I’m wondering if older, highly experienced nurses who are at or near retirement age will leave if it gets too dangerous.
It's already happening. Sorry, I can't supply you a source.
The old, fat ones and smokers find another place to work. The young get the floors and the ones with a ticket work the ER.
...”I’m wondering if older, highly experienced nurses who are at or near retirement age will leave if it gets too dangerous.”...
Yes, they will leave and younger ones will leave, too. The survival instinct is too strong to stay in a situation where one’s own life is being threatened unnecessarily. Additionally, what will we do if a disease like this takes our medical professionals..Who will step in to give medical care here?
I’m a 60 year old nurse with 35 years experience. The only reason I keep working is for the health insurance. The hospital I work at near Seattle recently posted an email stating that all staff are expected to care for ebola patients if we get any. Part of the email details what protective equipment will be used...and it’s no damn different from what we already use for patients with MRSA, tb, or c-diff.
Funny you should have asked this question as that was the first thought that crossed my mind after getting that infernal email only yesterday.