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

Nurses General Nursing

Published

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?

Wow, saying a prayer for you RN34TX. Please keep us updated.

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Specializes in Ante-Intra-Postpartum, Post Gyne.

I am courious to know if the administrators and CEO's are sticking around too...

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Well, we're waiting for ya'll and your patients here is SA. Do yourself a favor and call in sick. They are making you risk your life. And what if you get hurt? Is your facility going to help you? Who pays the bills then?

I don't know about you, Houston, but people are just going nuts and not using the sense God gave them.

Houston, we are here, we are praying for you. Please let us know how we can help.

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Just get out!!!!!! :angryfire The Fire Department and Firefighters are the only people in the WORLD that run INTO something that EVERYONE IS RUNNING FROM!!!! :redlight: Remember 09/11/01!!!!!! If they are leaving FOLLOW THEM!!!!! :banghead: What could the hospital possibly be thinking???? GET your partner and GET OUT!!!! by the way, Come North it's a little cold but the pay is great! :twocents: boston RN, BSN, CCRN, BCEN, CFRN, CRNI

I concur.

I grew up in the Bahamas, islands in the Pacific and a few other places. I've been through 10 hurricanes and 3 cyclones and 2 tsunamis. LEAVE. If the hospital is on the water that facility will be useless.

Houston flooded with Tropical storm Allison just a few years ago.They made a movie about the hospitals during that event, REMEMBER?

RITA will be 20 times worse.

GET OUT! They can keep one facility open, but it should be the hospital that is the most furtheest inland.

GET OUT! GET OUT!

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Specializes in heading for NICU.

Your life is too valuable to ride this out. I wouldn't .... My butt would be high-tailing it out of town. I went through Hurricane Charley and I'd never recommend that anyone stay through a Cat4+ hurricane...no way no how.

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Specializes in Neuroscience ICU, Orthopedics.

I can appreciate your hospital's commitment to the well-being of those individuals who may be directly impacted by the hurricane, but if you are that close to the water, it seems to me that a safer facility should have been established for the expressed purposes of maintaining triage capabilities, and emergent care, and the personnel to voluntarily staff it.

You should not be held responsible for the short-sightedness of those entities -- politicians, educators, business leaders -- who's job should entail figuring out things such as the scenario you're describing. Unless a safer alternative can be met, no two ways about it, leave.

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Specializes in Cardiac Care.
I can appreciate your hospital's commitment to the well-being of those individuals who may be directly impacted by the hurricane, but if you are that close to the water, it seems to me that a safer facility should have been established for the expressed purposes of maintaining triage capabilities, and emergent care, and the personnel to voluntarily staff it.

You should not be held responsible for the short-sightedness of those entities -- politicians, educators, business leaders -- who's job should entail figuring out things such as the scenario you're describing. Unless a safer alternative can be met, no two ways about it, leave.

:yeahthat:

And go now.

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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!

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Specializes in Oncology/Haemetology/HIV.
Has a mandatory evacuation order been issued for your area? If so, I would get the heck out of there, and threaten legal action if your employer fires you since, in order to stay at work, you would have to defy a mandatory evacuation order.

It is my opinion that anyone who chooses to defy a mandatory evacuation order does so at their own risk. The stragglers, as your hospital calls them, have absolutely no right to expect fire, rescue, or hospital personnel to put themselves in peril to come to their aid.

Agree with the above. Anyone that defies a mandatory evacuation order, since Katrina, when resources have been provided to evacuate (unlike Katrina) should expect that they are on their own. Healthcare workers should not be expected to risk their life and health for them.

My question is where are all the CEO's, paperpushers and their families during this?

That said, I as a single person would probably work but would not expect it of others. I am a native Floridian and have worked through 'canes before. I have also done mission work in the Third World, something that also a bit dangerous. Again, that is my choice but I cannot begrudge others to choose not to.

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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!

Oh Nola! I'm so sorry you had to go through that. I hope you and yours are now safe and would love to hope that with all the donations and such that you are being SET UP with a nice new beginning for you and your little one.

I know that is a stretch. But you DESERVE it. Thank you for EVERYONE that you helped and I'm sorry you were put in a position to feel you had to. God Bless you!

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Specializes in Med-Surg, Wound Care.

Go NOW!! This is insane to keep nurses "just in case". No patients... I'd be gone. Any injuries from the storm are going to be handled by the military, not by a hospital devastated by a Cat 5 hurricane. This is a job, not a death sentence.

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.
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....You will be traumatized for a long time!!!!You need stress debriefing and tons of hugs, kisses and prayer. Everyday for a while it may seem difficult to put one foot in front of the other then you need to find a box inside and put it away!!!! Take joy in everyday and your comming baby!! :balloons: Prayers are with you everyday!! boston Hey Texas have they closed yet!! Lets us know when you leave!!!

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