Ebola Preparedness Nursing Survey Results

[tnbutterfly - Mary, BSN]

We just want to thank the 3000+ of you nurses who participated in the Ebola Preparedness survey! The Nurses' voices have been heard! The results of the survey have been shared with millions across the country through the media as Brian Short RN, founder of allnurses.com, participated in several interviews this past week following the allnurses.com survey. Now we are sharing the detailed results with you.

We've worked hard to get the voices of "real nurses" out there - Your voices. The results of the survey clearly reflect the opinions of, not only allnurses.com members, but all nurses everywhere. You can be nursing advocates and make an impact.

Brian Short, RN said:

"The main thing that we can take away: nurses understand the risks that come with their job. They're willing to do their job, but they need the proper equipment and proper training to do the job effectively and safely."

Keep reading for the survey results!

Ebola Preparedness Survey - October 9, 2014

In a survey of more than 3,000 nurses across the country, more than 70% say they are unprepared to deal with the Ebola crisis. The survey was conducted by allnurses.com after a nurse contracted the disease in Texas from contact with an infected patient.

Press coverage featuring the allnurses.com Ebola Preparedness Survey and your voices.

When Ebola Enters the Workplace

October 14, 2014 - Issues around communication, training and pay are cropping up as leaders try to quell fears while making sure they will be adequately staffed if infected patients come to their facilities. Be sure to watch the video which also refers to the survey.

Majority of Nurses, Front Line Health Workers Don't Feel Ready for Ebola

October 14, 2014 - Responding almost immediately to the news of the Dallas nurse who contracted Ebola, nurses across the country are adding to the growing chorus of concern over how hospitals and front-line healthcare workers deal with any possible exposure. The "vast majority" of nurses nationwide "don't feel prepared or safe" for treating any such patient, according to a recent survey of 3,000 nurses from allnurses.com.

Ebola and Hospitals: How Great is the Threat?

October 15, 2014 - Many healthcare workers, especially nurses, have expressed concern about their safety when treating Ebola patients. allnurses.com, took a survey of 3,000 nurses and 74% said they didn't feel safe or prepared to deal with a potential Ebola outbreak or patient, and 73% said their hospital hadn't provided them with training to handle a patient infected with Ebola."I'm sure that's going to raise the anxiety of the healthcare workers now."

American nurses lack the most important protection from Ebola: training

October 16, 2014 - As people around the world try to assess the danger of Ebola, it's particularly disconcerting to hear that health workers--who one might presume are knowledgeable enough to protect themselves from transmission--are failing to do so because they do not have the proper training or equipment.

Quotes from our members regarding the survey' outreach and impact:

tokmom said:

"We are all in this together because it's all we have. The news media and facilities are quick to blame the nurse. Well, lets get the TRUTH out there."

LadyFree28 said:

"Nurses get to speak! This is WONDERFUL news and an important unity to have the media focus on what nurses actually do and face; unfortunately, it had to a take an infectious disease to show how a percentage of hospitals only care about the bottom line and are not up to par. I hope we, as nurses, can keep pushing these issues to the forefront beyond Ebola, and effectively make change, we owe it to ourselves and our patients."

nursel56 said:

"Allnurses is by far the best place to take the pulse (haha) of the nursing community as a whole. My own feeling...sure reporters go ahead and call the ANA but we're the real voice of nursing!"

1KoolRN said:

"It's about time nurses are respected and regarded as having a powerful impact on the health and safety of our country."

There will be a follow-up survey this week. As this crisis continues, we want to hear from you as we continually strive to be a means by which the voices of nurses can be heard and make a difference in the Ebola crisis as well as other important issues to come.

Detailed survey results from 3,201 participants...

Do you feel prepared to deal with a potential Ebola outbreak or patient?

What would be the most helpful to you in dealing with the threat or reality of Ebola?

Has your hospital or healthcare facility addressed the issue or provided training to you and other nurses?

