Maine Med Assn calls Kaci a hero

TiffyRN, BSN, PhD · Oct 31, 2014

We haven't heard from the Maine Nurse's association? Somehow I'm not surprised from the responses I'm seeing here. So frustrating.

Home Health Columnist / Guide · Oct 31, 2014

Ebola Information - American Nurses Association

ANA Supports CDC Guidance, Not Mandatory Quarantine for Health Care Professionals Returning from Treating Ebola Patients in West Africa

Statement: Attributable to ANA President Pamela Cipriano, PhD, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN

SILVER SPRING, MD – “The American Nurses Association (ANA) opposes the mandatory quarantine of health care professionals who return to the United States from West African nations where Ebola is widespread. ANA supports registered nurse Kaci Hickox, who recently returned to the United States after treating Ebola patients in Sierra Leone, in her challenge of a 21-day quarantine imposed by state officials in Maine, her home state. Hickox arrived at Newark airport on Oct. 24 and was immediately quarantined in a hospital tent by New Jersey state officials, who eventually allowed her to travel to Maine via private transport on Oct. 27. After testing negative twice for Ebola, nurse Hickox, who continues to be symptom free, poses no public threat yet is restricted to her home.
ANA, along with the American Hospital Association and American Medical Association, supports the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) guidance based on the best available scientific evidence. The CDC guidance would not require a mandatory 21-day quarantine of Hickox given risk levels outlined by the CDC in her particular case. ANA urges authorities to refrain from imposing more restrictive conditions than indicated in the CDC guidelines, which will only raise the level of fear and misinformation that currently exists.
..

elkpark · Oct 31, 2014

Good for them. Finally, a voice of reason.

RNsRWe, ASN, RN · Oct 31, 2014

I believe she's right in her refusal of quarantine. I also believe she looks VERY badly in her very public tirades.....she looks like a 'fame grabber' at this point. I mean, really: inviting the press to accompany her and her boyfriend on a bike ride?! To see a visual 'thumbing of the nose' at the quarantine issue?

I have her back totally in refusing to give into hysterical demands. I stop there, though, because I think she's now looking just silly and attention-grabbing.

Guess I've had enough of the antics.

FLAlleycat · Oct 31, 2014

I believe she's right in her refusal of quarantine. I also believe she looks VERY badly in her very public tirades.....she looks like a 'fame grabber' at this point. I mean, really: inviting the press to accompany her and her boyfriend on a bike ride?! To see a visual 'thumbing of the nose' at the quarantine issue?
I have her back totally in refusing to give into hysterical demands. I stop there, though, because I think she's now looking just silly and attention-grabbing.
Guess I've had enough of the antics.

Personally, I doubt she invited the press but they more than likely are hanging out in her front yard. I also note that in every interview, she brings out the fact that the quarantine is not based on science, which is something the hysterical and emotional public has yet to grasp. The press is putting her into the position of "fame grabber". I would imagine she would prefer they would just leave her alone and let her fight her battle locally. Of course, once she told Maine she would not follow quarantine, the press was immediately drawn to her.

FLAlleycat · Oct 31, 2014

BTW, here is the video of the interview of the VP of Maine Med Assoc as well as excellent prelude by Rachel Maddow:

Uncowed Kaci Hickox supported by state health leaders | MSNBC

seconddegreebsn · Nov 1, 2014

I believe she's right in her refusal of quarantine. I also believe she looks VERY badly in her very public tirades.....she looks like a 'fame grabber' at this point. I mean, really: inviting the press to accompany her and her boyfriend on a bike ride?! To see a visual 'thumbing of the nose' at the quarantine issue?
I have her back totally in refusing to give into hysterical demands. I stop there, though, because I think she's now looking just silly and attention-grabbing.
Guess I've had enough of the antics.

She doesn't seem to mind being in front of the cameras--the bike ride was one giant media grab. Since she's such an expert, maybe she'd be better served educating the public but she doesn't seem too interested in that. Hopefully this will be the last we hear about her.

OCNRN63, RN · Nov 1, 2014

She doesn't seem to mind being in front of the cameras--the bike ride was one giant media grab. Since she's such an expert, maybe she'd be better served educating the public but she doesn't seem too interested in that. Hopefully this will be the last we hear about her.

She has tried to do so, in many of her statements. You can't educate people who refuse to listen and learn.

Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN · Nov 1, 2014

I can only hope for her sake that she doesn't have the virus...because if she does turn out to test positive, she's pretty much nuked her credibility and her career.

MrChicagoRN, RN · Nov 1, 2014

BTW, here is the video of the interview of the VP of Maine Med Assoc as well as excellent prelude by Rachel Maddow:
Uncowed Kaci Hickox supported by state health leaders | MSNBC

I'd encourage everyone to watch the entire video. There's some great stuff about totally foolish and overblown reactions to transmission risk.

MissyWrite · Nov 1, 2014

Kaci is a hero.

We know that if we stop the spread of Ebola in Africa it also stops the spread to other places, which makes it a matter of national security.

No different than a soldier, Kaci went to the front lines of a horrific battle and put her own life on the line to stop the threat. [h=3]But what she returned to was hardly the hero’s welcome she deserved.[/h]