Ebola Nursing Survey Part 2: Call to Action for Ebola Protection

mmc51264, BSN, MSN, RN · Oct 21, 2014

I answered no to last two b/c we have a special protocol in place and volunteers that are being specially trained and special equipment. Any pt that would be, in any way, questionable, would never reach me.

allnurses Guide · Oct 21, 2014

I work hospice now so am rarely in the hospital. But I talked with our infection control nurse and they are in the midst of trying to get their ducks in a row so to speak.

I also work as the school district nurse and I know we will have to write up a policy for this. Fortunately, a national school nurse organization has already done this for us so I'm grateful for that.

We live in a rural community in far Northern CA so I doubt we are at risk.

But still . .. .

BrnEyedGirl, BSN, MSN, RN, APRN · Oct 21, 2014

I work ED,...we are all being told that plans are being made, we are screening every patient, but of course I have to talk to them to do the screening. We have a short term plan to protect staff et other patients,...My hospital doesn't have a floor dedicated to isolation,...not sure what we would do with someone past the ED.

MassED, BSN, RN · Oct 21, 2014

we have perhaps "one" area that is negative pressure in the ER (that has a bathroom), but there is no shower when leaving the area after doffing your equipment for the nurse (which is a requirement). We are just not equipped for Level 4 Biocontainment. The hospital is taking measures to create a separate area just for these type of patients, I believe will be a temporary measure that can be added/removed depending on the patients.

OCNRN63, RN · Oct 21, 2014

It's time to close our borders to anyone seeking entry to the US from the affected areas. Keep it contained so we have a better chance of eradicating it.

NotMyProblem MSN, ASN, BSN, MSN, LPN, RN · Oct 21, 2014

Anyone who presents with symptoms and have had recent travel to pertinent areas outside the U.S. will be isolated down in the ER until transportation can be arranged to Emory. Where in the ER, I don't know. But we do have a contamination/decontamination unit near the ER. We were required to don the dress with the thicker footed gowns with a separate pair of slipper boots, all over a disposable set of scrubs, N-95 mask, with goggles, and a cap that goes over the hooded/footed gown. Taking it all off required as much if not more precision as preparing for a procedure using sterile techniques, being very careful not to touch the outside. All jewelry had to be removed to prevent breaking the integrity of the 'get-up'. Talk about hot!!!!!!! And this is coming from a person that carries a sweater in the car during summer months!

Now, the following statement is going to come off as insensitive and cold-hearted, but it is truly not intended that way. If there is absolutely NO other area to place these individuals until they can be appropriately transferred (ALL of our isolation/negative pressure units are located above the third floor within public areas and there are only two per floor), there is the morgue or the area very near it at our hospital only because it is a low-to-no traffic area where dedicated staff members only would be assigned to care for these individuals.

My thought is that these people must be removed from general population as quickly as possible. Even our basement is busy because it houses the environmental services department and the pharmacy, not to mention central supply, engineering, and other 'behind-the-scenes' operations. The morgue sits off to itself, and this would be a temporary solution away from the general public. I know of a critical access, one-story facility that has no true isolation room and has to refer patients in need to other facilities. But they do have a morgue.....until the receiving facility accepts the patient and transportation can be arranged. After all, in a true outbreak, though I don't know what structure of Emory is like, it could be a while before these people can be placed, based on census at the receiving hospital. Just my thoughts on the matter....

BSNbeauty, BSN, RN · Oct 21, 2014

I work in postpartum and I'm still unclear about how we should treat the mom and baby diagnosed with ebola. When we asked our clinical spec. she really had no clue. I still feel very unprepared.

Pepper The Cat, BSN, RN · Oct 21, 2014

Ontario Canada here.

As of this week:

Registration clerks and triage nurses are working in full PPE: gloves, masks , face shields and gowns.

First question asked is travel to infected areas in past 30 days.

We have an unused area of our ER that has 2 negative pressure rooms that will be used, plus more privates that can be used. This area can be shut off from the rest of the hospital and pts will not leave the area.

Selected nurses, DI, lab, housekeeping are being trained on how to use the PPE required to treat these pts. Tests will be kep to a minimum. An Infection Disease Doctor will be available 24/7.

No one goes in alone. 2 people at all times so they can monitor each other for any branches in protection.

The Ministry of Health ( MOH) is setting down other regulations that will have to be followed. The MOH is also going to designate 4 large hospital that will take any pts with Ebola.

Pepper The Cat, BSN, RN · Oct 21, 2014

Forgot to add that they are looking into installing plexiglass partitions to provide further protection moving forward.

Tem1953 · Oct 22, 2014

Stop all flights from affective areas &

transport Pts to bio4 facility upon dx.

Stat!

emtb2rn, BSN, RN, EMT-B · Oct 22, 2014

Ontario Canada here.
As of this week:
Registration clerks and triage nurses are working in full PPE: gloves, masks , face shields and gowns.
.

So these folks spend how many hours in ppe? Isn't that a bit of overkill?