Nina Pham and/or Amber Vinson

Nurses COVID

Published

It occurred to me this morning that Ms. Pham or Ms. Vinson might be members here at AN, and they may be reading some of these threads since most of their communication would be limited to cyberspace at this point. (Some other people may have already noted that - I haven't read all the Ebola threads.)

I just want to say directly to them, if they are reading... you are in my thoughts. I admire your courage in trying to care for a patient without the necessary equipment and training. I'm sorry that you had to become the face of nursing safety issues in this way, but I hope we can take advantage of your unfortunate circumstances to improve conditions for all of us. Regardless of the media coverage, blaming, PR and legal maneuvering, and political spin you may be subjected to, please know that I hold you in the highest regard, and first and foremost wish for your quick and full recovery.

Please get well soon.

Specializes in Emergency Room, Trauma ICU.
I keep thinking, as a former ER nurse, that it depends on which kind of thermometer used as well. We did an experiment during a downtime in the ER where we took everyone's temp with the tympanic, the oral, and the forehead thermometers. (We decided NOT to try the rectal method even though we think it is the most accurate :D )

ALL were different . . . .:nurse:

There isn't much difference between 98.6 and 99.5 . . . . you can switch from one to another just by entering a warm room. And some folks baseline temp is higher than 98.6

I agree - let's not criticize the nurses. We should have a thread of support for them instead. There are plenty of other Ebola threads in which to criticize things . . .

Well....rectal is the most accurate ?

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Specializes in RN, CHPN.

This began as a support thread, in case Amber or Nina were online reading...and it went downhill quickly.

I shouldn't be surprised. I've been an RN for 25 years, and have long known that nurses are their own worse enemies.

Lots of 'horizontal violence' in nursing, for example what's going on in this thread.

Horizontal violence (or lateral violence) is displaced violence directed against one's peers rather than one's true adversaries. This construct is used often in explaining minority-on-minority violence in developed nations. Members of low-status ethnic minority groups face greater stresses.

(in other words, gang violence)

Lateral Violence "occurs within marginalized groups where members strike out at each other as a result of being oppressed. The oppressed become the oppressors of themselves and each other. Common behaviours that prevent positive change from occurring include gossiping, bullying, finger-pointing, backstabbing and shunning."

Yes, finger-pointing.

Let's have some compassion FOR OUR COLLEAGUE WHO CONTRACTED EBOLA -- ONE OF THE DEADLIEST AND MOST FEARED DISEASES ON EARTH -- while doing her job. A job that so many of us are afraid we'll be called on to do.

She has a wedding coming up, with all the excitement and planning that goes with it. She cared for a patient following CDC guidelines, without knowing how faulty they were. What should she have done, cancelled her life and isolated herself, in addition to putting her life on the line at work? You THINK that's what you would have done, but I question that. If so, you have NO understanding of human nature and no compassion. In addition, you're perpetuating horizontal violence.

Point your finger where it needs to be pointed -- at the ignorant CDC, who seems to be in lala land about Ebola.

Amber, I support you 100%. Many of us do. Don't listen to the others. May you make a speedy and full recovery! Same to you, Nina! May God bless both of you, today and always, for your selfless service to those afflicted with the most dread disease faced in our world today.

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Specializes in Peds/outpatient FP,derm,allergy/private duty.

I agree - very nice to offer those sentiments logan. It makes me sick to see nurses kicked around for political fodder as well. The 24/7 noise machine is in overdrive at present, so we're bound to see a lot more talk-before-thinking input from a variety of uninformed people.

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God bless you girls and get well soon. You are both in my prayers each and every day.

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I can't bring myself to hold a person who knew she had a fever after exposure to an Ebola patient and then chose to put hundreds of other people at risk by traveling on a commercial airline, TWICE, in highest regard.

I don't care what some CDC phone monkey told her, she should have known better.

And you should know better than to post negativity in what was supposed to be a positive thread.

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Specializes in Critical Care.

I pray for Nina and Amber for their full recovery and that their heroic sacrifice will be recognized and protect other healthcare workers from being put in harms way. You both are very brave and deserve the best. I don't think I could be as brave as you both!

I applaud Brianna Aguirre the whistle blower as well and wish her the best! Most importantly, I hope this will lead to significant improvements in our preparation and equipment to protect all the healthcare workers that may have an Ebola patient to care for in the future!

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Nina and Amber, if you're reading this, I want to tell you how much I admire you both deeply. I find you both to be brave beyond belief. Neither of you deserve this media crap-storm you're receiving. It's especially egregious given the severe circumstances you're both dealing with presently.

I know you both must be very well aware of the statistics for this disease and no doubt you're feeling quite a measure of fear and uncertainty. Just please know that there are thousands of well-wishes and prayers with you both right now.

I wish you both a speedy recovery.

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Specializes in ED, Pedi Vasc access, Paramedic serving 6 towns.

I do hope both of them get better soon; however I am with the others, if you know you have been exposed to a deadly disease and the incubation can be up to 21 days, why would you choose to fly and put others, including children at risk?! To me a very selfish decision on her part.

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I do hope both of them get better soon; however I am with the others, if you know you have been exposed to a deadly disease and the incubation can be up to 21 days, why would you choose to fly and put others, including children at risk?! To me a very selfish decision on her part.

Because the CDC (Centers for Disease Control aka the experts on this disease that only came to our shores 1 month ago!) told her it was okay for her to fly.

The experts said she was good. Is she supposed to presume to know more than them? Keep in mind that she made her trip before Nina Pham's diagnosis. And when she learned about it and became aware of her elevated temperature she did exactly what she should have done...she contacted the CDC and they said she was good.

Why shouldn't she have trusted their recommendation when they had all the facts and why is it considered selfish that she did? Oh, and let's keep in mind that this individual you're labeling as selfish is the same individual currently fighting for her life after caring for an ebola stricken patient.

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Specializes in LTC, Med-surg.

If I was Amber, I would have delayed my flight and monitor myself a couple of weeks before getting on a plane.

It just doesn't make sense not to given the scare that I'm having of ebola becoming a pandemic.

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Specializes in RN, CHPN.
I'm most upset about the fact that they destroyed all the belongings of the nurses, why was this necessary and nobody is speaking up about this!

They could have used hydrogen peroxide vapor to decontaminate the nurse's homes. Or simply let everything sit untouched, until the nurses returned home. Any virus on surfaces would have been dead by then.

The simple reason they don't do that is because 'the public' (the ignorant, panicked public) wants to see everything hauled away by guys in hazmat suits who spray the freaking sidewalks on their way out. It quells 'panic,' you know. Ignorance or panic -- that's all they think we're capable of.

These nurses not only contracted a deadly disease, but have to deal with being blamed for it, AND also have to deal with losing every treasured belonging they owned. It's the equivalent of their houses burning down, in addition to everything else.

And all of it was completely unnecessary.

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Specializes in RN, CHPN.
If I was Amber

If you were Amber, you would have gone to Ohio to participate in the festivities of planning your wedding.

If you were Amber, you would have selflessly risked your life to care for a patient suffering from one of the deadliest and most feared diseases on the planet.

When it's your turn to care for an Ebola patient, and you follow all the precautions advised by the CDC, will you cancel your wedding plans, your vacation, your holiday plans, your life? Will you stay home from church, avoid the grocery store, pull the shades, and live like a hermit? Even if no one tells you to?

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