How to handle covid exposures from other staff

Nurses COVID

Updated:   Published

Specializes in Community Health, Med/Surg, ICU Stepdown.

how-to-handle-covid-exposure-from-staff.jpg.2d01384cc1d1fe9e086dd3f8b4a1b278.jpg

Hi all, I know I've posted a lot about my covid unit so apologies in advance. Yesterday I found out our clerk has tested positive. Today I found out one of our RTs is having symptoms. Our clerk mentioned Mon her husband lost his sense of taste and smell and she had him quarantined in their camper. But she still came to work until Thurs when she felt sick and got tested. My last exposure to her on Mon with mask on 6 ft away except 2 seconds grabbing labels from her.

The RT I last saw yesterday. She spends (not kidding) her entire shift in our break room unless someone pages her. RT has their own break room but she prefers ours. She does make us coffee and clean the fridge...? but all day with no mask talking on her phone or on her laptop! She goes near our locker area, in our bathroom, and sits at the table where we eat. We have limit 3 people in break room 6 ft apart, but she is usually one of the 3. I've started mostly eating alone in another room. 

We called infection control to see if we should quarantine and test. They said if no symptoms no, I'm guessing they can't afford to quarantine the whole day shift staff. they said to get tested 10 days from the last contact since incubation period can be up to 10 days and that we wouldn't be contagious before then. Is this true? I can't find concrete research to support it. I want to quarantine 10 days and get tested. For now I won't see anyone until I get tested, but I will still go to work unless symptoms. I guess I could get covid any day at work so maybe there's no point to test unless symptoms? but this is a known exposure and she wasn't wearing a mask in a small indoor space. We have complained about her but nothing done. What is your recommendation smart nurses?? P.S. I am planning to eat alone in my car from now on. 

3
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Emergency Room, CEN, TCRN.

My hospital says not to get tested because of just exposure, they will only test if you’re symptomatic.

our return criteria was 10 days elapsed since beginning of sx, >24hrs a febrile without fever reducing agents, and a negative swab. This is in line with current CDC recommendations.

2
Up Vote Up Vote ×
3 hours ago, LibraNurse27 said:

Hi all, I know I've posted a lot about my covid unit so apologies in advance. Yesterday I found out our clerk has tested positive. Today I found out one of our RTs is having symptoms. Our clerk mentioned Mon her husband lost his sense of taste and smell and she had him quarantined in their camper. But she still came to work until Thurs when she felt sick and got tested. My last exposure to her on Mon with mask on 6 ft away except 2 seconds grabbing labels from her.

The RT I last saw yesterday. She spends (not kidding) her entire shift in our break room unless someone pages her. RT has their own break room but she prefers ours. She does make us coffee and clean the fridge...? but all day with no mask talking on her phone or on her laptop! She goes near our locker area, in our bathroom, and sits at the table where we eat. We have limit 3 people in break room 6 ft apart, but she is usually one of the 3. I've started mostly eating alone in another room. 

We called infection control to see if we should quarantine and test. They said if no symptoms no, I'm guessing they can't afford to quarantine the whole day shift staff. they said to get tested 10 days from the last contact since incubation period can be up to 10 days and that we wouldn't be contagious before then. Is this true? I can't find concrete research to support it. I want to quarantine 10 days and get tested. For now I won't see anyone until I get tested, but I will still go to work unless symptoms. I guess I could get covid any day at work so maybe there's no point to test unless symptoms? but this is a known exposure and she wasn't wearing a mask in a small indoor space. We have complained about her but nothing done. What is your recommendation smart nurses?? P.S. I am planning to eat alone in my car from now on. 

Honestly, you sound super-paranoid. Just use good hygiene measures, like you would to avoid catching or transmitting any other virus. There's nothing magical about the way this one is handed off.

5
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ACNP-BC, Adult Critical Care, Cardiology.

I think you have real concerns there.  As co-workers, we should all be mindful of social distancing and mask-wearing when in close proximity with others.  Is this something you can bring up to management anonymously? Can you speak to Occupational Health and describe your concerns?

At our medical center, break rooms and offices are designated with signs as to how many staff can be inside at one time and there are reminders of mask wearing when not eating or drinking.  There are isolated incidents where I notice staff in violation but I always take it upon myself to just leave the situation rather than confront.

Recently, our institution started asymptomatic testing for all staff via a contract with a company called "Color" - https://www.color.com/covid-19-what-to-expect.  It is totally voluntary and free of charge for employees.  I think we are all on-edge during this pandemic and the least our co-workers and employer can do is to help allay our fears, real or imagined. 

5
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Community Health, Med/Surg, ICU Stepdown.
37 minutes ago, juan de la cruz said:

I think you have real concerns there.  As co-workers, we should all be mindful of social distancing and mask-wearing when in close proximity with others.  Is this something you can bring up to management anonymously? Can you speak to Occupational Health and describe your concerns?

At our medical center, break rooms and offices are designated with signs as to how many staff can be inside at one time and there are reminders of mask wearing when not eating or drinking.  There are isolated incidents where I notice staff in violation but I always take it upon myself to just leave the situation rather than confront.

Recently, our institution started asymptomatic testing for all staff via a contract with a company called "Color" - https://www.color.com/covid-19-what-to-expect.  It is totally voluntary and free of charge for employees.  I think we are all on-edge during this pandemic and the least our co-workers and employer can do is to help allay our fears, real or imagined. 

That asymptomatic testing system sounds wonderful! We do have restrictions but not always followed =( that's why I plan to eat in my car. Tired of being near people with no masks in a small indoor space. No matter how much hand washing and social distancing, you have to take off mask to eat, and people come close to you. I think it's a great idea to talk to Occupational Health. thanks!

