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scenario:
h5n1 (the bird flu) mutates to become efficient at transmitting human to human causing a pandemic, with a case fatality rate of 60% and with 80% of the cases in the 0-40 year old age range.
hospitals will be quickly overrun. hospital staff shortages are 50%. the government orders all nurses to work. there is not enough personal protection equipment (n95 masks, gloves, goggles, tamiflu, vax, etc)
home quarantines become common (in the fed plans).
your family is also quarantined in your home. you are running out of food and the government promises you will be "taken care of" if you report to work.
Yes I would. I would have to make shift my own PPEs again. As fas as the government helping, in my personnel experence with the government, that is a joke. The government is not helping the vets enough as it is, so unless we are classed as a third world citizen, we will not get much help.
But working during this will be for my patients not for the government.
OSHA, the Occupational Safety & Health Administration, released their proposed guidance for Workplace Stockpiling of Respirators and Facemask for Pandemic Influenza yesterday. OSHA is looking for public comment on these proposed guidelines, and will accept written submissions until July 8th, 2008.
As stipulated in yesterday's release, these guidelines are not yet adopted.
This proposed guidance reflects the current thinking on the stockpiling of respirators and facemasks for the purpose of pandemic influenza preparedness. The information contained in this document is distributed solely for the purpose of pre-dissemination public comment. It has not been formally disseminated by DOL. It does not represent and should not be construed to represent any agency determination or policy.
Although I've run the numbers in a back-of-an- envelope calculation before, showing that our national stockpile of PPE's would be quickly exhausted in a pandemic, OSHA has put together some more detailed numbers.
...we may see multiple waves, and our ability to resupply in between waves may be severely limited.
Considering the prodromal infectious period, you're safer at work with precautions than in the mall, food store, etc. Are you going to give up all human contact until the disease passes? It's do-able, but requires quick and thorough planning and weeks locked away from the world. I'd certainly make radical changes in my lifestyle, but doubt I'd abandon work.
I don't have to think to critically about this one. No I would not go to work. No one can make me do anything, this is a free country. Also-- Darwins Theory of Evolution comes to mind-- "Survival of the smartest and the fitest". It's not that I do not care about people, but if I'm sick or dead I can't help anyone so it's basically a no brainer. No PPE's No help. I also don't trust the government to help me in time of a crisis. My mom and dad always say "God helps those who help themselves". I believe this to be true.:nuke:
For the individual with the children, how would staying home in such a situation protect or prolong the life of your children.
For the writer who speaks of the role the nurse play, "Here, Here. It may be time for those who lack that insight to reconsider why they chose this profession. I am not being judgemental, I am suggesting that re-evaluating your involvement in a profession that asks that we go beyond ourselves and our personal agenda may be in order. nanacarol
I don't believe that any of us who advocate staying or reporting are being judgemental. I believe we are trying to point out what we believe to be a mandate for the nurse, Each of us has to answer individually.You indicate that God is first in your hierachy, that is great, I take that position as well, for me, when I place God at the helm, then He will direct my actions, which means, for me I will be directed as to what is most appropriate for the time. Nanacarol
Are you going to give up all human contact until the disease passes? It's do-able, but requires quick and thorough planning and weeks locked away from the world.
That's exactly what I'm going to do. I'll be in my house and nobody's coming in. The flu spreads either by droplet or by air, but even by air it requires a pretty decent proximity to people. Which is why I won't be close to them.
The time for planning is NOW. You don't want to be part of the pack of idiots stampeding to Wal-Mart to try and buy bottled water and SPAM. That goes for any disaster, not just the flu. Buy it cheap and stack it deep.
Question, what is the incubation period for this organism? Is it possible to have brought it into the home prior to the designation of pandemic being declared? Just asking. nanacarol
Question, what is the incubation period for this organism? Is it possible to have brought it into the home prior to the designation of pandemic being declared? Just asking. nanacarol
Sure, it is possible. But it gets more and more likely the more you are exposed. By the time it was figured out that something like that was happening, lots of people would have it. But not everyone. Less contact = less chance of getting the flu.
DaveMac
27 Posts
Yes I would. I would have to make shift my own PPEs again. As fas as the government helping, in my personnel experence with the government, that is a joke. The government is not helping the vets enough as it is, so unless we are classed as a third world citizen, we will not get much help.
But working during this will be for my patients not for the government.