Coronavirus mask shortage

[zillynurz]

My hospital has resorted to handing out face masks one at a time and you're expected to use the mask for your entire shift unless soiled. If you take it off, you're to put it in a bag and label it with your name to use later. Seems masks are in short supply or maybe people are hoarding them. Is this happening at your hospital?

[zillynurz]

mods cancel this, seems the topic is well discussed as is

[Hani, BSN, RN, EMT-I]

This is the first thread I've seen about it.

[NurseBlaq]

I haven't seen any threads about face mask shortages either.

But on this topic, isn't that unsanitary? What if a patient is on isolation? Are you expected to go room to room with the same mask? That's ridiculous!

[Nunya, BSN]

Well, that totally defeats the purpose of a face mask...your hospital needs some education on how to use them. And I would be very tempted to call my local paper with this little tidbit so people know what kind of care they're (not) getting. Oh, and maybe JC.

[NRSKarenRN, BSN, RN]

Pretty bad when the Surgeon General issues plea on Twitter to general public to STOP BUYING MASKS as resulted in hospital/healthcare facility shortages.

From CNN 2/29/20:

The surgeon general wants Americans to stop buying face masks

https://www.cnn.com/2020/02/29/health/face-masks-coronavirus-surgeon-general-trnd/index.html

VP Pence speaking on CNN's State of the Union today reinforced that Americans need not buy masks, needed for healthcare workers to prevent transmission.

[Emergent, RN]

I came across an N-95 mask that I had brought home at one point in time and thought, 'This is precious and valuable, save for emergency!'

[Kitiger, RN]

7 hours ago, Emergent said:

I came across an N-95 mask that I had brought home at one point in time and thought, 'This is precious and valuable, save for emergency!'

Me, too. I have two.

N-95s make a great mask to wear outside in the cold, as the moist air goes out the filter and so doesn't fog up my glasses (as much). I buy them at hardware stores; they're used by painters.

I also have about 50 ear-loop masks. I always buy up before the fall, as, when sick, many of my clients have no idea how to cover the cough. Some can even spray the ceiling! I use the masks to protect myself.

Yes, my agency is supposed to supply us with masks, but it doesn't always happen in a timely manner.

[adventure_rn, MSN, NP]

https://allnurses.com/coronavirus-supply-shortages-t715755/

We've had this one going for about a week.

[PeekaPooh]

My unit is even worse. Not only they locked up the masks, so that patients cannot steal them. They are also not allowing us to wear masks in the hallways of the unit. A few of our staff are under the weather/sick themselves and were told to remove the masks while in the hallways...Yet, we see doctors wearing N-95 masks the whole time in the hallways, patients' rooms, throughout the hospital. One doctor even said to me "I'm not taking any chances."

The only people who are allowed to wear masks are those who didn't get the flu vaccine for the season. And obviously our management doesn't dare to speak up to the doctors when the doctors are wearing masks in the hallways, they only talk to the RNs and CNAs, those who are below their status...Staff on our unit are not happy with this, but no one can do anything about it.

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

For droplet isolation one cannot reuse masks. Think about it: you wear the mask, patient coughs/sneezes in the air, it lands on your mask, then while exiting the room you take it off, put in a bag and wash your hands. Upon returning, you reach into the bag to pull out mask and CONTAMINATE YOUR HANDS, and then have your hands close to your nose and mouth while putting the mask on. Wonderful.

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

On 2/28/2020 at 1:05 PM, zillynurz said:

you're expected to use the mask for your entire shift unless soiled.

LOL, the mask IS soiled the minute you walk into the isolated patient room.