Can't get covid at work

[BSN-to-MSN, ADN, BSN, RN]

On 12/5/2020 at 8:33 PM, JKL33 said:

Except that I don't actually have to stand near anyone at the grocery store or provide personal care to anyone at the grocery store--let alone people already known to be sick with Covid-19. I also tend to not stay at the grocery store for 12 hours straight several days a week.

On point! Yes, it's hard to stay 6 feet apart from a covid patient. If a nurse has Covid now, they say it's because s/he was not properly wearing PPE. Back in March, when we cared for Covid patient's without PPE, were told "oh, you're fine, you don't have any symptoms, do you? Totally fine!"

[Daisy Joyce]

Ah yes, you must work at a mystical, magical Covid-free hospital.

Lucky ???

[myoglobin, ASN, BSN, MSN]

Well even the Danish mask study showed that the masks did not prevent getting covid to a level of statistical significance (granted they did not look at M-95 masks, but then again do you wear M-95 around all of your patients and co workers. Also the study did not address whether masks help prevent transmission to others which is the primary purpose of wearing masks). The bottom line is that this is a  highly transmissible airborne virus and the more that you are around people with it (as you inevitably are in a hospital). The more likely you are to get it. Also, since it has high "antigenic drift" it is likely that you can be infected more than once (although in theory you should have some residual immunity from previous infections).  It is almost laughable for the hospital to have the position that you are unlikely to get Covid at your job. Rather, it is almost statistically certain that you will, probably more than once.

[magellan]

There was even a news from CNN last week that a CEO tested positive. It's not only hospitals that are involved which also includes nursing homes, Hemodialysis Centers, Prisons where nurses works and other Healthcare facilities. It is because the virus is within our face with our workplace and nature of our employment.  Plus, if the management doesn't support or supply us with adequate PPEs, nurse patient ratio, hand sanitizers and all the more it adds up to our vulnerability. 

[Julie Michaels Brockman]

The CEO, of the hospital I work at, stated in a TV news conference with our governor that the employees were getting covid from attending family parties were masks were not being worn. Needless to say she pissed some people off.

[magellan]

55 minutes ago, Julie Michaels Brockman said:

The CEO, of the hospital I work at, stated in a TV news conference with our governor that the employees were getting covid from attending family parties were masks were not being worn. Needless to say she pissed some people off.

It's a betrayal by the CEO to the frontliners specifically the nurses by implying that nurses who contracted the virus was due to outside factors like attending parties, church, groceries and other alibis. That CEO is so pathetic and insensitive towards the feelings of nurses since we are the frontlines in the battle to zero out the virus but here is the CEO who makes press releases in the public saying that its the nurses fault that we tests positive because of those above alibis. 

[Ioreth, ADN, RN]

Completely heard this word for word from my old manager. Fortunately my floor now has a new manager that is much more reasonable on this matter.

I have been out on Covid symptoms twice. Tested negative in July, but looked like mild Covid in every way. In early Nov I was out with a positive test and not-so-mild Covid. Both times the manager grilled me on safety and stated loudly that I couldn't have possibly gotten it at work, even though we frequently got patients that were not tested as they came in through the ED and surprise! tested positive later. I always got the feeling that she thought I was faking my symptoms, even when I showed up back at work in late November struggling to get through the shift and on an inhaler for dyspnea.

Another thing of note: my hospital's latest Covid policy is that a simple surgical mask is fine for providing direct patient care to Covid patients as long as they are not on an aerosolizing device. I'm so glad that this doesn't fly with my new manager and she has been diligent in ensuring staff has proper PPE, even if we are still reusing as much as possible.

[Ioreth, ADN, RN]

Another thought: How well are we using our N95s and other PPE?

Even though it takes longer (and despite that I have antibodies), I change gloves to take off my mask so that I have less transfer to my face. But I've seen many coworkers, including physicians, wear their N95 around their neck or on their arm between use. The evidence for fomite transmission is weak, but not nonexistant, especially in close contact and immediate handling of those items. In other words, we probably don't need to bleach our groceries, but I would think twice about handling my mask with bare hands after doing patient care. Yet, that is exactly what I see mostly people doing.

[JKL33]

1 hour ago, Ioreth said:

Both times the manager grilled me on safety and stated loudly that I couldn't have possibly gotten it at work, even though we frequently got patients that were not tested as they came in through the ED and surprise! tested positive later.

This is disgusting behavior. I would hate to be such a complete tool that I was willing to act this way. The alternative, which is to be stupid enough to thoroughly believe this, doesn't sound real great either.

[myoglobin, ASN, BSN, MSN]

2 hours ago, JKL33 said:

This is disgusting behavior. I would hate to be such a complete tool that I was willing to act this way. The alternative, which is to be stupid enough to thoroughly believe this, doesn't sound real great either.

Again, this is an "airborne" disease with transmission rates that probably exceed influenza and approach that of something like measles.  Thus, any situation that will tend to bring you in to contact with people likely infected will greatly increase your chances of catching the disease (mask or no mask). Thus, going to a pharmacy probably exposes you to more positive people (given the same number of people who you come in to contact with) than going to say an "Art's and Craft" store. Why? Because at least some of the people who go to the pharmacy are going there because they have "flu like symptoms". Thus, it stands to reason that being in the hospital (let alone working there every day) places you at an exponentially higher risk of being exposed to this virus because many of the people there go there due to covid symptoms.  Only someone who does not understand the very basics of this virus or who is willfully ignorant wound not accede to the fact that hospital workers are heroes and will likely each be infected on numerous occassions (due to antigenic drift it is likely you can get this virus more than once).  This would be in spite of perfect adherence to the best prevention practices which in the real world simply does not occur.  

[magellan]

5 hours ago, Ioreth said:

Another thought: How well are we using our N95s and other PPE?

Even though it takes longer (and despite that I have antibodies), I change gloves to take off my mask so that I have less transfer to my face. But I've seen many coworkers, including physicians, wear their N95 around their neck or on their arm between use. The evidence for fomite transmission is weak, but not nonexistant, especially in close contact and immediate handling of those items. In other words, we probably don't need to bleach our groceries, but I would think twice about handling my mask with bare hands after doing patient care. Yet, that is exactly what I see mostly people doing.

You see, the hospital is scrutinizing us on how we deal with just wearing our own mask. You have to do this and do that. But then, in the end they will deny that you don't get the virus in the hospital.

[Crystal-Wings, LVN]

Your hospital only wishes that were true. That’s the most ignorant statement I’ve read this week.