H1N1 -- in the NICU

[spacey]

Hi....I realize there is much information online about H1N1, and an enormous amount can be found here at allnurses...a great resource! But I'm finding nothing online specific to the virus in the NICU. I would love to hear how your units are handling the following situations.......nurse with sick family member, nurses floating to Peds or other floors with active flu cases, babies of suspected or confirmed positive mothers, visitors of those babies who will be going back and forth between mom and baby, suspected or confirmed moms visiting their babies. I have read no reports of babies themselves actually becoming ill with the flu....but several cases of mortality / morbidity r/t the premature births caused by Mom's flu have been reported. I think my greatest concern at this time, is the possibility of serious staffing issues if there are large numbers of premature or ill babies coinciding with large numbers of nurses out due to flu.

Our unit guidelines are no different that those for the rest of the hospital for now....they include: surgical mask if taking care of pt with unknown respiratory illness, staff with sick family members are to mask for 7 days from time of initial exposure, staff with flu are to stay home until fever free (although many times this particular flu is presenting without fever), we are pulling staff to peds and they are supposed to be reminded to stay off our unit (no coming over for lunch etc) if caring for respiratory pts.

Is this similar to what you are doing? Have you changed your visiting policies? We do have our manditory scrub in for visitors, of course...and now a sign reminding those with exposure to the flu to ask for a mask.

please take a second and reply! -- thanks!

[dscrn]

Individuals who are allergic to eggs CAN NOT get the H1N1 vaccine. How will this be handled by facilities??

[dscrn]

also, the vaccine is being rushed, prior to proper testing is finished. Also, no guarantee that the virus won't mutate...much like last years vaccine proved to be non-effective...

[preemieRNkate, RN]

An individual who refuses the vaccine (regular flu or H1N1) based on a medical reason, such as an egg allergy, must have proof from a doctor. I agree with the fact that the H1N1 vaccine was rushed through clinical trials, as do most of my coworkers, and believe me, we are fighting. I know that nurses throughout the state are as well.

[babiesRmylife]

I agree with preemieRNkate, I'm in also not crazy about the idea of getting H1N1 vaccination. There are few, if any studies on it. Not only that but can we see what other current vaccinations have done to people recently (Gardasil in particular in which the FDA is still encouraging to young women to take). I know that this is something slightly differnet, but I'm not into taking such chances or the idea of Guillian-Barre syndrome.

Paranoid am I? Heck yes!!! I have 1 body & I'm bound to protect it. I don't see it fit that my job can fire me for standing up for something I don't see fit b/c lack of research.

[dscrn]

Good luck...and I agree with you. It should be interesting to see how other sectors in the community handle this. Fire those who refuse vaccination, stay home if you are sick, family members are sick..not going to be too many "holding down the fort"...

[rik8144]

I for one WILL NOT get the H1N1...so I guess it is Wal-mart here I come! LOL!

Seriously, my husband and two kids have had the H1N1 illness already (well, we are 90% sure they have). This is my body, my choice, and my right to protect it. I guess I will just have to be 'let go' for refusal. Let's see how many nurses they have left after the fire all of us.

[SteveNNP, MSN, NP]

My hospital states that if we are unable to get the seasonal or H1N1 vaccine due to documented medical contraindication, we must wear an n90 mask every day we work until flu season ends. Or we will not be allowed to work. Terminated, maybe not, but definitely not pulling a paycheck.

My system is requiring vaccination of ALL hospital employees, even non-pt care people. Even professors who teach in the University division. Even housekeepers.

I have no problem getting the vaccines. I usually do. But to see the government require them, is scary. I'll bet this "Emergency Mandate" carries over to next year and becomes the standard of requiring immunization every year.

[BabyLady, BSN, RN]

At our hospital, if you have any signs of sneezing/cough...you are sent home for 7 days. If you don't have sick time, then you are just out of a week's pay.

Parents that are sick cannot come and visit their baby if they have ANY signs of illness. Siblings included.

[lvnurs9]

Interesting point to make... we had a baby deliver recently whose mom was positive. No isolation precautions were ordered on this baby. Now 2 weeks old, her swab was positive... still no isolation orders...

[Imafloat, BSN, RN]

We are limiting visitors to only parents, grandparents, and legal guardians. No children allowed inside the hospital unless they are patients.

We had a baby who's mom was suspected of H1N1, who later ended up negative. That baby was on droplet isolation until she went home.

I am declining H1N1 vaccine.

[Imafloat, BSN, RN]

Interesting point to make... we had a baby deliver recently whose mom was positive. No isolation precautions were ordered on this baby. Now 2 weeks old, her swab was positive... still no isolation orders...

What? I hope you don't have an open unit. Is the baby exhibiting any symptoms of the flu?

[RainDreamer, BSN, RN]

Interesting point to make... we had a baby deliver recently whose mom was positive. No isolation precautions were ordered on this baby. Now 2 weeks old, her swab was positive... still no isolation orders...