Nina Pham condition downgraded to fair

Nurses COVID

Published

Specializes in hospice.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2797358/ebola-nurse-nina-pham-s-condition-downgraded-good-fair-transfer-specialized-quarantine-unit-chief-doctor-calls-trooper.html

I'm sad to see this news. I was hoping Dr. Brantly's transfusion would save her, and maybe it will, but it looks like she is getting worse.

One infuriating thing in this article is that the caregivers for her dog are described as wearing hazmat suits. Nurses caring for humans in a supposedly state of the art hospital get flapping, stupid gowns, gloves, masks and maybe face shields, and no neck coverage as we know from previous articles. But veterinary workers....they get hazmat suits. :mad:

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Someone from NIH (I don't remember who it was) explained in a press conference that the "downgrade" in Ms Pham's condition was simply due to her just being admitted there, and not due to any observed change in her health status. They just hadn't had enough time yet to fully evaluate her. I wouldn't worry unless they downgrade her condition again.

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Specializes in Maternal - Child Health.

HarryTheCat,

I hope you are right, but like so many Americans, I am having a very difficult time believing any information that comes from the CDC or NIH these days. My first tendency is to call BS.

That said, I pray that Ms. Pham and all those exposed to Ebola by the incompetence of our "top" public health officials will recover uneventfully, and that what is learned from their care may offer benefit worldwide.

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Specializes in LTC Rehab Med/Surg.

I was saddened that she might have worsened. I hope as the above poster said it was simply a matter of the facility policy.

Unfortunately, day 7-10 of the illness is the worst. It's when the truly nasty symptoms start.

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HarryTheCat,

I hope you are right, but like so many Americans, I am having a very difficult time believing any information that comes from the CDC or NIH these days. My first tendency is to call BS.

That said, I pray that Ms. Pham and all those exposed to Ebola by the incompetence of our "top" public health officials will recover uneventfully, and that what is learned from their care may offer benefit worldwide.

I don't know anything about the individual from NIH who made that statement regarding Ms Pham's condition, and don't know if I can take him at his word or not. I too am skeptical when it comes to statements from government entities lately, and at this point the CDC appears to be more concerned with getting the right "spin" on the story than they are about actually addressing what could become a catastrophic public health problem. The latest move, appointing a political spinmeister as the "Ebola Czar", does not do much to allay my skepticism. I can only pray that they are not truly as inept as they appear.

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I hope they are both better soon and that no one else gets sick. There are many unknowns here. Can you imagine if you were sick and not only did your family and coworkers hear about your illness, it was on the news as well? It must be rough.

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The doctor stated at the press conference that they didn't "downgrade" her condition because they were not comparing it to the one announced by PHD. He simply stated that after a long ordeal of getting prepared for transport, taking a several hour flight, walking down the stairs at the destination airport, etc., that Nina was understandably tired. They evaluated her as a baseline, not as any kind of comparison to her prior state.

Nina began showing symptoms 9 days ago. I'm crossing my fingers that the next week proves to one of stability and improvement. As we know, receiving Dr. Brantley's plasma is an experimental treatment with no proven benefit. However, it would seem intuitive that having his antibodies against this disease in her body would give her a weapon the average ebola patient doesn't have.

Keeping both nurses in my thoughts, that's for sure. According to the interview with a treating doc at Presby that I linked in the other ebola thread, all nurses who cared for Mr. Duncan volunteered to do so. No matter what we think of Nurse #2's decision to travel on mass transit, she was a brave lady to put herself in that room with Mr. Duncan.

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One infuriating thing in this article is that the caregivers for her dog are described as wearing hazmat suits. Nurses caring for humans in a supposedly state of the art hospital get flapping, stupid gowns, gloves, masks and maybe face shields, and no neck coverage as we know from previous articles. But veterinary workers....they get hazmat suits. :mad:
[/quote

Based on recent articles in the press, there may be confusion as to the definitions of 'Hazardous Materials Suits' and the typical hospital PPE, which earlier reports said was worn by Dallas nurses. This infuriates me. Articles are implying that 'hazmat' suits were worn by Dallas nurses from 9/30 on. I do not believe that is true.