4
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in School nursing.
On 12/12/2020 at 5:35 PM, gere7404 said:

My hospital says not to get tested because of just exposure, they will only test if you’re symptomatic.

our return criteria was 10 days elapsed since beginning of sx, >24hrs a febrile without fever reducing agents, and a negative swab. This is in line with current CDC recommendations.

CDC doesn't recommend a repeat test though anymore. A person that tests positive can continue to test positive for a long time, despite not being contagious. In April while contact tracing, I had several folks that had their healthcare jobs require two negative swabs and they tested positive with no symptoms for 6+ weeks. Recommendation per my state's DPH is no retesting of previous positive individual needed unless 90 days have passed since previous positive test. 

https://www.CDC.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/duration-isolation.html

4
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Emergency Department.
On 12/12/2020 at 10:23 PM, LibraNurse27 said:

they said to get tested 10 days from the last contact since incubation period can be up to 10 days and that we wouldn't be contagious before then. Is this true?

No!! 

"The time from exposure to symptom onset (known as the incubation period) is thought to be three to 14 days, though symptoms typically appear within four or five days after exposure." (Harvard Health Publishing. December 4th 2020) (My bold)

From the same source; "We know that a person with COVID-19 may be contagious 48 to 72 hours before starting to experience symptoms. Emerging research suggests that people may actually be most likely to spread the virus to others during the 48 hours before they start to experience symptoms."

https://www.health.harvard.edu/diseases-and-conditions/if-youve-been-exposed-to-the-coronavirus#

9
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Community Health, Med/Surg, ICU Stepdown.
On 12/15/2020 at 7:49 AM, GrumpyRN said:

No!! 

"The time from exposure to symptom onset (known as the incubation period) is thought to be three to 14 days, though symptoms typically appear within four or five days after exposure." (Harvard Health Publishing. December 4th 2020) (My bold)

From the same source; "We know that a person with COVID-19 may be contagious 48 to 72 hours before starting to experience symptoms. Emerging research suggests that people may actually be most likely to spread the virus to others during the 48 hours before they start to experience symptoms."

https://www.health.harvard.edu/diseases-and-conditions/if-youve-been-exposed-to-the-coronavirus#

Thanks! I knew what the infection control dept said was wrong. I think they're under pressure from admin not to let people who've been exposed but are asymptomatic stay home and quarantine or even get a test since we have a shortage of both staff and tests =(

2
Up Vote Up Vote ×
On 12/12/2020 at 5:23 PM, LibraNurse27 said:

they said to get tested 10 days from the last contact since incubation period can be up to 10 days and that we wouldn't be contagious before then.

Clearly this is not correct.

 

On 12/16/2020 at 9:53 PM, LibraNurse27 said:

I think they're under pressure from admin not to let people who've been exposed but are asymptomatic stay home and quarantine or even get a test since we have a shortage of both staff and tests =(

I would ask them for reference materials so you can better understand.  Whether they are going to have people work after a possible exposure or not, they need to be very clear about what they are doing and why. I hate it when they are willing to unabashedly lie straight up to nurses; they might as well say, "We truly do believe you are absolute idiots." They also certainly should not get a pass to spread fake covid info any more than anyone else.

4
Up Vote Up Vote ×

I had a question. My employer at an outpatient surgery center discovered an employee that had covid. There was not contact tracing involved after she was sent home (she's been sick and out for 2 weeks now). I have inquired and management says they can't say anything because of HIPAA, but shouldn't my employer inform us that we've been exposed to covid??? There hasn't been one word. Is this legal? Shouldn't they HAVE to tell us?? Not one word that I've been working next to someone with covid. The only reason I know she has covid is because I know her friends outside of work and they told me. Am I crazy or is it immoral at the very least not to inform us. I think they are keeping is hushed because if they let everyone know they would have to shut down and test everyone.

3
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Community Health, Med/Surg, ICU Stepdown.
31 minutes ago, falcon53192 said:

I had a question. My employer at an outpatient surgery center discovered an employee that had covid. There was not contact tracing involved after she was sent home (she's been sick and out for 2 weeks now). I have inquired and management says they can't say anything because of HIPAA, but shouldn't my employer inform us that we've been exposed to covid??? There hasn't been one word. Is this legal? Shouldn't they HAVE to tell us?? Not one word that I've been working next to someone with covid. The only reason I know she has covid is because I know her friends outside of work and they told me. Am I crazy or is it immoral at the very least not to inform us. I think they are keeping is hushed because if they let everyone know they would have to shut down and test everyone.

I'm not sure about whether they legally have to tell you, but I definitely think they should! For us they informed those who worked with the people within the last 2 weeks and offered testing, but didn't have us quarantine while waiting for results if we were asymptomatic. They said with proper PPE and distancing we wouldn't infect others. They stepped up the distancing and recommended only one person in break room at a time. I think if everyone potentially exposed stayed home to quarantine they wouldn't have enough staff. Frustrating, but I kind of understand.

I guess there are lots of asymptomatic people out in the community and we're supposed to strictly social distance. But I think they definitely should have informed you in case you wanted to social distance from who you live with while waiting for results or for the full ten days. By the time they told you though probably all of them had been exposed since the person was most likely contagious before symptoms/test = ( So complicated. I hope you test negative! And that you've been eating alone = (

1
Up Vote Up Vote ×

So I got floated to do a 1:1 on our covid unit. 2 patients both positive.  I wore all the proper PPE and sat far away from the patients as possible while still maintaining visible sight of them. Twice the assigned nurse for the patient entered into the room with only a N95 and nothing else to do her thing. 

I know it must be hard to work on such a unit. Perhaps complacency is getting to them. That's why I don't think it is safe to have the same staff work on a covid unit shift after shift for months.  The entire staff on such a unit should be rotated every 2 months or something like that from various units.  But it is too late for that now.

1
Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment