Published Oct 14, 2014
tnbutterfly - Mary, BSN
83 Articles; 5,923 Posts
For those who participated in the Ebola Preparedness survey, your voices are being heard.
In a survey of more than 3,000 nurses across the country, more than 70 percent say they are unprepared to deal with the Ebola crisis. The survey was conducted by allnurses.com after a nurse contracted the disease in Texas from contact with an infected patient.Ebola is quickly becoming one of the more important stories in the world news. For nurses, the most frightening aspect may be the lack of preparation. More than 70 percent of staff members said they still hadn't spoken about the issue with their nurses.However, most nurses do feel like there are solutions to these problems. Only about 7 percent didn't know what would be helpful with the threat or reality of Ebola. Almost a third thought "better communication about preparedness at [their] facility" could help them. Even more helpful, according to the allnurses.com survey, would be "Live (in-person) training sessions or practice drills," which over 40 percent thought would aid the most.Even though these resources aren't being provided now, most nurses surveyed still believe there are ways to be better informed, and to better help their patients.
Ebola is quickly becoming one of the more important stories in the world news. For nurses, the most frightening aspect may be the lack of preparation. More than 70 percent of staff members said they still hadn't spoken about the issue with their nurses.
However, most nurses do feel like there are solutions to these problems. Only about 7 percent didn't know what would be helpful with the threat or reality of Ebola. Almost a third thought "better communication about preparedness at [their] facility" could help them. Even more helpful, according to the allnurses.com survey, would be "Live (in-person) training sessions or practice drills," which over 40 percent thought would aid the most.
Even though these resources aren't being provided now, most nurses surveyed still believe there are ways to be better informed, and to better help their patients.
Nurses Say They are Unprepared to Deal with Ebola
AOL Original October 14, 2014
Responding almost immediately to the news of the Dallas nurse who contracted Ebola - the first person to do so within the U.S. - nurses across the country are adding to the growing chorus of concern over how hospitals and front-line healthcare workers deal with any possible exposure.The "vast majority" of nurses nationwide "don't feel prepared or safe" for treating any such patient, according to a recent survey of 3,000 nurses from allnurses.com.
The "vast majority" of nurses nationwide "don't feel prepared or safe" for treating any such patient, according to a recent survey of 3,000 nurses from allnurses.com.
For the full story, go to:
Majority of nurses, front-line health workers 'don't feel prepared' for Ebola
gypsyd8
1 Article; 276 Posts
Funny, after this made the news we were assured that our facility was working on it.
nor902
24 Posts
I think each city should have a protocol and stockpile of necessary supplies and go to person. In our city we have 3 large hospitals plus a VA. I think that only 1 should be designated to receive these patients (hopefully it will not come to that) with trained teams.
tokmom, BSN, RN
4,568 Posts
I'm proud that nurses are finally supporting each other and letting the backstabbing, ADN vs BSN, and "my unit is cooler than your unit" mentality take a backseat. It's about time. Let's see what movement we can get going and keep going. It doesn't matter if a nurse is an ADN versus a BSN, or what school they went to or where they work. We are all in this together because it's all we have. The news media and facilities are quick to blame the nurse. Well, lets get the TRUTH out there.
Rant over..
LadyFree28, BSN, LPN, RN
8,429 Posts
Nurses get to speak!
This is WONDERFUL news and an important unity to have the media focus on what nurses actually do and face; unfortunately, it had to a take an infectious disease to show how a percentage of hospitals only care about the bottom line and are not up to par.
I hope we, as nurses, can keep pushing these issues to the forefront beyond Ebola, and effectively make change, we owe it to ourselves and our patients.
Maybe the next nurse costume at the Halloween store won't be a short, sexy dress with boobs hanging out, but a hazmat suit...
nursel56
7,098 Posts
Allnurses is by far the best place to take the pulse (haha) of the nursing community as a whole. My own feeling...sure reporters go ahead and call the ANA but we're the real voice of nursing!
Brian has worked hard to get the voices of "real nurses" out there. The results of the survey clearly reflect the opinions of, not only allnurses.com, but all nurses everywhere.
1KoolRN
48 Posts
It's about time nurses are respected and regarded as having a powerful impact on the health and safety of our country ~ Hopefully, now, nurses will have the opportunity to participate in a collaborative global care plan (ha!)
loveoverpride
128 Posts
I'm proud that nurses are finally supporting each other and letting the backstabbing, ADN vs BSN, and "my unit is cooler than your unit" mentality take a backseat. It's about time. Let's see what movement we can get going and keep going. It doesn't matter if a nurse is an ADN versus a BSN, or what school they went to or where they work. We are all in this together because it's all we have. The news media and facilities are quick to blame the nurse. Well, lets get the TRUTH out there.Rant over..
Please don't forget to add LPN into that. I tried defending nurses & advocating for more education in comments on boards (CNN, huffington post etc) and I was told to "Shut up because I'm only a Little Pretend Nurse and I was not allowed to speak as a nurse because I wasn't a ®eal (N)urse"
- It honestly really hurt my feelings (I know I need a thicker skin) but it stung. And quite a few people agreed with the person who said that. I went to an accredited school, graduated with great grades,and received a practical nursing diploma. In September I took the nclex, passed and received my nursing license from the N.Y state BON. My amazing RN teacher(s) always drilled into our head not to be bullied by the above statements (if anything we were "low paid nurses") but far from "pretend", and they taught us a curriculum that is still unmatched by any other LPN program.
-I'm sorry, for getting carried away, I know this is way bigger than my feeling insulted. However, please don't forget about us too. We support you, and I wish and was hoping all the nurses could come together and unite right now.
Please don't forget to add LPN into that. I tried defending nurses & advocating for more education in comments on boards (CNN, huffington post etc) and I was told to "Shut up because I'm only a Little Pretend Nurse and I was not allowed to speak as a nurse because I wasn't a ®eal (N)urse"- It honestly really hurt my feelings (I know I need a thicker skin) but it stung. And quite a few people agreed with the person who said that. I went to an accredited school, graduated with great grades,and received a practical nursing diploma. In September I took the nclex, passed and received my nursing license from the N.Y state BON. My amazing RN teacher(s) always drilled into our head not to be bullied by the above statements (if anything we were "low paid nurses") but far from "pretend", and they taught us a curriculum that is still unmatched by any other LPN program. -I'm sorry, for getting carried away, I know this is way bigger than my feeling insulted. However, please don't forget about us too. We support you, and I wish and was hoping all the nurses could come together and unite right now.
Of course LPN's are nurses. I was one for four years prior to my ADN.
I only mentioned the ADN vs BSN because there are 2,196.5 posts on the subject on AN.
It's nice to see them disappear for awhile.
Add I said, we are ALL in this together
UnaNayeli
91 Posts
I am a BSN. You have my support. I was never an LPN, but I have held both subordinate and supervisory roles to those of LPNs. I wouldn't, personally, tolerate listening to anyone degrade an LPN based only upon that LPNs title.
I think: If you are passionate about something, like you are about this topic, you have to keep chipping away at it whenever you can -- like you did here. It makes a difference.