Check out PPE App

[MeganMN]

Our facility recently switched to an App that we log into every work day. We use it to self report any potential exposure of Covid symptoms, and we also use it to check out at the end of the day and report any breaks in our PPE. It concerns me for several reasons. We are asked to report it we had a mask and face shield on with every patient interaction. The second part asks about PPE with other coworkers. We are expected to self report if we sit in the break room without a mask on and another employee is within six feet of us also without a mask on. If we state that we had a break in PPE, we are asked to list the employees name . We are then given a flag at the end that states that we should never have a break in PPE and that we may need to be tested for Covid or quarantined if any of the reported employees come down with symptoms. My struggle with this is that our provided break room has two tables that are not six feet apart. So if two of us are eating without masks on at separate tables, we are closer than six feet, so technically, we are breaking PPE protocol, and should report it. My concern is that this app is going to be used to penalize us. Either we will be disciplined for not following PPE guidelines, or we will be lying if we report that we used all our PPE at all times. We do not have a big enough break room to eat and be six feet apart. Is anyone else using this type of app? It concerns me. Some days I am lucky to get a chance to sit down and eat. I do not Want to have to worry about not getting to eat it someone else is already in the break room.

[Rose_Queen, BSN, MSN, RN]

Has your facility offered other alternatives for places to eat? We’ve been using the surgical waiting room, plus they have installed plexiglass dividers on tables and between tables that allow for people to eat and still have barriers. 

[JKL33]

Easy. Ask your manager what areas have been designated for break that don't require you to violate the precautions that they are expecting and don't force employees to register every day admitting that they have breached the guidelines. Bring it right out into the open. This is something I would address (respectfully, carefully) even in an crowd such as at a staff meeting, at huddle, etc.

It's just so obvious they they plan to cover themselves by placing employees in inappropriate situations and then putting it upon the employees to register that they have individually breached protocols/guidelines.

This is a big no. I would not eat in that breakroom.