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Nurses Battling Coronavirus Beg for Protective Gear and Better Planning Nurses Battling Coronavirus Beg for Protective Gear and Better Planning
(about 1 hour later)
Nurses in two states who are responding to the onslaught of novel coronavirus cases said in interviews this week that they lack protective equipment, training on how to use whatever equipment they have been given, and clear protocols to keep themselves and their patients safe.Nurses in two states who are responding to the onslaught of novel coronavirus cases said in interviews this week that they lack protective equipment, training on how to use whatever equipment they have been given, and clear protocols to keep themselves and their patients safe.
Some nurses in the two states, Washington State and California, said they have been asked to watch online videos — rather than have in-person training — about how to spot the virus and how to put on and take off hazmat suits. Others said they have had to beg for N95 masks, which are thicker and block out much smaller particles than surgical masks do. And still others said they have faced ridicule when expressing concerns about catching the highly contagious virus.Some nurses in the two states, Washington State and California, said they have been asked to watch online videos — rather than have in-person training — about how to spot the virus and how to put on and take off hazmat suits. Others said they have had to beg for N95 masks, which are thicker and block out much smaller particles than surgical masks do. And still others said they have faced ridicule when expressing concerns about catching the highly contagious virus.
“If nurses aren’t safe, then really our community isn’t safe,” said Jenny Managhebi, a clinical nurse at the University of California Davis Medical Center, where 24 nurses were asked to self-quarantine after a patient tested positive for the virus. “If I’m not safe at the bedside, when I come home to my husband and my children, then they’re not safe.”“If nurses aren’t safe, then really our community isn’t safe,” said Jenny Managhebi, a clinical nurse at the University of California Davis Medical Center, where 24 nurses were asked to self-quarantine after a patient tested positive for the virus. “If I’m not safe at the bedside, when I come home to my husband and my children, then they’re not safe.”
The concerns of American nurses come in the wake of the well-publicized deaths of medical professionals in Wuhan, China, where the new coronavirus first surfaced late last year.The concerns of American nurses come in the wake of the well-publicized deaths of medical professionals in Wuhan, China, where the new coronavirus first surfaced late last year.
Health care workers are among the groups most at risk of contracting the virus, as sick people report to emergency rooms and are treated before their condition is known. At least eight people who work in health care facilities have been diagnosed with coronavirus, including three employees of a hospital in Vacaville, Calif., and at least five people who worked at the Life Care long-term care facility in Kirkland, Wash.Health care workers are among the groups most at risk of contracting the virus, as sick people report to emergency rooms and are treated before their condition is known. At least eight people who work in health care facilities have been diagnosed with coronavirus, including three employees of a hospital in Vacaville, Calif., and at least five people who worked at the Life Care long-term care facility in Kirkland, Wash.
And health care workers who are exposed to it can also unwittingly transmit the virus.And health care workers who are exposed to it can also unwittingly transmit the virus.
At Evergreen Hospital in Washington, where at least seven deaths have occurred, nurses who were told to self-quarantine were later asked to return to work, according to the Washington State Nurses Association, raising fears that they could further spread the virus if they had contracted it.At Evergreen Hospital in Washington, where at least seven deaths have occurred, nurses who were told to self-quarantine were later asked to return to work, according to the Washington State Nurses Association, raising fears that they could further spread the virus if they had contracted it.
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The association, which represents more than 16,000 registered nurses in the state, surveyed its members and reported that 40 percent of the nurses who responded said they lacked access to adequate protective equipment. And more than half said they did not feel prepared to provide care for a patient with known or suspected case of the virus, which causes a disease known as Covid-19.The association, which represents more than 16,000 registered nurses in the state, surveyed its members and reported that 40 percent of the nurses who responded said they lacked access to adequate protective equipment. And more than half said they did not feel prepared to provide care for a patient with known or suspected case of the virus, which causes a disease known as Covid-19.
The union said nurses at other hospitals around the state have also reported concerns about lack of equipment. “Some have expressed concern that they themselves or colleagues have been in close contact with Covid-19 patients and yet are being told to continue working,” the union said.The union said nurses at other hospitals around the state have also reported concerns about lack of equipment. “Some have expressed concern that they themselves or colleagues have been in close contact with Covid-19 patients and yet are being told to continue working,” the union said.
