Zombie Apocalypse: WWND?

Nurses General Nursing

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I've been binge watching TWD the last several days, totally blown away by how much I didn't realize characters have changed in the last 5 years. It's left me thinking - what would nurses do differently than the rest of the public in the event of a global disaster, such as a zombie apocalypse?

I think we'd be smart on which meds to stockpile. I think we'd rock wound care supplies. But we'd have to account for safety, too (glad to have a hubs in law enforcement). And food, of course. These are all vague, easy details, of course. At least, I think they would be. They seem common sense, right?

Do you have a zombie apocalypse-proof disaster preparedness plan for your family? Do you think you'd be adequately prepared for it, right this second? How about your significant other? Kids? Do you think nurses in general might be able to outlast a global disaster better than other occupational groups? (Yes, it's a HUGE generalization, but I mean in terms of skill set and assuming the nurses as a whole have a good ability to critically think through life-threatening scenarios.)

I'm embarrassed to admit I don't at all have a plan in place. I have a great first aid kit, but it's not overly stocked. We don't have a good stash of food. I remember hearing in community health that the elderly generation usually has a stockpile of food because they learned after the depression that you SHOULD prepare like that. My grandparents have an awesome stockpile. Too bad they live really far away. :)

Incidentally, advice from the CDC on this topic - Zombie Preparedness|Are We Prepared?|PHPR

Specializes in PACU, pre/postoperative, ortho.

Considering I'm married to my own version of Daryl, I like my odds.

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I have a friend whose brother is a weapons nut- he has many different kinds of guns, some that are similar to Uzis, swords, machetes, crossbows, and more.

I told him that when the ZA hits, I'm going straight to his house.

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Specializes in Post Anesthesia.

I think in the event of a ZA- I'd try to surround myself with members of the Joint Commission, of possibly members of the clinical faculty of some of the nursing programs in my area. Since the zombies are attracted to brains, I would like a large number of people around me that pose no interest to them. Avoid staff nurses collectively- we would represent a 5 Star buffet. Other than that, I think I'll just have to take my chances.

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Specializes in critical care.

Ruby - By your response, I'm going to wager you don't watch the walking dead. The rural lifestyle gets challenging due to the panic to protect your own, people will panic hoard, and then trust no one. To find a fully trusting and trustworthy community may be rare.

I've gained some scary insights on this thread. First - I need two fully stocked first aid/wound care supplies. One for me, one for the person who holds the nurse at gun point for wound care supplies. Second - the duty to report to work vs. the need for survival: I feel the largest priority, once apocalypse was called as inevitable, would be to get the healthcare providers out of the hospital. If the hospital is overrun, you need to consider triage - save the impending dead? Or ensure healthcare for those who have a fighting chance? In addition, you lock that sucker down, you have many fewer walkers to worry about on the outside.

I have my own physical ailments, but I think I'd have a decent shot. I'll tell you, though.... Eff toilet paper. I'm raising the pharmacy. Abx, fluids, pain meds. I'd raid all the wound care supplies and suture kits. Scalpels, sterile gloves. Hubs can do the slaying, I can do the saving.

Although..... I'd kinda like to be a bad @$& and wield a sword like Michonne. Seriously, how much hotter can a person be? Need to take a sword fighting class and archery. And find a Daryl.

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Specializes in critical care.
I think in the event of a ZA- I'd try to surround myself with members of the Joint Commission, of possibly members of the clinical faculty of some of the nursing programs in my area. Since the zombies are attracted to brains, I would like a large number of people around me that pose no interest to them. Avoid staff nurses collectively- we would represent a 5 Star buffet. Other than that, I think I'll just have to take my chances.

As long as you chain them up after removing their jaws and arms, that plan is totally flawless.

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Specializes in Pediatric Critical Care.

I'd probably just get killed.

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Specializes in hospice.

When it comes to ZA just remember: you don't have to be the fastest, you just have to be a little faster than that other guy.

My husband is very weapon-y and a military-certified marksman. He's also an experienced and trained hunter/survivalist, so I think we'd do okay, at least for a while. We'd have to go straight wilderness living, because any concentration of humanity would just be like a dinner bell for the brain eaters.

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Because I have some interesting hobbies I think I could make it out. I usually work in a community setting so none of this first line at the hospital stuff.

I happen to have my own bow and everything I need to keep it working because I like archery. I also grew up in an area with 4H and learned to shoot both bow and rifle young.

I know how to card and spin wool. I know how to knit and weave.

I know how to cook without a gas or electric stove.

I have basic first aid and CPR skills.

I may be slow, but I'm useful enough to get protection ;)

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When it comes to ZA just remember: you don't have to be the fastest, you just have to be a little faster than that other guy.

....Or willing to trip someone

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Yeah I don't see us making it longer than 3-4 months. Eh.. if you can't beat 'um, join 'um and eat some flesh.

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All this "I've got my weapons ready....drug addicts are going to invade the hospital" talk really annoys me.....this is all fiction folks......TV shows, fictional books. In the REAL world it has been shown that people actually HELP each other during and after natural disasters.

All the stories post Katrina about looting, shootings, rapes, etc., that the newspapers and TV news LOVED to shout about to get ratings, (ever hear of "If it bleed, it leads?') anyway all those stories turned out to be FALSE. People HELPED each other, that just doesn't make a good headline. (Actually I think there was one documented rape in the super dome.)

(Yes, I know there are riots after police killings, perceived political injustices, etc., .....but comparing that with post disaster scenarios is mixing apples and oranges.)

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Specializes in Med nurse in med-surg., float, HH, and PDN.

Oh, yeah, "The Second After' spooked the crap out of me.....and I live near, and work nearer, to the location where the plot of the book took place. Although it wouldn't necessarily make me survive longer, I'druther be at home if an EMR happened.

I am abysmally ignorant about zombies; am I correct in assuming they can't be killed? Or do they die if they run out of brains to snack on? And why would you need medical supplies to battle zombies? I guess it'd be good to have stuff like that, though, even if you do elude the zombies. Are zombies just people or can your pet turn into a zombie?

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