My husband has said I can quit my job if I want to.

[QueenofmyPrinces]

I’m a nurse, obviously anxious about what dangers and nightmares lie ahead, and my DH has just said that I don’t have to go to work if I don’t want to, and he’d rather us live on just one wage if it meant I could be kept safe.

Has anyone else working in hospitals ever felt so nervous about what’s to come that they’d consider leaving?

Honestly I would leave. I know people expect nurses to just be martyrs at the moment and obviously we need people to care for us and our loved ones but you matter too and so do your loved ones so I know which decision I would make.

Well what about the shop or bank workers that are dealing with hundreds of people a day and with vast quantities of money....

You can catch it anywhere and unless you’re working anywhere! It’s true about being funded but the tax payer. No one said it’s easy, it’s shit for the OP but shitter for those that need her skills!

Well, the shop and bank workers won't be coming face to face with the worst cases. Their load should be lessened by social distancing. Bank workers are also behind perspex.

None of the above is true for a nurse.

All parties involved have the option to leave their job.

However, no-one would be getting shitty with a cashier over it.

It's not only about catching the virus, think about how many patients doctors & nurses are going to have to watch die because we don't have enough equipment to treat them? Don't you think that this will leave staff with mental scars? I wouldn't blame anyone for holding their hands up & saying they can't cope with it or for walking away from the job.

Honestly all these people saying it's ok to walk away. How would you feel if your relative was admitted and there were no staff. Would you just accept it ? If your elderly relative was deemed too frail for ventilation and was left with no-one to comfort them and died alone panicking ?What if Nursing home staff just decided it was too risky and abandoned your relative ? You'd be up in arms sueing the NHS. Just think about it because that is the reality if large numbers of staff start walking out of their jobs.

Doggybiccys

I hope to God you're not actually a fucking nurse

I was just thinking the same.

@Itsmybirthday19

Bank workers are also behind perspex.

No they’re not! And money is the dirtiest thing you could handle. The very fact they aren’t dealing with ‘sick’ people is why it’s concerning for them as you have no idea who has it.

No body would be getting shitty with a cashier as it’s no loss. Their role will be filled in 2 weeks. Sane can’t be said for a nurse.

Is your husband your father? You an make your own decision.

If my relative couldn't be treated due to staff shortages I'd think 'well, I never wanted to be a nurse, so who the fuck am I to demand that other people are for great risk and scant reward'.

I wouldn't sue the NHS. You can't make people practice medicine in a democracy.

I think the OP will be better able to judge her situation in the morning. Maybe she's just having a wobble, maybe she does need to leave.

I also think posters like @BubblyBarbara comparing this to soldiers on a battlefield, saying you joined up you have to accept everything that's thrown at you - I think they're the most likely to have never been truly tested. I think they're donkeys sending the lions to be killed, and I don't think any of us should give them a minute of our time.

for you OP - I hope you can make peace with whatever you decide

Ok, @Potkettlexx, you're totally right. Working in a bank is much more hazardous.

Nurses are on Easy Street.

Only you can make that decision. Something tells me the fact that you posted shows me you it weighs on you heavily.

I would not because the people that dont want to obey the new rules are the same ones who will be on some nurses ward screaming at you and worse to help them.
No thanks not interested😷

No tax money trained us for this as we aren't trained for this.

I'm somebody who the government are classing as vulnerable, I also have a vulnerable child and a vulnerable parent. My families lives rely totally on the NHS to save us if we become dangerously ill however I say with no shame that if I were you I would be thinking along the same lines.

Yes you're a nurse but you're a mother and a wife first and foremost.

If you decide to leave then no judgement from me (and many others ) and i thank you sincerely for your 13 years of service.

To all of the NHS workers on the thread, thank you all for everything you've done and continue to do. You are incredible beyond measure.

@Petiolaris. - t’s a dog eat dog world and you have to look after you and yours because nobody else will

I find beliefs such as yours are self-fulfilling prophecies. I would not be here now if it were not for the kindness of strangers.

You've probably been watching too many American disaster movies, but in real life I've lived through two major earthquakes and most people are wonderful. Even the young hoodlums were the bravest rescuers.

Well there's some pretty shitty comments on here.
I know exactly where you are coming from OP. I manage a couple of care homes. I've spent the last week and a half crying daily because im terrified that due to extreme staff shortage someone in my care will die. A mistake will be made somewhere, with one of my very high needs service users, because I can't get staff and those I can get aren't trained.
I've got the staff that are in sobbing because they are so tired. I can't protect them as we don't have enough PPE either and can't get more. We are all on our knees already.
I've never known anything like this and that's in social care where there has never been anywhere enough money or staff.
We don't really know how long this will go on for either which makes it worse. We could be looking at months of this- and honestly, I don't know if I can do it.
I've got kids that I'm hardly going to see, and that I will be putting at higher risk. I just want to run away tbh...
I will stick it out as long as I'm able... but I won't be guilt tripped by people into staying at the cost of my sanity or the health of my family.

