N95 Masks and reuse

[psalm, RN]

Does your facility expect you to reuse your N95 mask throughout the shift and THEN discard it, or use a new one per visit to room? I was floated to a different floor the other night and had a TB pt. One of the nurses was chastising me for using a new N95 and gown each time I had to enter the room for pt. care. And of course we couldn't find our hospital policy on our intranet.

I did tell her that even if her managet told me it was okay to reuse, I would always use a new one. What about your facility?

[bethin]

When we used them we kept them in a bag with our names for 2 days.

I thought everyone used the hoods now.

[barbyann]

I just left one hospital in CT that instructed us to reuse for the whole shift then discard.

I did new-employee orientation at my new hospital (CT) job and they instructed me in single use only, and also stated that if I spend an extended time in the room and the mask gets moist (from exhalation) to leave the room and change into new mask and then continue.

Funny things aren't more in sync.

[KT-Jay731]

We've been told it is our personal preference as to whether we reuse them or not, our hospital does not have a definite policy either way.

[RPN_2006]

At the hospital where I work the policy is to discard after single use. Infection control is pretty firm about this.

[psalm, RN]

I did find this to back me up in the single use, but I wish we could do things the best, safest way.

http://www.fda.gov/cdrh/ppe/masksrespirators.html

[NotReady4PrimeTime, RN]

At the hospital where I work the policy is to discard after single use. Infection control is pretty firm about this.

DITTO!! And we've been told to change the mask if it's damp because it loses effectiveness. We're fit-tested annually and reminded how to put them on and remove them to ensure our own safety.

[imanedrn]

DITTO!! And we've been told to change the mask if it's damp because it loses effectiveness. We're fit-tested annually and reminded how to put them on and remove them to ensure our own safety.

Good point! I would say to the OP that this is YOUR safety in mind, NOT the patient's, in this case. While (in the other nurse's mind) the OP may be over-doing it, without any written policy, I would follow what is best for MY safety. And, although that website didn't say anything about how frequently to change the masks, I'm sure there is a NIOSH / CDC / somebody policy somewhere which would supersede a hospital policy every time!

Considering this goes BEYOND patient safety (and crosses into personal and public safety, if the OP were infected, for example), I think it's worth investigating...

[Rach101]

we use a single mask for a shift. would be interested to see any further info on best practice for this.

[psalm, RN]

At the hospital where I work the policy is to discard after single use. Infection control is pretty firm about this.

Yes, that is how I understand it. From the webite

http://www.fda.gov/cdrh/ppe/maskrespirators.html

under "What you should know before using surgical maks and surgical N95 respirators":

*Never reuse surgical masks or surgical N95 respirators*

*Never wash or disinfect surgical masks or surgical N95 respirators*

My safety as a health care professional is important. If I ever feel like I can't protect myself, it is time for me to retire. We need PPE and we need to use it properly.

[BlueRidgeHomeRN]

absolutely correct--although n-95's are rated to up to eight hours of use by osha and niosh, that's eight continuous hours.

once you exit the hazard area, the mask should go bye-bye!