Here's How the CDC Director Protects Himself from Ebola (But Not Nurses)

[MissyWrite]

As the saying goes, 'a picture's worth a thousand words.' This one is worth even more than that.

Here's a photo of CDC director Tom Frieden, MD, exiting an Ebola ward. It seems the PPE and protocols he recommends for us aren't enough for him:

Tom Frieden, M.D., the director of the CDC, is decontaminated by Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders staff after visiting their Ebola treatment unit ELWA3, on Aug. 27, 2014.

CDC's Director Dr. Frieden is exiting the high-risk area of the ELWA3 (Eternal Love Winning Africa) Ebola Treatment Unit. Undressing must be done in a way that prevents the body from being exposed to infectious material. The order of removing contaminated clothing is critical. The sprayer is decontaminating each layer with chlorine as Dr. Frieden removes his personal protective equipment.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/09/25/cdc-ebola-outbreak-west-africa-photos_n_5863094.html

[Ginger's Mom, MSN, RN]

oh my, I guess HCW do not deserve the same equipment he gets!

[macawake, MSN]

Here's a photo of CDC director Tom Frieden, MD, exiting an Ebola ward. It seems the PPE and protocols he recommends for us aren't enough for him

I understand that many nurses are upset with the CDC director at the moment, but to be fair this is probably an example of “when in Rome, do as the Romans do”. If this is the way MSF on site suit up, of course a visitor regardless of he is the CDC director or someone else, will follow the same protocol. It's not like he demanded special treatment.

But I agree that even though the working conditions for healthcare professionals in West Africa is very different from a first world hospital, it might well be a good idea to implement more stringent PPE protocols in our hospitals as well. Of course training in how to properly/safely put on and remove said PPE should be included.

[MissyWrite]

it might well be a good idea to implement more stringent PPE protocols in our hospitals as well

It might well be, since two RNs were infected.

[herring_RN, ASN, BSN]

National Nurses United: Nurse's Toolkit

http://www.nationalnursesunited.org/pages/nnu-nurses-toolkit

[MissyWrite]

National Nurses United: Nurse’s Toolkit

Thanks for this, Herring_RN.

The "Nursing Practice & Patient Advocacy Alert—Treatment of Patients with Ebola" is helpful. It provides the details of what we need to ask for, including:

"Employers shall provide optimal personal protective equipment for Ebola that meets the highest standards used by the University of Nebraska including:

(1) Full-body hazmat suits that meet the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) F1670 standard for blood penetration, the ASTM F1671 standard for viral penetration, and that leave no skin exposed or unprotected and

(2) National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health-approved powered air purifying respirators with an assigned protection factor of at least 50."

Nursing Practice & Patient Advocacy Alert—Treatment of Patients with Ebola | National Nurses United

[h=1][/h]

[imintrouble, BSN, RN]

I am computer illiterate.

Somebody put a split picture of the above, next to the picture of the smiling nurse in her inadequate PPE, with her thumb optimistically up.

The picture I'm referring to is one floating around on one of these threads.

The difference is enough to make you want to cry.

[roser13, ASN, RN]

Missywrite, I am an avid follower of your Ebola updates. What can/should those of us in non-union states with thus-far nonexistent Ebola experience do to prepare?

[MissyWrite]

What can/should those of us in non-union states with thus-far nonexistent Ebola experience do to prepare?

I wish I knew for sure. I would say to speak to those in charge now, before you get an Ebola patient, and ask them exactly what the plan is for PPE and protocol. Ask them if they have the PPE in stock (so you're not waiting 2 weeks for it to be ordered, like in Dallas). If possible, have a group of nurses do this with you. Keep a record. But please do speak up. Your life may depend on it.

[MissyWrite]

What can/should those of us in non-union states with thus-far nonexistent Ebola experience do to prepare?

CDC checklist: Is your healthcare facility ready to handle Ebola?

CDC checklist: Is your healthcare facility ready to handle Ebola? - McMorrowReports | McMorrowReports

Your facility should have all these things in place.

[MissyWrite]

What can/should those of us in non-union states with thus-far nonexistent Ebola experience do to prepare?

This is National Nurses United's checklist for preparedness:

Nursing Practice & Patient Advocacy Alert--Treatment of Patients with Ebola | National Nurses United

I would think that in light of what happened in Texas, hospitals will willingly prepare, and do it now. The whole fiasco was tragic, and everyone must learn from it. What to do, and what not to do. It seems the CDC is learning from it and upgrading their recommendations, and some hospitals are going beyond the recommendations (I think they should):

Changes to Ebola Protection

Worn by U.S. Hospital Workers

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2014/10/15/us/changes-to-ebola-protection-worn-by-us-hospital-workers.html?_r=1

The first photo is of the 'old' CDC PPE recommendations. The second photo are the current ones. The third is the PPE a hospital in NY plans to use, which "begins to approach the standard of protection used by health care workers in West Africa. The C.D.C. may soon require full-body suits in the United States."

What are they waiting for, that's my question. The cost of this gear is far, far less than the cost of everything involved in the fiasco we've witnessed.

[SHGR, MSN, RN, CNS]

What are they waiting for, that's my question. The cost of this gear is far, far less than the cost of everything involved in the fiasco we've witnessed.

THIS^^^ x 1,000,000.