If you work as a school nurse and also registry on a Covid floor, are you considered a contact? According to IDPH, a contact is anyone <6 ft for more than 15 minutes of a suspected or positive covid individual, with or without a mask or PPE. Does this apply to HCP or only general public. I have been fit tested for N95, trained on donning and doffing, am not exposed to aerosolized procedures. I haven't been able to find anything about this from IDPH or CDC. School nursing is my love and I want to do what is best for students and staff. Not sure whether I want to stay at the hospital working with Covid. Does anyone have any advice?
Eleven011 1,244 Posts Specializes in Home Health,Dialysis, MDS, School Nurse. Has 20+ years experience. Aug 22, 2020 I don't work at a hospital, but I was told by our DOH that if I was in full PPE (N95) while working with a student who ended up testing positive, I wouldn't be considered a close contact.
JenTheSchoolRN, BSN, RN 3,034 Posts Specializes in School nursing. Aug 24, 2020 On 8/22/2020 at 1:16 PM, Eleven011 said:I don't work at a hospital, but I was told by our DOH that if I was in full PPE (N95) while working with a student who ended up testing positive, I wouldn't be considered a close contact. Yep, same, though it doesn't necessary have to be an N95 if I am wearing a surgical mask and shield.
