Facility out of ppe

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My facility has been out of ppe gowns for over a week. We currently have two patients in isolation for mrsa/herpes, and one for shingles. Nursing staff told us to cover with a hospital gown when we enter the room instead. Do I have a right to refuse these patients? I don't want to bring these germs home to my kids.

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What does your centers operating procedures say? I would certainly bring my concerns up to the DON

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As far as I know, you cannot refuse to care for certain patients without it being a refusal to perform assigned duties. I would be making a huge deal about the lack of proper PPE. A hospital gown is going to do nothing for you if it becomes soiled with fluids and the patient is on contact precautions.

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Specializes in EMT since 92, Paramedic since 97, RN and PHRN 2021.
As far as I know, you cannot refuse to care for certain patients without it being a refusal to perform assigned duties. I would be making a huge deal about the lack of proper PPE. A hospital gown is going to do nothing for you if it becomes soiled with fluids and the patient is on contact precautions.

In the same light though would you enter the room of an Ebola patient without the proper equipment? I know this is an extreme example and would never occur but shingles , as we all know, is highly communicable.

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My Don pretty much told me "handwashing is the best way to prevent spreading infection" ugh. then why even put the patients in isolation if we're not going to treat them as such? I just wondered if legally they have to provide PPE when caring for those patients.

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Document and report to HR and go contact infection control, they don't mess around

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