigh...

SmilingBluEyes · Sep 23, 2005

I earnestly send best thoughts and prayers the way of all those in the path of this monster hurricane. I really feel sick for all who will be affected directly by this storm. I can't say I would have it in me to stay in a place where there were no patients to care for -------esp in light of the fact I have a family to care for, who need me at least as much. I would do what I had to in this case. Noble? No, but I am no fool, either. What can I say? I feel sick for the helpless and frightful feeling all who live there must be feeling right now.

casi, ASN, RN · Sep 23, 2005

I would leave now. You can always find another job. Your life isn't worth risking for an empty hospital.

I live in the midwest and we had storms last night where winds reached 70mph and flattened houses and caused severe damnage, I can only begin to imagine the winds Rita will be turning out, your crazy to stay.

Liddle Noodnik · Sep 23, 2005

You are not crazy! I was one of the unfortunate ones who worked in a New Orleans hospital during Katrina. I am also pregnant and have never regretted a decision so much in my life! I was set to lose my job as well and evacuate, but my mom and sister talked me into working so I could keep my insurance. There was a point when I thought we would all die! It turned into a survival situation and we didn't have the resources to care for our patients. I am still traumatized! Do what you feel you need to do. You are a nurse and can get another job anywhere! Good luck!

{{{{{{{{{{{{{Nola}}}}}}}}}}}}} How are you doing now? I imagine you still have leftover stress from Kat and are you evacuating for this one? Praying for you and everyone in the hurricane's path.

I said earlier - The people who died in N.O. and nearby were a LIVING SACRIFICE to show people what NOT to do next time. This is NEXT TIME.

God be with the families who lost their loved ones.