ER nurse also working Private Duty

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Apparently one of my patient's other (new to the case) nurses also currently works in the ER. As it is we're doing our best to keep our vent ALS patient from getting sick, despite very limited supplies. (Gloves, sanitizer.) I'm concerned of her higher risk of exposure and bringing it back here. Is this really the most wise case for this other nurse? I guess I just believe care should be separated right now. I am incredibly grateful for these nurses working in such high risk areas with lack of proper PPE. I am certainly not trying to add to the stigma of healthcare workers. But I think we also need to be cautious. We're in unchartered territory here. Others thoughts?

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It's a very valid concern. At least you know about your nurses that also work in your case. It may be because I'm only working part time on PDN, but I have never met any nurse from other shifts (there is 4 of us, not including Personal Therapy that also comes).

I would ask your nursing clinical supervisor about the incoming ER nurse working with an extremely immunocompromised patient.

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I am surprised the patient's family did not put their foot down. My patient's parents delicately gave us regulars an interrogation session about our behaviors away from their home, prefacing it with the acknowledgement that it is not their business to tell us what to do or not do. However, it is the business of the family to inform the agency about who they will allow, or not allow, in their home. This is a perfect example of one of the few valid reasons for refusing a nurse. You have a right to discuss this with the family and then to act accordingly.

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18 minutes ago, carti said:

It's a very valid concern. At least you know about your nurses that also work in your case. It may be because I'm only working part time on PDN, but I have never met any nurse from other shifts (there is 4 of us, not including Personal Therapy that also comes).

I would ask your nursing clinical supervisor about the incoming ER nurse working with an extremely immunocompromised patient.

It would be nice to know the other nurses. I would like to know if they are being compliant with social distancing. Confusingly, there is a nurse on this site who recently stated she does not "believe" in any of this. That is alarming. I guess I can't just blindly trust that a nurse is doing the right thing. When getting report this morning, the night nurse told me that the nurse still works in the ER. I see her once a week and have seen her sweater that has ER emblem on it. I figured it was old. Apparently not.

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1 minute ago, Orion81RN said:

It would be nice to know the other nurses. I would like to know if they are being compliant with social distancing. Confusingly, there is a nurse on this site who recently stated she does not "believe" in any of this. That is alarming. I guess I can't just blindly trust that a nurse is doing the right thing. When getting report this morning, the night nurse told me that the nurse still works in the ER. I see her once a week and have seen her sweater that has ER emblem on it. I figured it was old. Apparently not.

I mean even if that nurse was practicing perfect social distancing, the fact that she works in an ER (probably without adequate PPE too) just negates that. That is a sucky situation for you indeed. I mean, even if that nurse finds out she has a fever and decides to stay home, she probably infected the patient or anyone in that house since the incubation period for Covid19 is so long. Stay safe and make sure to disinfect everything prior to your shift!

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3 minutes ago, caliotter3 said:

I am surprised the patient's family did not put their foot down. My patient's parents delicately gave us regulars an interrogation session about our behaviors away from their home, prefacing it with the acknowledgement that it is not their business to tell us what to do or not do. However, it is the business of the family to inform the agency about who they will allow, or not allow, in their home. This is a perfect example of one of the few valid reasons for refusing a nurse. You have a right to discuss this with the family and then to act accordingly.

Thank you. I agree and have been very curious how other families and nurses have been doing things in this setting. So that is interesting to me.

The wife doesn't care. I've posted about her before, but she really just wants him to die. It made me feel better knowing the night nurse didn't appreciate this either. I don't trust her judgment of working here, which makes me question her other judgement. Like how sanitary is she trying to be. I say trying bc of lack of supplies...but that to me just makes her being here even riskier. IMO.

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4 minutes ago, carti said:

I mean even if that nurse was practicing perfect social distancing, the fact that she works in an ER (probably without adequate PPE too) just negates that. That is a sucky situation for you indeed. I mean, even if that nurse finds out she has a fever and decides to stay home, she probably infected the patient or anyone in that house since the incubation period for Covid19 is so long. Stay safe and make sure to disinfect everything prior to your shift!