As a nurse, do you feel safe with the unfolding Ebola situation?

What state do you practice in? (please choose other at bottom of list if outside the US)

Are you surprised by any of the results?

What Ebola questions would be good for future surveys?

[traumaRUs, MSN, APRN]

Thanks for the updated data. Our readers are some of the most informed nurses and we appreciate you all taking the time to complete the survey. You represent the mainstream of nursing and your opinions are taken seriously.

[LadyFree28, BSN, LPN, RN]

This is great...can't wait for the follow-up survey!

And I also got quoted too!

[tnbutterfly - Mary, BSN]

LadyFree28 said:

This is great...can't wait for the follow-up survey!

And I also got quoted too!

Yes you did!

Are there questions you would like to have as survey questions in future surveys?

[LadyFree28, BSN, LPN, RN]

tnbutterfly said:

Yes you did!

Are there questions you would like to have as survey questions in future surveys?

Oh my

I can't think of any at this time, but if I think of any, I will let you all know!

[casi, ASN, RN]

I think some good follow up questions would be:

1. Do you feel like you understand how Ebola is transmitted.

2. Do you feel that you have the proper knowledge to use proper PPE if provided? (give me all the hazmat suits in the world and I wouldn't know how to properly put them on and off)

[silentRN]

There's actually a group of us that are prepared to take care of an ebola patient if that should happen. I'm actually pleased by the way the hospital I work for has dealt with this.

[dnnc52]

I am very glad to see the unity and honesty that is developing between the health care workers!

[Graduatenurse14]

Cool!! Thanks for doing this survey!! nursel56 is correct when she said that we are the real voice of nursing since so many of us still practice!! Since Ebola in the US and it's response are fluid, I would like to see another survey now that the gov't has more in place to prevent spread and keep HCW safer- hopefully!!!!

[wannaretire]

After having family and friends in hospitals and I, myself practicing in the field of nursing I am very disturbed. I have seen nurses who get through the day by the skin of their teeth. For anyone who doesn't understand that I mean that they do the minimum work they must do and get by. They are not the conscientious nurses I have known to practice nursing . It seems that since computers have come to nursing the nurses are not the best in patient care. They rely on computers and if you don't put information into the computers you have a very poor base with which to work. I have seen patients with wound care and nothing on the chart to tell me this or that they even have a wound or incision. I have seen labs/injections/and care missed as it was not put into the care plan. I have seen patients with IV ports with no mention of such on their care plans. So it seems to me that if we are worried about how prepared we are to care for Ebola patients, we need to first of all learn how to care for our patients in general. All the equipment and training in the world will not be enough if it is not documented and implemented.

[do5051]

Hi: The results of this survey are interesting. Was the tool considered to be reliable and valid? Do you plan on administering the survey again?

I would be interested to know. I am responsible for education and training in the healthcare organization where I am employed.

Denise

[JuliaRNMSN]

I was impressed by the survey and how the results were presented both visually and in text. Organizations that employ RN's, should dedicate resources to educate and prepare for Ebola. What if organizations drag their feet or say "the research and resources don't support this at any given organization?

I believe that we as a group must educate ourselves and pass along what we have learned. We can not rely on our employers to always act in our behalf. We need to use our personal time to learn and share on this and other important topics. Expecting to get paid to protect ourselves, clients, and communities has to become our responsibility. There are many ways to accomplish this. Offering a training or discussion group on our own time is one way.

Until I took it upon myself to research this area (Ebola), I found that important information was out there....just hard to access. For example, I knew a year ago that Ebola patients could transmit the disease for 6 months via semen after "cure." I found this on the World Health Organizations site (by accident). I just saw this means of transmission on MedPage about 2 weeks ago. I'll admit I am not current on all dangerous diseases so folks on this site may have known it too. It is saddening and upsetting that people died trying to be there for others. Last, we have a world economy with people arriving and departing to other countries around the globe. It just seems practical to connect the dots and be proactive.