Will you work during a Pandemic?

[Goju]

admin note: we just added a poll to this thread today, april 25, 2008, please take a second and vote in the poll so we can have a graphical representation of the responses. thanks

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.

see:

http://www.wpro.who.int/nr/rdonlyres/fd4ac2fd-b7c8-4a13-a32c-6cf328a0c036/0/s4_1113.jpg

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.

will you go?

[jaywife]

now swine flu comes

[Jarnaes]

I wonder if the results on this poll "Nurses, would you go to work during a Pandemic?" would have been different if the current H1N1 virus had turned out to be a more potent and lethal virus...

[indigo girl]

I wonder if the results on this poll "Nurses, would you go to work during a Pandemic?" would have been different if the current H1N1 virus had turned out to be a more potent and lethal virus...

What do you think? It had been steadily about 47% only for those agreeing to work until the current outbreak was announced as mild. Then, it began to creep up.

Not a bad thing in my mind as someone has to take of these patients, but again, I have to say, pregnant women should read the CDC guidelines because your facilities may not tell you what they are. Just because most cases have been mild, this does not mean that there is no risk in caring for severe cases. This also goes for those of us with other known risk factors...

http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/guidance/pregnant-hcw-educators.htm

[HippyGreenPeaceChick]

No PPE equipment is a sure death sentence and I doubt I'm that altruistic to work myself into a grave while the gov't "takes care of things." Another poster made an interesting correlation to how they're screwing the rescue workers from the WTC on 9/11. Those people are heroes and now that they're sick and dying the gov't is ignoring their plight.

How is the swine flu a sure death sentence when only a very small percentage are dying. Far less than 1% from the news has been showing. The news is over reacting and creating panic.

[Girl Scout]

How is the swine flu a sure death sentence when only a very small percentage are dying. Far less than 1% from the news has been showing. The news is over reacting and creating panic.

I believe the OP was referring to the scenario listed in the first post of this thread, not the current H1N1 situation (please correct me if I'm wrong).

In the current situation of H1N1, I'd definitely report to work. I can't think of a reason not to. The situation is dynamic, however, and reevaluated regularly.

[RLPORTEE]

Honestly I would stay only because me becoming a nurse is to help others in time of need. Me being a nurse is not all about the money, even though the pay isn't always bad from what I hear (student here). I would help others because if I was in that situation I would want the same.

There is a big problem with this and I read and a few people hit it on the head. My family is #1 and my job #2. I will stay back and do what I need to do. If I got sick then it's in God's hands. My family the government couldn't tell me what to do with that. I love my country so much but I love my family more. If that was taken then what can I say that is what my 2nd ammendment is for and I stand behind that too.

[Vito Andolini]

I believe the OP was referring to the scenario listed in the first post of this thread, not the current H1N1 situation (please correct me if I'm wrong).

In the current situation of H1N1, I'd definitely report to work. I can't think of a reason not to. The situation is dynamic, however, and reevaluated regularly.

What if you yourself are sick? then what? Or if your own loved ones are down and need you to take care of them? Take them to work with you so you can know they are getting cared for?

I'd work as long as I was not sick and as long as I knew my loved ones were ok. Maybe the poll could specify these factors and then let's see the results.

[sarmike1]

Are we not working when we teach the public prevention? (Including during a pandemic!!!) I am not just thinking about H1N1 but anything that comes along. Something I think about is the TB nurses way back when up till this day that take a major risk every day and understand the risks. My stand remains the same, regardless of the risk I will help no matter what. I do not belive that this is a suicide mission, my family knows how I feel, I care about my fellow human beings even if it causes my downfall, at least I was thinking about someone else other than myself!

[achot chavi]

What if you yourself are sick? then what? Or if your own loved ones are down and need you to take care of them? Take them to work with you so you can know they are getting cared for?

I'd work as long as I was not sick and as long as I knew my loved ones were ok. Maybe the poll could specify these factors and then let's see the results.

If you are sick, you shouldn't work period. If you are needed at home to care for a loved one and there is no one else, then of course you cant go to work, DONT bring really sick relatives to work with you....that would be stupid....in that case, stay home and care for them- Charity begins at home

[Dragonnurse1, ASN, RN]

I guess that everyone has their reasons for becoming a nurse. Mine :nurse:was to take care of people - even the ones we thought TSTL:nono: - no matter what the situation. I have gone to work in a hurricane, been at work during a tornado touchdown, called my now-ex and told him to get out into the field:banghead: because there were dead and injured after same TD(he was a cop) and my parents took care of my kids while I did this.

My children are all gone from home but are just in college with the oldest living in another state. My husband is on home-hemodialysis but we both would work in a pandemic if one occurred. We did not go into the medical field for fame, glory or some kind of "look at what I do, aren't I a good person" attitude:nono:. We went into the medical field to help, to care and to do what we do best. He worked in surgery and moonlighted in the ER. I worked the ER until latex took my "work" away from me. I had to leave my work in 2003 and I STILL miss it. I still want to work. And in a pandemic and limited latex based supplies I would still work.

I was good at my job but it never was a job - it was my life's passion:icon_hug:. I guess the reasons for going into nursing have changed or I went into nursing for the wrong reason - I don't know but I know this....If I could go back to the ER nothing would stop me not even a pandemic without PPE. I worked so long without it that I found PPE stuff annoying :smackingfanyway - gloves and a gown, I was happy.

[CseMgr1, ASN, RN]

With everything that is currently going on with my own family, I would have to respectfully decline.

I wouldn't be here today if it weren't for them. Consequently, I will always be there for them...come hell, mud, flood or H1N1.

[2BSure]

Yes, I would work during a pandemic. Having done a great deal of disaster relief for an NGO I am used to being in the vehicle heading towards the disaster when all of the headlights are going the other way -- it is very spooky by the way!

I have gone to great lengths to prepare my family as best I can for emergencies. We have all discussed this and agreed that I have a duty and obligation to assist in any public crisis. Also, we have put in place plans specifically for disasters (meeting places, contacts outside of the area, kits and so on).

This is like the armed forces, law enforcement, fire service and others similar. We wouldn't like it if the police buggered off in an emergency (as some did post Katrina).