I would like some feedback from knowledgeable nurses about correct definition of these terms. My understanding of Hazmat is the full garb worn by hazardous materials handlers, and standard hospital or previously CDC recommended garb consisting of face mask, goggles, impervious gown, double gloves and (maybe) paper booties.

I think we are being misled again, or misinformed about what actually went down at Dallas Presby.

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Specializes in Certified Med/Surg tele, and other stuff.
One infuriating thing in this article is that the caregivers for her dog are described as wearing hazmat suits. Nurses caring for humans in a supposedly state of the art hospital get flapping, stupid gowns, gloves, masks and maybe face shields, and no neck coverage as we know from previous articles. But veterinary workers....they get hazmat suits. :mad:
[/quote

Based on recent articles in the press, there may be confusion as to the definitions of 'Hazardous Materials Suits' and the typical hospital PPE, which earlier reports said was worn by Dallas nurses. This infuriates me. Articles are implying that 'hazmat' suits were worn by Dallas nurses from 9/30 on. I do not believe that is true.

I would like some feedback from knowledgeable nurses about correct definition of these terms. My understanding of Hazmat is the full garb worn by hazardous materials handlers, and standard hospital or previously CDC recommended garb consisting of face mask, goggles, impervious gown, double gloves and (maybe) paper booties.

I think we are being misled again, or misinformed about what actually went down at Dallas Presby.

THANK YOU! it doesn't add up, does it. The nurses say one thing, hospital another and the CDC something else entirely. The only ones I believe in all of this are the nurses.

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HarryTheCat,

I hope you are right, but like so many Americans, I am having a very difficult time believing any information that comes from the CDC or NIH these days. My first tendency is to call BS.

The NIH is a great facility with seasoned specialists and nurses who are well trained to take care of Nina Pham. As another poster said, the director of the NIH has stated she was in fair condition. He also said on TV as well as in this article, that "Nina Pham will walk out of their facility".

Pham doing well in Bethesda; clinic 'humbled and fortunate'

When News 8 asked whether Pham's condition is deteriorating, the NIH said she is not getting worse. Instead, they said 'fair' is a conservative assessment of her initial symptoms upon arrival.

"She is very fatigued," Fauci added.

Still, he said her mother and sister are in the area and Pham has her iPad in the isolation unit.

Pham, 26, is recovering from Ebola she contracted while treating the first patient in the U.S. diagnosed with the deadly disease, Thomas Eric Duncan, who later died.

The NIH, in suburban Washington, DC, has two teams of ten nurses treating Pham. At least two nurses are in the room with her at all times, Fauci explained.

He would not speculate on how long Pham might receive treatment in Bethesda.

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Heard tonight that Nina Pham's condition has now been upgraded from "fair to good". See below.

Update on Clinical Status of Ebola Patient at the NIH Clinical Center

"The NIH has received countless inquiries and expressions of support for Ms. Nina Pham, the Texas nurse who was admitted to the NIH Clinical Center Special Clinical Studies Unit on Thursday, October 16, with Ebola virus disease. The NIH Clinical Center staff has shared the general sentiments with her and Ms. Pham has expressed her gratitude for everyone’s concerns and well wishes. Ms. Pham’s clinical status has been upgraded from fair to good. No additional details are available at this time".

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Specializes in Anesthesia.

I go to the NIH every week as part of one my PhD classes. That NIH hospital has great resources. The level of education is outstanding among all the staff. It isn't unusual to have a MSN or PhD nurse working bedside.

The nurse to patient ratios average is 1:3 at NIH.

I have been extremely impressed with the setup at the NIH hospital, but it is important to note that the NIH is 100% a research hospital. There are very few hospitals that could match the level of care that can be obtained at NIH, since the NIH hospital budget does not depend on money from patient revenue (insurance, medicare etc.).

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