Working a Deadly Influenza Pandemic - allnurses's opinions & the worldwide discussion

Nurses General Nursing

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Nurses and other healthcare workers from across the globe are part of this

important debate on whether HCW would report for duty during a serious

pandemic.

A thread that has been running at allnurses.com since Oct 2007 questions us

about a deadly scenario. The administrators here have recently added a poll

to it, but just reading the comments will give you plenty to think about.

The most difficult question asked is this: will we work when the PPE runs out?

Does anyone expect that fire fighters would work without protective

gear? Of course no one would expect that, but does the public and the govt

really understand our very great concern that they might be expecting that

we should? Are our facilities going to assume that we should stay on the job

without protective gear? Would you do it?

Allnurses.com has caught the eye of many individuals and institutions globally.

Please understand that our opinions do matter greatly in that world wide

discussion.

I have permission from allnurses admin to point out the following link with

commentary about our poll and the opinions here at allnurses:

http://afludiary.blogspot.com/2008/04/hcw-debate-continues.html

That site is read by govt agencies as well as by many large healthcare

institutions so don't think that what you post about this issue is unimportant.

Editorial Team / Admin

sirI, MSN, APRN, NP

17 Articles; 44,729 Posts

Specializes in Education, FP, LNC, Forensics, ED, OB.

Thank you so much for pointing this out, indigo girl.

Yes, our opinions here at allnurses.com are indeed read by many who come here, never post, but take back to their corporations, the information given.

oramar

5,758 Posts

I have a suggestion for healthcare managment. If you want me to come in and be exposed to a deadly infectious disease during a pandemic you must promise me (and I probably should get it in writing) that I will be covered by workmens comp if I come down with the disease. No haggling about where or when I caught it, just the assumption that it was aquired in line of duty. I'm afraid I know to much about managment and their dirty tricks to trust them to automatically do the right thing. I have seen them attempt to wiggle out of infection related workmens comp claims and I ain't going into the line of fire unless I know they won't do that to me. This disease does not only kill, it can cause a long lasting illness and a long lasting disability. If I get it, I want all my medical claims to be paid and I want my wages paid just as they would be in any other workmens comp claim. No hassels, no arguments just do it. The federal goverment should pass a regulation stating that if a person caring for the sick in an institution should come down will the infection during a pandemic or epidemic that it will automatically be assumed the infection is work related. They should do it because that is the only way they will get me and a lot of others like me to show up for work.

indigo girl

5,173 Posts

Specializes in Too many to list.

Avian Flu Diary on the Allnurses Poll

A surprising number of govt and international agencies as well as

hospital staffers continue to read the Avian Flu Diary blog daily which means

that they are aware of the opinions of the allnurses posters on

this issue. Fla Medic has been invited to post on the HHS pandemic blog,

and has participated at a recent pandemic exercise in Washington D.C. at

govt request. What he writes, they read, and they have been checking out

our poll every time he looks in on it.

http://afludiary.blogspot.com/2008/06/catching-up-with-nurses-poll.html

While the polling question asked is whether nurses would work `during

a severe pandemic with a shortage of PPE's', it is quite obvious from

the responses that many nurses would be reluctant to work even

with protective gear.

Many nurses have families, often including small children at home,

and they believe their first duty is to their loved ones. Some fear being

`locked down' inside a hospital, and unable to leave for weeks. Others

fear taking the virus home if they are allowed to leave.

The comments are well worth reading in their entirety, particularly

if you are a hospital administrator, charge nurse, or pandemic planner.

Although the numbers remain roughly the same as in late April, there

has been a slow but steady downward drift in the percentage of nurses

willing to work during a pandemic (ostensibly without PPE's). In April the

number was 50.46% and now, with the addition of more than 500 votes,

that number has eroded to 47.08%.

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