Very well put @Isadora2007

I admire your values

As a fellow nurse I understand your issues. You are reading stories of healthcare workers in Spain and it's not helping. Plus most people on here are not seeing what you are seeing.

The choice has to be yours op. The NMC dictates that we follow the NMC code that does not include dying for your patients.

Can you talk to your line manager and discuss your concerns and if needs be take it higher. You should have PPE equipment and many areas in Spain didn't. Can you be redeployed if it is stressing you rather than leaving altogether. Take care op x

I'm not sure the lack of PPE is about funding. I was under the assumption that there is a worldwide supply problem due to such huge demand. Having said that, a lot should have been stockpiled.

This is correct. There is a central store but as inventory management is so crap it's only just making its way to hospitals, there has been no way to transport it in the numbers required before the army stepped in. Still unacceptable, but nothing to do with money really this once.

Also a nurse. Your not a bad person, you didn’t knowingly sign up for this.

Everyones scared but need to calm down. I'm a frontline nurse WFH, i'll go onto the wards if needed.

My hospital is managing well and this is a large city. In my work whatsapp group people are sharing funny memes, not crying every day and imagining they'll die.

People read threads like this (and all the 'i'm a nurse...' troll threads that have been deleted) and think the world is ending and the whole NHS is on its knees and unable to cope.

It's not. We'll get through it. Panicking and being dramatic isn't helping anyone.

OP, leave.

Ignore the comments on here that are basically telling you to put your life on the line - be willing to die prematurely -because...'duty'.

Nurses aren't soldiers and they now find themselves faced with death - how many medics have died in Italy because of the huge viral load they are faced with every day? I know 42 doctors have died, I don't know how many nurses.

You have a child. Nothing is more important. If you have the choice leave and do not feel guilty.

It is totally normal to he scared. Every day that you go to work you are doing an incredible service. Unfortunately, all the experts are saying that we are merely slowing down the disease so it is likely that a good majority will get this disease. Obviously when you are on the front line and have not been provided with appropriate clothing you are going to be scared. Most of the people that you are treating in Hospital, didn't get it from there, they got it "out there" because it is as much out there as it is in hospitals but there are zero precautions out there because they are not presenting as seriously ill. The choice is ultimately yours and you are lucky that you are in a financial position to decide. You don't deserve any negativity here. You have done more in the last two weeks than most will do throughout the crises. If you quit because you fear you might catch it, you will probably catch it anyway at supermarket etc in due course.

Thank you everyone for your replies.

I just wish I could explain properly how scared we all are.

I found one of my colleagues crying in the corridor the other day, dreading going into work because she was classed as being vulnerable but our Managers had told her tough, we were short staffed and so she had to work.

Any member of staff who goes home with symptoms or rings in saying they have symptoms and need to self isolate are called “skivers” and are just taking the piss apparently.

We have been told we can’t use the proper PPE (that a big fuss was made about to ensure we were all fitted for and trained for) because there isn’t enough for everyone to use and they won’t be replaced

My friend works in another Trust and she also doesn’t get the correct PPE and has been told if anyone coughs/sneezes onto her visor then she is just to wipe it clean, she’s not allowed to get a new one.

She is a single mom and has said she would do anything to be able to leave the job and stay locked away safely in her home with her son. Instead she isn’t sleeping because she’s so frightened of leaving her son without a mother.

She says I have no idea how lucky I am to have the option to walk away from it all.

I’m a nurse. I’ve not worked in the acute setting for 10 years. But obviously everyone is being redeployed and pulled in to help in some way. I have asthma so I am in the at risk group so slightly different but I completely understand your fear and urge to run. I do agree with the person who said it’s not your husbands decision to make tbh.
I’m very disappointed and angry with the government right now, we’re mainly in this position due to the years of under funding, cutting bursary’s, lower than inflation pay rises, privatisation. But now the nhs is the only thing that will save us we’re all expected, without PPE, to be getting on with it. With retired nurses coming back even!
I was told yesterday that we’re moving to 7 day a week working pattern.
I’m so angry at the government. But I don’t want to let my colleagues down or patients.
I’ve spoken to the rcn about specific safety issues due to be asthma and they have been helpful. Maybe give them a call?