face shields

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A regulatory agency just came through our hospital and mandated all clinical staff wear face shields in addition to masks regardless of unit. We have designated Covid units, but even in other units, even at the nursing station, etc..

Anybody else doing this? Anybody have a link supporting this? It seems ridiculous.

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Specializes in Vents, Telemetry, Home Care, Home infusion.

CDC:

Healthcare Infection Prevention and Control FAQs for COVID-19

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HCP working in facilities located in areas with moderate to substantial community transmission are more likely to encounter asymptomatic patients with COVID-19. If COVID-19 is not suspected in a patient presenting for care (based on symptom and exposure history), HCP should follow Standard Precautions (and Transmission-Based Precautions if required based on the suspected diagnosis).

They should also:

Wear eye protection in addition to their facemask to ensure the eyes, nose, and mouth are all protected from splashes and sprays of infectious material from others.

https://www.CDC.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/infection-control-faq.html#asymptomatic

Operational Considerations for Personal Protective Equipment in the Context of Global Supply Shortages for Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Pandemic: non-US Healthcare Settings

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Eye Protection

Goggles: Goggles provide barrier protection for the eyes. They should fit tightly over and around the eyes or personal prescription lenses, be indirectly vented (to prevent penetration of splashes or sprays) and have an anti-fog coating to help maintain clarity of vision. The lens is made of plastic, commonly polycarbonate, and there is an adjustable elastic strap to allow snug fit around the eyes. Goggles used for healthcare applications are typically reusable.

Face shields: Provide barrier protection to the facial area and related mucous membranes (eyes, nose, lips) and are considered an alternative to goggles. Face shields are not meant to function as primary respiratory protection and should be used concurrently with a medical mask (for droplet precautions) or a respirator (for airborne precautions) if aerosol-generating procedure is performed. They should cover the forehead, extend below the chin, and wrap around the side of the face. Face shields are available in both disposable and reusable options.

https://www.CDC.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/non-us-settings/emergency-considerations-PPE.html

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Specializes in Med Surg, Tele, Geriatrics, home infusion.

That's a new one for me...we wear gown, gloves, cap and n-95 with surgical mask and face shield in the covid rooms. Doff PPE, hand hygeine and re apply clean surgical mask when we come out. Seems absurd to be sitting in the nurse's station with a face shield.

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My hospital system is recommending their use for any patient interaction, but so far it is not required. I don't think they expect us to wear them when we are not in the rooms (although I have an agency job and one facility requires you to wear them 24/7) but I honestly believe they have been a major component in keeping me and my coworkers from getting sick. But who knows. I'm not really opposed to them as annoying as they are.

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Specializes in Med Surg, Tele, Geriatrics, home infusion.
2 minutes ago, socal212 said:

My hospital system is recommending their use for any patient interaction, but so far it is not required. I don't think they expect us to wear them when we are not in the rooms (although I have an agency job and one facility requires you to wear them 24/7) but I honestly believe they have been a major component in keeping me and my coworkers from getting sick. But who knows. I'm not really opposed to them as annoying as they are.

I'm all for wearing them when going in to a rule out or a confirmed Covid room. I am wiping it down with a cavi or chlorox wipe every time I take it off then I hang it on my little paper clip hook next to my computer at the nurse's station. I agree I feel safer with it especially since I wear glasses and really don't want to wear goggles over them. If my facility's policy required I wear it at all times even if found it excessive, but I would worry about cross contamination. The routine of doffing the shield prompts me to clean it, and if I'm wearing it 24-7, I worry that I might slip and forget. I think I would get 2 shields: one for in the rooms and one for all other tasks.

Stay healthy ??

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Specializes in OR, Nursing Professional Development.

Required for all patient care for the last month regardless of COVID status. Before that, it was if in the room for greater than 10 minutes on non-COVID and at all times for PUI or COVID+.

We are finding a lot of asymptomatic positives as we test all elective surgery patients.

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Specializes in Med Surg, Tele, Geriatrics, home infusion.
25 minutes ago, Rose_Queen said:

Required for all patient care for the last month regardless of COVID status. Before that, it was if in the room for greater than 10 minutes on non-COVID and at all times for PUI or COVID+.

We are finding a lot of asymptomatic positives as we test all elective surgery patients.

That is very alarming!

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Yup. They will help protect against splashes and sprays, and should certainly be used for all confirmed and suspected, and maybe be used for all PTs.

Anybody else required to wear them at the nurses station?

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Pediatric Float, PICU, NICU.
21 hours ago, Rose_Queen said:

Required for all patient care for the last month regardless of COVID status. Before that, it was if in the room for greater than 10 minutes on non-COVID and at all times for PUI or COVID+.

We are finding a lot of asymptomatic positives as we test all elective surgery patients.

Same.

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Specializes in Dialysis.
On 6/27/2020 at 11:12 PM, hherrn said:

A regulatory agency just came through our hospital and mandated all clinical staff wear face shields in addition to masks regardless of unit. We have designated Covid units, but even in other units, even at the nursing station, etc..

Anybody else doing this? Anybody have a link supporting this? It seems ridiculous.

Fresenius dialyisis (not sure of other companies) has had to do this since the beginning of CV. Prior to CV, we only did mask + faceshields for chest catheters. We are always supposed to wear faceshields regardless, including in the nurses station

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Specializes in acute care, ICU, surgery, vasc.surgery,trauma.
On 6/28/2020 at 1:16 PM, Rose_Queen said:

Required for all patient care for the last month regardless of COVID status. Before that, it was if in the room for greater than 10 minutes on non-COVID and at all times for PUI or COVID+.

We are finding a lot of asymptomatic positives as we test all elective surgery patients.

We are also testing all surgical patients and finding a lot of positives. However, we still aren't allowed to wear face shields or N95s unless the pt. is positive. We still wear a paper mask for a week @ a time.

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Specializes in Critical Care; Cardiac; Professional Development.

Required for patient facing roles, recommended at all other times. We are issued one shield. Can't get another until we return a broken one. Biggest issue is that Oxivir wipes aren't readily available for cleaning them.

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