Do hospitals allow nurses to wear their own respirators of choice to prevent from getting COVID? Can nurses purchase any respirator and wear it at work at any hospital, or are there certain respirators that you cannot wear at work?
Basically, I would like to know if nurses are restricted to the PPE they can wear at work in any way, or if they are free to purchase any outside PPE to wear at work in hospitals.
Okay, got it. Also, there is no PPE shortage anymore in hospitals right? Do hospitals now have an oversupply of PPE for nurses and healthcare workers? Will they have an oversupply of PPE for nurses and healthcare workers in the future as well? I am just concerned about PPE for nurses, especially since I am planning to work in the ICU and become a CRNA in the future as well.
Directive came out at my hospital a month ago that we are no longer to reuse PPE. We now wear one N-95 for each time we enter an airborne room. I’m going to say supply is much better.
What research have found stating the ineffectiveness of an N-95? It’s a pretty rigorous testing process to be honest. I was a little irritated with the addition of the hood this year. LOL.
I never contracted COVID while caring for COVID patients because I was protected by my N-95. I contracted it when I was given a generic, flimsy mask that you could buy on any street corner and we let visitors in, while caring for regular ICU patients. Mine was determined to be a work place exposure.
Are you vaccinated? That’s your absolute best protection.
Basically, when I become a nurse I would like to wear an Elastomeric Half Facepiece Respirator (P100 masks) or better (and not a fitted n95 mask) when I am anywhere in the hospital.
May I kindly suggest that if you're so inflexible about following hospital policy, healthcare may not be the best fit for you.
There are plenty of other professions that are a lot more lenient, but healthcare is pretty standardized; you either follow the rules, or you're labeled as difficult to work with and get fired. Even if you think the rules are frustrating or don't make sense, you've got to find a way to make it work. You may find more leniency at a small privately-owned clinics or LTC facilities, but hospitals (and their ICUs/ORs) are bureaucracies; even if you make a fuss, it's not likely to change anything.
My hospital fitted all the patient care staff with those half-face masks, we use those for our covid/rule-out patients. We remove them and clean them with wipes. I think my face does not like the wipes because I 'break out' a little after wearing them a while. My old one used "disposable" n95s and we were given 1 to last each day (if they broke we could replace them). The plastic filter face masks make talking to people very difficult, especially in rooms with the huge N95 air filter machines running. You pretty much have to yell, and still be misunderstood, unheard. So, they were only used in patient rooms, and basically people would take them off first chance after leaving room because conversations (including between staff) were impossible. Since they are re-used and cleaned between patients, infection risk starts to boil down to how good are you at cleaning your mask.
Specializes in Pediatrics, Pediatric Float, PICU, NICU.
As usual, you’ve received some great advice by the members here.
I would be interested to understand more about why you feel you need these additional respirators, what actual scientific research you think suggests it necessary, so that we can help provide advice and guidance from there.
Specializes in Psych, Addictions, SOL (Student of Life).
The answer to your question would depend on the specific policies and procedures of each hospital. The problem with most P100 respirators is that they are vented which keeps the wearer cool but allows outgoing breath to blast like a shotgun all over the patient you are caring for. If you happen to be an asymptomatic carrier you can see what kind of problems are associated with P100 masks.
I work in a small psych facility and we don't see a lot of Covid. We can wear a variety of masks as long as they are not vented. I got these cool KN95 masks on my own and love them. PS they passed a fit test before I was allowed to use them.
Basically, when I become a nurse I would like to wear an Elastomeric Half Facepiece Respirator (P100 masks) or better (and not a fitted n95 mask) when I am anywhere in the hospital. This is because I do not trust fitted n95 masks to protect me as well as P100 respirators or CAPR/PAPR respirators. I believe P100 respirators and CAPR/PAPR respirators protect better than fitted n95 masks based on the research.
Based on news articles I have read, I have seen that some hospitals supply nurses with Elastomeric Half Facepiece Respirator (P100 masks) while other hospitals supply nurses with fitted n95 masks.
Some posters are saying it is not possible for me to wear an Elastomeric Half Facepiece Respirator (P100 mask) if the hospital only supplies fitted n95 masks and others are saying that it may be possible depending on management.
Kara I completely understand where you are coming from. I am also a nursing student. I am going into my last senior year and like the hospital where I am doing my clinical rotation. The hospital is allowing nurses to use their own respirators. All nurses at this facility are required to rotate through the covid units. I have seen nurses wearing the evomask and the 3m halfmask which have a better fit to the face. I personally as a male have a larger nose than average and can't get a proper seal with the disposable n95 mask. I would not work with any covid19 patients or any patient requiring airborn protection without a proper seal. In nursing some nurses have the mentality because something is policy and it has been done a certain way then that is how it is supposed to be. Well us new nurses can have a new mindset to use evidence based nursing in our practice like we are being taught. If there is data supporting using a higher level of protection then we should be able to use it for our protection. If we don't advocate for our own health how are we expected to advocate for our patients health.
Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.
Most people have to wear what is provided by employer. I guess it would be best for the OP to figure out where they might work and see if wearing one's PPE is allowed. I have never worked any place it is.
Travelers often get by...it's true. But employees have to be FIT tested and don't generally get past that.
That is why I worry this might be a poor choice. If a person is hung up on this knowing most hospitals won't allow it, unless they plan to work elsewhere, it may be a poor fit.
LovingLife123
1,592 Posts
Directive came out at my hospital a month ago that we are no longer to reuse PPE. We now wear one N-95 for each time we enter an airborne room. I’m going to say supply is much better.
What research have found stating the ineffectiveness of an N-95? It’s a pretty rigorous testing process to be honest. I was a little irritated with the addition of the hood this year. LOL.
I never contracted COVID while caring for COVID patients because I was protected by my N-95. I contracted it when I was given a generic, flimsy mask that you could buy on any street corner and we let visitors in, while caring for regular ICU patients. Mine was determined to be a work place exposure.
Are you vaccinated? That’s your absolute best protection.