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The California Nurses Association, a statewide union that has grown into the largest organization of nurses in the country, with representation of 155,000 nurses, is scheduled to hold a news conference Thursday afternoon to demand access to “the highest level of protection” for nurses on the front lines. It also plans to demand training and clear plans for how to handle patients suspected of having the virus.The California Nurses Association, a statewide union that has grown into the largest organization of nurses in the country, with representation of 155,000 nurses, is scheduled to hold a news conference Thursday afternoon to demand access to “the highest level of protection” for nurses on the front lines. It also plans to demand training and clear plans for how to handle patients suspected of having the virus.
“Employers shall plan for a surge of patients with possible or confirmed Covid-19, including plans to isolate, cohort, and to provide safe staffing,” the union said in a statement. “Any nurse/health care worker who is exposed to Covid-19 will be placed on precautionary leave for at least 14 days and will maintain pay and other benefits during the full length of that leave.”“Employers shall plan for a surge of patients with possible or confirmed Covid-19, including plans to isolate, cohort, and to provide safe staffing,” the union said in a statement. “Any nurse/health care worker who is exposed to Covid-19 will be placed on precautionary leave for at least 14 days and will maintain pay and other benefits during the full length of that leave.”
Some nurses at other hospitals have reported being asked to take their personal paid leave to cover periods of mandatory quarantine. California has one of the strictest nurse-to-patient ratios in the country, with one nurse for every two sick patients. Some nurses said they were concerned that hospitals would struggle to meet that quotient if too many were forced into quarantine.Some nurses at other hospitals have reported being asked to take their personal paid leave to cover periods of mandatory quarantine. California has one of the strictest nurse-to-patient ratios in the country, with one nurse for every two sick patients. Some nurses said they were concerned that hospitals would struggle to meet that quotient if too many were forced into quarantine.
Training for how to use protective gear, nurses said, is almost as important as the gear itself, because taking it off incorrectly can result in spreading dangerous fluids from a sick patient.Training for how to use protective gear, nurses said, is almost as important as the gear itself, because taking it off incorrectly can result in spreading dangerous fluids from a sick patient.
“It used to be that you’d get a full day training,” said Gerard Brogan, the director of nursing practice at the California Nurses Association. “Now, they will send a nurse and doctor to the internet to learn how to don and doff a hazmat suit.”“It used to be that you’d get a full day training,” said Gerard Brogan, the director of nursing practice at the California Nurses Association. “Now, they will send a nurse and doctor to the internet to learn how to don and doff a hazmat suit.”
A nurse at a hospital run by Tenet Healthcare in Orange County who spoke on the condition of anonymity, fearing reprisals, said staff members have not been told what to do if a possible coronavirus patient walks into the emergency room. The nurse said some doctors have ridiculed staff who have raised concerns.A nurse at a hospital run by Tenet Healthcare in Orange County who spoke on the condition of anonymity, fearing reprisals, said staff members have not been told what to do if a possible coronavirus patient walks into the emergency room. The nurse said some doctors have ridiculed staff who have raised concerns.
“It’s been pretty disturbing what is happening,” said the nurse, who is among the most experienced nurses at the hospital. “Some doctors have been walking through the hospital for weeks with respirator masks. Others have been brushing it off like, ‘If you think this is a big deal, you are a conspiracy theorist and you are weak.’”“It’s been pretty disturbing what is happening,” said the nurse, who is among the most experienced nurses at the hospital. “Some doctors have been walking through the hospital for weeks with respirator masks. Others have been brushing it off like, ‘If you think this is a big deal, you are a conspiracy theorist and you are weak.’”
Ms. Managhebi, the clinical nurse in California, said nurses have asked that N95 masks be made available on the supply carts in their units, rather than having to ask a manager or an assistant manager for one, as is the current practice.Ms. Managhebi, the clinical nurse in California, said nurses have asked that N95 masks be made available on the supply carts in their units, rather than having to ask a manager or an assistant manager for one, as is the current practice.
She also said nurses wanted the UC Davis hospital to adopt a detailed set of protocols about how they should handle suspected coronavirus cases, similar to a plan for Ebola that stipulated everything from the elevator that would be used to transport a patient to the specific staff members who would treat the patient.She also said nurses wanted the UC Davis hospital to adopt a detailed set of protocols about how they should handle suspected coronavirus cases, similar to a plan for Ebola that stipulated everything from the elevator that would be used to transport a patient to the specific staff members who would treat the patient.
But, Ms. Managhebi said, “They responded to our request and said it wasn’t necessary at this time.”But, Ms. Managhebi said, “They responded to our request and said it wasn’t necessary at this time.”
Mitch Smith contributed reporting.Mitch Smith contributed reporting.