Being asked to come into school during the pandemic

[Hazel11]

Hello all!

I hope everyone is doing well and staying as safe as possible during this time. I am writing today because I am struggling morally with what to do.

I work for a nursing school and we are being asked to come in the beginning of May to clean the nursing lab (mannequins, linens, etc.) This is being done before they “deep clean” and was also sprung upon us by leadership in time before our contracts expire at the end of the semester.

I am struggling because I don’t feel comfortable doing this and my co-workers are on the same page. The Summer semester will be on a virtual basis and I don’t understand what the urgency is. I am scared to say no and am looking at this place in a whole different light because hospitalizations of COVID have increased in our state, no one else has been on campus, and the president advised for the university to say closed. I don’t want to expose myself or my family. Any advice would be appreciated.

[HiddenAngels]

Will you guys be separated? Cleaning in different areas? Will they give you mask? If so, you should be okay away from others, just keep good hand hygiene and wear your mask

[HandsOffMySteth]

Has the lab been in use recently? Perhaps there is the option to give the room a UV treatment and chemical spray before the cleaning party goes in. Cheapest way to kill mass viruses in a relatively short time. And I would make it UVC and be out of the room when using it.

[Kitiger, RN]

1 hour ago, juniper222 said:

Has the lab been in use recently? Perhaps there is the option to give the room a UV treatment and chemical spray before the cleaning party goes in. Cheapest way to kill mass viruses in a relatively short time. And I would make it UVC and be out of the room when using it.

Wasn't the school was closed a month ago? After a month, the virus would be dead anyway. It doesn't replicate outside of a host.

What am I missing here?

[WestchesterNurse, RN]

First off, they might be trying to keep you on your contract for some reason and find a way to keep you ‘working.’ If it hasn’t been in use, and no one has been there at all, and they keep you socially separate with APPROPRIATE PPE, covid-19 has been found on cardboard up to 24 hours, plastic up to 72 hours, and the front of an n95 mask for 7 days. My largest concern, would be self inoculation. If you don and doff, and follow all those protocols taught in N1, the lab hasn’t had active Covid, and aerosolized spray is airborne for approximately 3 hours. Fomites are always a hazard, hence hand washing, and keeping gloves hands away from your face. Not to belittle the situation. UV-C light would be ideal, but it may not reach all surfaces, so 70%+isopropyl alcohol, diluted bleach, hydrogen peroxide (based on the surface your cleaning). Of course sani wipes, just don’t use the same one for too many surfaces. Best wishes and bring a change of clothes.

[Hazel11]

Thank you everyone! My coworkers and I are concerned with the fact that this was not talked about with us first on how to prepare and some of the questions you all are asking are ones that have been left unanswered. We don’t know who has been in the building since the college was shut down in March. It was also the approach of it all that left us a bit confused. Thanks again!