NNU President testified to Congress that a major gap remains in U.S. preparedness

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Specializes in Critical care, tele, Medical-Surgical.

After Congressional Hearing on Ebola Prep. National Nurses Say Mandate for Hospitals Still Needed

24 Oct 2014

... National Nurses United said a major gap remains in U.S. preparedness - the failure of the federal government, both Congress and the White House, to mandate all hospitals to implement the highest standards and protocols to protect nurses, other health workers and the public.

NNU, represented in the hearing by co-president Deborah Burger, RN, expressed thanks to committee chair Rep. Darrell Issa of California and Rep. Elijah Cummings of Maryland for convening the hearing, and especially Cummings for pressing NNU's call for a mandate. Afterwards, NNU stressed here must be no more delays.

"We are not interest in more communication between various agencies. We are solely interested in a mandate directing every hospital, every U.S. health facility, to immediately implement the optimal precautions, in both personal protective equipment and proper training," ...

... "An 'abundance of caution,' which we heard advocated in the hearing, has little meaning in the absence of the clout of an enforcement mechanism...

... After the hearing, Burger noted, "the CDC guidelines are a pull down menu, the hospitals can choose among them, they will invariably choose the cheapest. But even if the CDC had a single, optimal standard, they do not have the authority to mandate it, which is why we're calling on the President and Congress to act."

In her formal testimony to the committee, Burger noted, "The Ebola pandemic and the exposure of health care workers to the virus in Texas and the real threat that it could occur elsewhere in the US, represent a clear and present danger to public health... The risk of exposure to the population at large merely starts with frontline caregivers like registered nurses, physicians and other healthcare workers - it does not end there. If we cannot protect our nurses and other healthcare workers, we cannot protect anyone."...

http://www.enewspf.com/latest-news/health-and-fitness/56317-after-congressional-hearing-on-ebola-prep-national-nurses-say-mandate-for-hospitals-still-needed.html

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Thanks for the website, good article.

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Specializes in MICU, SICU, CICU.

My thoughts exactly.

Well said Ms Burger and I would like to express my sincere thanks for being an advocate for all of us.

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Specializes in MICU, SICU, CICU.

May I suggest that all political news, legislation, political appointments, hearings, etc. concerning Ebola coming from our elected officials in D.C. be in the political section? It would help to quell the panic if we could provide factual information about all the work going on that is not being reported on so many news outlets. Thank you.

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