Exactly! Thank you! I was going to say the same thing, actually. That her being here defeats the purpose of social distancing if we get it.

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It seems to me when you posted about this family member before you were advised to leave the case then. It is your choice to stay there under any circumstances and to accept any adverse consequences. My agency is looking for nurses to fill in on cases that are losing coverage for whatever reason, so I doubt that this agency does not have other available work. If not them, what about other agencies in the area? At some point, you have to decide what you are comfortable with and what you will endure for the sake of income. Certainly hope you don't make the wrong decision here. A thought: if one wants to be exposed to greater risk, why not get a job working in the ER along with the ER nurse?

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54 minutes ago, caliotter3 said:

It seems to me when you posted about this family member before you were advised to leave the case then. It is your choice to stay there under any circumstances and to accept any adverse consequences. My agency is looking for nurses to fill in on cases that are losing coverage for whatever reason, so I doubt that this agency does not have other available work. If not them, what about other agencies in the area? At some point, you have to decide what you are comfortable with and what you will endure for the sake of income. Certainly hope you don't make the wrong decision here. A thought: if one wants to be exposed to greater risk, why not get a job working in the ER along with the ER nurse?

I'm going to be honest, I'm a bit put off by this response. My posts on here are not for advice on whether or not I should stay on this case. I'm an adult and can make those decisions myself. I never understand those posts asking strangers what one should do with their lives. NOBODY knows someone's situation better than that person. I did not come on here whining saying "I'm scared I'm going to get sick but gosh darnit I'm staying." I was seeking validation before I call my work about it.

It doesn't matter what I do jobwise. Someone will always judge my decision on staying or leaving. My feelings are extremely raw on this as my brother just chastised me last night for how many nursing jobs I've quit. (When I judged him for not donating his N95s.) Each of those jobs, any sane nurse would say, yes. Quit. And I did. And I have completely lost the respect of my brother and dad.

I have been here for 1.5 years. It is time to go. I have not left yet bc of my crippling anxiety and depression issues. It is SO EASY for someone to say well, duh. Change jobs, get on meds. The inability to do so that easily is a SYMPTOM of depression. Just bc I'm not on here describing the steps I'm taking in my life, doesn't mean I'm not taking them. At the pace my mental health allows. At the pace my finances allow.

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Specializes in Peds.
11 hours ago, caliotter3 said:

It seems to me when you posted about this family member before you were advised to leave the case then. It is your choice to stay there under any circumstances and to accept any adverse consequences. My agency is looking for nurses to fill in on cases that are losing coverage for whatever reason, so I doubt that this agency does not have other available work. If not them, what about other agencies in the area? At some point, you have to decide what you are comfortable with and what you will endure for the sake of income. Certainly hope you don't make the wrong decision here. A thought: if one wants to be exposed to greater risk, why not get a job working in the ER along with the ER nurse?

All my 17 years of nursing experience is in pdn. Even during this time(I live close to NYC) nobody wants to hire me to care for Covid 19 patients,even though I would be a valuable asset as all of those years were with trach and vent patients.

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If you don’t want responses to your posts, you should not post. You say you want validation. What is not validating about “Certainly hope you do not make the wrong decision here?” You already know the answer to your problems so why are you posting? Be more specific about the answers you want from others because you have made it obvious you refuse to listen to everybody who does not tell you what you want to hear. And for that matter, the ER nurse has just as much right to work there as you do. At least she is not complaining about her client on a public website.

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Specializes in Public Health.

If the ER nurse is following precautions she has every right to continue with her private duty position. I am disturbed that you are making her feel unwelcome. Plus you can get an asymptomatic carrier tomorrow as a new admission and be none the wiser. Wash your hands, use hand sanitizer, and respiratory precautions and social distancing.

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