Largest RN Union Issues Urgent Call for Nurse Volunteers To Assist Earthquake Ravaged Haiti

[laughingliberal]

Nurse Volunteer Group to Coordinate Emergency Nursing Mission
The nation’s largest organization of registered nurses tonight activated its nationwide disaster relief program to recruit nurse volunteers to provide assistance to residents of earthquake devastated Haiti, the National Nurses United announced Tuesday night.

Registered Nurse Response Network sent more than hundreds of nurse volunteers to the Gulf region following Hurricane Katrina. RNRN has also sent volunteers to Sri Lanka after the South Asia tsunami and to help following huge Southern California wildfires. RNRN is affiliated with National Nurses United, AFL-CIO, the national union and professional association for Registered Nurses.

Details are still being worked out, but nurses can sign up at the NNU website, www.nationalnursesunited.org.
NNU will also provide follow up information at www.twitter.com/nationalnurses for details and plans.
The 150,000-member NNU was formed last month through the unification of California Nurses Association/National Nurses Organizing Committee, United American Nurses, and Massachusetts Nurses Association.

http://www.calnurses.org/media-center/press-releases/2010/january/largest-rn-union-issues-urgent-call-for-nurse-volunteers-to-assist-earthquake-ravaged-haiti.html

Received an email this morning about a conference call for RN who have signed up on their site to volunteer. Access information for the call is available at the link.



The California Nurses Foundation, in conjunction with the National Nurses United, and the California Nurses Association/National Nurses Organizing Committee, is building a network of RN volunteers for deployment to Haiti following the devastating earthquake that took place on Jan. 12, 2010.

Your contributions will help us SEND NURSES QUICKLY as well as purchase supplies they will need. Thank you!

There is a link for those wishing to contribute to their efforts to get nurses and supplies in.

https://secure.ga1.org/05/rnrn_relief_fund

[laughingliberal]

1. Just got off the conference call

There were 900 RN's on this call. Some information for those RN's who may want to volunteer at some point during this effort:

Get your passport in order
RNRN is working to get drug companies and others to donate the vaccinations, etc.. that will be required so they do not recommend we go out and get these on our own.
They are also contacting sporting goods companies, etc..to get donations of sleeping bags and camping gear as most who go will literally be 'on the ground.'
They plan to post a list on the website of personal items to have ready but it will be very minimal. Travel light.
It is also noted there are nurses chomping at the bit to get there now and that is good but there will be ongoing efforts for some time to come and will be a need after the initial deployments.
There is a huge need for nurses experienced in providing emotional support to children.
Nurses who speak French are greatly appreciated.
If you think you would like to go and are working, let your union or your hosptal know so they can arrange to cover for you. Of course, some hospitals will be more cooperative than others but the more notice they have the better chance they will cooperate.
For those who can not go themselves there will be action alerts on their website throughout the process for help in supporting efforts to get nurses there.

It was noted, on the call, that getting RN's into the country needs to be one of the top priorities as we see in all disasters that the presence of RN's with their ability to assess not only patients but the overall situation on the ground is a big part of successful response.

There was one congressman from NY on the call whose name I did not catch who is working to try and get some nurses on the military ships going down to speed up the efforts to get us on the ground.

They are very focused on making sure conditions are as secure as possible They do not want nurses to have to act as their own bodyguards.

Donations are, of course, appreciated. They will be used to support nurses in getting themselves there with the supplies they will need. They do not suggest anyone strike out on their own to go.

The links in my OP are a good source of information. To find updates on twitter search #haitirn.

On a personal note, I was happy to find I was not the oldest nurse on the call.

[lunatica]

2. kick so this info doesn't sink

[laughingliberal]

3. Thanks. Does seem to be sinking

There was one question on the conference call today about what we can do to speed up efforts to get nurses there. One thing they mentioned was, "bug the heck out of the Obama administration." Those interested in getting this essential help in might drop an email or something to the administration. It would surprise me if this weren't on their priority list but a little push never hurt anything.

[ChickMagic]

4. I wonder if you have to be an RN

I have experience in surgical settings. I can give shots.
I can suture wounds. I have several years experience doing
things like that but I'm not an RN.

[laughingliberal]

6. Questions came up about LPN's, Paramedics, EMT's on the conference call today

They definitely said they's use LPN and pretty much anyone who can help. My suggestion is to use the link for RN's to sign up because it asks if you are an RN. There is space in the availability field to make notes. I would sign up and make a note of your experience there. I would think suturing would be a great skill to have there. There is a hotline number for people trying to support the effort. I know they are swamped right now. 2500 more nurses have signed up today. But, it won't hurt to call the hotline and see if you can get routed to someone who could answer your questions. RNRN hotline: [phone]

I am not one of the RN's pushing to get in right away. Those who are working will be taking leaves and vacations to get there. They expect to have a presence in Haiti for some time to come. They noted they were in New Orleans after Katrina for 4 months. My thoughts are there will be less enthusiasm for getting in after the initial shock of the crisis passes. As I am unemployed I can go whenever and there may be more need later as the sense of urgency in the nursing community subsides.

Hope that helps.

[ChickMagic]

7. Thank you so much for the information

I've done anesthesia, suturing, injections, really, you name it.
I don't know if I can go for that long however. I will check with them.
For you and our sisters and brothers in Haiti. :hug:

[lunatica]

5. kick