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Operation Northern Star was in charge of 4 people who reported to the General of the army, in turn was getting information from the State govement and Fema.
By the time Thursday Morning rolled around, Rumors were as Thick as thieves. Our leaders reminded us to PAY no attention to the media, or any other reports. Since the volunteers were secluded, our information only came from either the leaders themselves or the jaded media. Yet rumors started to fly regarding our mission at Camp Ripley. That wasn't the only rumors.
The new volunteers that came the night before, brought word that my interview was seen on the local television, and that I had been quoted in the newspaper.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9231860
Although none of my direct co-workers joined me, there were some people from the hospital that worked the float pool that i knew. They brought word that one of the reasons I was unable to leave the floor is that my nurse manager had "labeled" me has having "emotional and mental problems and being unstable". This along with what my co-worker had said to me Monday night at Wal-mart, made me feel "Right at home".
The morning started out with a meeting, followed by a "trial" run of the whole system. Plan was to accept at LEAST 250 survivors in the morning. The Trial run started.
Plan was for survivors to go through a health screaning, given ID's, housing, and either triaged to temp housing or to either the clinic or the counciling center. In all regards it was EXCELLENT that a trail run was performed. Not only was our system tested to the validity of it all, problems were discovered from the get go. Bottom line, the "System" was fine-the amount of volunteers and job descriptions of said volunteers, were not.
After regrouping, the RN's split up and went over to the "clinic" to meet up with one of the leaders "we thought". However once over there, 20 nurses and no leader. Most of these Rn's had not been to the "clinic" as of yet....
I decided enough of the BS, and took over as leader. We went through the chart, documentation, what was expected, the flow of patients, and followed up with a tour of the "clinic" all lead by yours truely.
Actually it worked out, and people were impressed by my leadership skills. Mission accomplished. RN's were on the right page as to what expect as far as RN duties at the clinic.
As many know, information can change at a moments notice. ONce the magical hour of 5 o'clock rolled around, another meeting was held.
What started as 3,000 survivors, turned to be 250 people, and they were NOT arriving till Tuesday. The group was narrowed down to two groups of 12 people each, neither which I was chosen to be on. Volunteers were returning to Rochester the following day.
What happened at Camp Ripley, stays in Camp Ripley. ALthough VOlunteers, we were still concidered and being paid by the Mayo foundation to be apart of "operation northern Comfort." Some of my collegues took it upon themselves to leave the military base and go to the 4 strip bars that were so conviently located outside the base, across the street-in walking distance.
Myself was in bed by 7, and alseep by 8. The crew of beer drinkers didn't arrive much before midnight. I still maintain that it wasn't a smart move on thier part to go out to a strip bar on "company time". IF word gets out, there could be some small price to pay, although throughout this whole ordeal there wasn't really a contact person for the mayo volunteers, and information regarding anything (housing, travel, return time...) was very much fluid and sparse.
Photos behind cut
( Read more... )
By the time Thursday Morning rolled around, Rumors were as Thick as thieves. Our leaders reminded us to PAY no attention to the media, or any other reports. Since the volunteers were secluded, our information only came from either the leaders themselves or the jaded media. Yet rumors started to fly regarding our mission at Camp Ripley. That wasn't the only rumors.
The new volunteers that came the night before, brought word that my interview was seen on the local television, and that I had been quoted in the newspaper.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9231860
Although none of my direct co-workers joined me, there were some people from the hospital that worked the float pool that i knew. They brought word that one of the reasons I was unable to leave the floor is that my nurse manager had "labeled" me has having "emotional and mental problems and being unstable". This along with what my co-worker had said to me Monday night at Wal-mart, made me feel "Right at home".
The morning started out with a meeting, followed by a "trial" run of the whole system. Plan was to accept at LEAST 250 survivors in the morning. The Trial run started.
Plan was for survivors to go through a health screaning, given ID's, housing, and either triaged to temp housing or to either the clinic or the counciling center. In all regards it was EXCELLENT that a trail run was performed. Not only was our system tested to the validity of it all, problems were discovered from the get go. Bottom line, the "System" was fine-the amount of volunteers and job descriptions of said volunteers, were not.
After regrouping, the RN's split up and went over to the "clinic" to meet up with one of the leaders "we thought". However once over there, 20 nurses and no leader. Most of these Rn's had not been to the "clinic" as of yet....
I decided enough of the BS, and took over as leader. We went through the chart, documentation, what was expected, the flow of patients, and followed up with a tour of the "clinic" all lead by yours truely.
Actually it worked out, and people were impressed by my leadership skills. Mission accomplished. RN's were on the right page as to what expect as far as RN duties at the clinic.
As many know, information can change at a moments notice. ONce the magical hour of 5 o'clock rolled around, another meeting was held.
What started as 3,000 survivors, turned to be 250 people, and they were NOT arriving till Tuesday. The group was narrowed down to two groups of 12 people each, neither which I was chosen to be on. Volunteers were returning to Rochester the following day.
What happened at Camp Ripley, stays in Camp Ripley. ALthough VOlunteers, we were still concidered and being paid by the Mayo foundation to be apart of "operation northern Comfort." Some of my collegues took it upon themselves to leave the military base and go to the 4 strip bars that were so conviently located outside the base, across the street-in walking distance.
Myself was in bed by 7, and alseep by 8. The crew of beer drinkers didn't arrive much before midnight. I still maintain that it wasn't a smart move on thier part to go out to a strip bar on "company time". IF word gets out, there could be some small price to pay, although throughout this whole ordeal there wasn't really a contact person for the mayo volunteers, and information regarding anything (housing, travel, return time...) was very much fluid and sparse.
Photos behind cut
( Read more... )