Ebola here in Dallas USA

Nurses COVID

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Specializes in Clinical Research, Outpt Women's Health.

I think we are in more danger from the panic and tanking the stock market and economy from fear. It was just like this with HIV too. I wish people would really listen to the info. The only person I trade bodily fluids with is my husband. I am way more at risk from ying in a traffic accident.

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Specializes in Oncology.

What I find scary is that this man helped care for two Ebola patients back in Liberia (whom he lived with, according to the New York Times), then knowingly boarded a plane four days later. He knew the infection was spreading wildly in his community, so he came to the U.S., where he'd have a better chance of survival. It's at best a selfish act, at worst an act of deliberate terrorism. I believe he was well aware that he was bringing the infection into the United States. Why are we allowing ANY travelers from infected countries?

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Specializes in Anesthesia.
What I find scary is that this man helped care for two Ebola patients back in Liberia (whom he lived with, according to the New York Times), then knowingly boarded a plane four days later. He knew the infection was spreading wildly in his community, so he came to the U.S., where he'd have a better chance of survival. It's at best a selfish act, at worst an act of deliberate terrorism. I believe he was well aware that he was bringing the infection into the United States. Why are we allowing ANY travelers from infected countries?

I guess my thought would be would you stay in a country where the mortality rate was 50+% from Ebola not knowing if you had Ebola or risk possibly spreading Ebola in a country where the cure rate has been 100% so far with a 0% mortality.

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Specializes in hospice.

It's confirmed that federal guidelines were not followed. Honestly, if there is an outbreak in Dallas and it spreads, it is COMPLETELY this hospital's fault! :mad:

http://www.dallasnews.com/news/metro/20141001-dallas-hospital-knew-man-had-been-to-w.-africa-didnt-isolate-him-for-ebola-testing.ece

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Academics.
If you were doing intake on this patient, would you really NOT make absolutely 100 percent certain anyone coming near this patient knew of the history? Would you not immediately doan PPE and escort the patient into isolation then immediately get a doc and TELL him what's going on? You're right, though, I should wait for more information. But writing something like this on an intake report and doing nothing with it is totally negligent.

Hold on. What is the point of an intake report IF NO ONE READS IT? I am not so quick to throw this one nurse under the bus. History-taking is not the exclusive domain of the ED triaging nurse.

Here's a thought---what about the lack of a thorough history by the ED doc? Isn't HPI and physical assessment the foundation of accurate diagnosis?

I've never worked the ED, so someone enlighten me. Isn't it triage nurse, assigned nurse, and ED doc or NP or PA all responsible for HPI? Or does it start and stop with the triage nurse?

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Academics.

The link that duskyjewel posted stated that there was an investigation as to why the patient's travel history was not communicated to the docs. Yes, the nurse should have communicated it, but the docs should also independently verify information.

The hospital is setting up the nurse as a scapegoat. No doubt in my mind.

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Specializes in Clinical Research, Outpt Women's Health.

Both are to blame. They should have read her info, but seriously, she should have made certain they knew this incredibly important bit of information.

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Specializes in hospice.

My 7 year old is home from school today with a seemingly minor viral illness. Let me tell you, I'm thinking differently about it than I ever have before. I actually had thoughts about losing one of my children to Ebola on the way to the gym this morning. Arizona is a short trip across New Mexico from Texas.

I never thought we'd be able to completely avoid it getting here. But I did think that our hospitals would take it seriously and apparently, this one didn't. That makes me angry.

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Specializes in IMCU, Oncology.

"Liberian officials plan to prosecute the man who brought Ebola to the United States for lying on his health form. His actions may have put nearly 100 other people at risk."

Dallas Ebola patient to be prosecuted, circle of contact increas - Dallas News | myFOXdfw.com

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Specializes in L&D, Women's Health.
With general American education levels on geography, and the propensity of many not to pay attention to the news, maybe the nurse didn't realize why being from Africa was relevant. Especially if he said "Liberia." There is a frightening number of Americans who can't find the US on a world map, so how many have any idea where Liberia is?

Like I said, totally disgusted.

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Specializes in L&D, Women's Health.
Hold on. What is the point of an intake report IF NO ONE READS IT? I am not so quick to throw this one nurse under the bus. History-taking is not the exclusive domain of the ED triaging nurse.

Here's a thought---what about the lack of a thorough history by the ED doc? Isn't HPI and physical assessment the foundation of accurate diagnosis?

I've never worked the ED, so someone enlighten me. Isn't it triage nurse, assigned nurse, and ED doc or NP or PA all responsible for HPI? Or does it start and stop with the triage nurse?

I'm afraid I'm ready to throw everyone who cared for this pt under the bus. Most certainly, if the RN did not relay the information (gross negligence if that is the case), then the doctor caring for the pt should at minimum also do a rapid history and should also be held responsible if he did not. It doesn't matter how a hospital normally triages patients; this is NOT "routine" ER patient. The first person (and I don't care if it's the janitor) told by the pt that he was from Liberia has the responsibility to protect themselves and everyone else by isolating the patient immediately, not put the chart in a rack and then turn to the next pt.

But, I have utmost confidence that this will be contained. Like I said, if Nigeria could do it, I'm sure we can! I'm just extremely saddened by all the unnecessary exposures.

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Specializes in Oncology, Rehab, Public Health, Med Surg.

Quote>The first person (and I don't care if it's the janitor) told by the pt that he was from Liberia has the responsibility to protect themselves and everyone else by isolating the patient immediately>quote]

You plan to quarantine everyone from Liberia? Nigeria? No matter what their symptoms?

I heard a blurb on NPR a month or so ago about some college presidents encouraging students to look with a "discerning " eye at students from theses African countries for health issues. All I could do is be so sad as I flashed back to the suspicious paranoia of the newly announced

HIV times

. I'm sure they would have loved to isolate anyone they suspected coming from the land of HIV

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