I work as a nursing assistant. Yeah, it's gruesome, and it's tough when a ninety-something resident says, "Hi, pops" every time he recognizes me. But there are some nursing assistants older than me who are still hanging on. They may be the last line of defense for their residents.
Various surveys of public health and safety workers indicate that a large percentage would not report for work in a major emergency. This includes doctors, nurses, emergency services, police officers, etc. Think of Katrina. Read about it. Pretty scary.
Reality is, people with children at home have to put them first in an emergency. So us old buzzards would have to shoulder the load. There aren't really enough of us to go around. So what can be done?
Any ideas?
I have been a CNA and medical assistant alternately over the years, and am in full agreement. I now have young children at home and would not be able to go take care of somebody else in a real emergency. If my family was safe and I cold leave then I would, but that is a pretty big IF! Before I had kids, I would have gone to work first but not now. This is a real problem.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the feedback. An emergency situation is tough on parents with younguns. Work is important, but family safety is priority 1.
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