Nurses, Say Thank You to Ebola Nurses, Patients, Those Speaking Out

Talk of Ebola is all over the news. In recent weeks, we've all watched as the crisis has unfolded. We've seen the devastating effects of this deadly virus. Let's not forget the impact it has had on some of our own. Let's take this time to express our support, appreciation, and well-wishes to those nurses who have been personally affected by this health crisis. Nurses Announcements Archive

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Over the past months, the people of West Africa have been dealing with the Ebola crisis. In spite of the efforts of doctors and nurses from around the world who have traveled to Africa to assist in treating of Ebola patients, the number of newly diagnosed and fatalities keeps growing. The deadly virus has now worked its way across western Africa and the rest of the world.

The virus moved into the United States in late September with the first confirmed United States Ebola diagnosis in Texas, Thomas Duncan. Despite medical care, Mr. Duncan became the first Ebola fatality in the US, just a week after diagnosis.

Many nurses in Dallas were deeply involved in caring for Mr. Duncan. Unfortunately, two of those nurses became infected with the Ebola virus and are now hospitalized. Dallas Nurse Nina Pham, the first person to contract the virus in the United States, is now a patient at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland. Amber Vinson, the second Dallas nurse to contract Ebola, is a patient at Emory University Hospital in Atlanta, Georgia. We must also remember the nurses in Africa who have cared for many Ebola patients.

Since the Ebola issues in Dallas, many nurses have spoken out about breaches in protocol. Some have done so anonymously, while one nurse had the courage to speak out in an interview on national television. These nurse are motivated by a sense of nursing professionalism and a desire to provide safe, quality care to all patients.

Take This Opportunity to Say "Thank You" To All The Nurses Who Have Been Involved In The Ebola Crisis

Nurses who have cared for Ebola patients, either in the United States or across the globe. These nurses have willingly and knowingly placed themselves in harm's way dealing with a deadly virus, because this is what nurses do. Every day nurses are among the first responders, the first line of defense, advocates for their patients. The Ebola crisis has just magnified the importance of nurses.

Nurses who cared for Ebola patients and are now patients. These are nurses who worked diligently to provide compassionate and quality care for Ebola patients. Of course Nina and Amber are "close to home", but let's also remember the number of nurses around the world who have also contracted the virus.

Nurses who are speaking out about policy and protocol breaches. By speaking out against unsafe practices when caring for Ebola patients, these nurses are willing to put their jobs on the line in order to potentially prevent coworkers and others from contracting the virus. Thank you for your courage.

Nurses....we salute all of you who have been personally touched by the Ebola crisis. We support you and applaud your efforts. Nina, Amber, and other nurses who contracted the virus "in the line of duty", our prayers, well wishes, and healing thoughts are with each of you.

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Please help us thank these wonderful nurses by posting your words of support, gratitude, and appreciation.

This thread is for positive and supportive comments only. Negative or judgmental comments will be removed.

Specializes in Geriatrics, Dialysis.

Thank you! This not only to the two US nurses that have been in the news, but to all the anonymous nurses dealing with this every day. It is somewhat sad that it took ebola reaching the US for attention to be placed on the front line health care workers that have been working with this for years.

Specializes in Just about everything.

To all of you nurses in harms way: I am praying for each of you! To those who are speaking out: thank you for giving all of us a voice! I respect what you are doing! For too long the only ones speaking out were the ones sitting in an office and not willing or able to put themselves at the bedside. It's easy to have an opinion if nothing is expected of you! It's those of us in the ED or other units that have the real risk and responsibility! Fast recovery to you all!

Specializes in nursing education.

Nina and Amber Joy, get well soon! Sending prayers and healing thoughts. Thanks for your bravery in the face of this terrifying virus and providing care to Mr. Duncan.

Specializes in Psychiatric Nursing.

Nina and Amber, thank you for being excellent nurses who put patient care first! I am so proud of the two of you, and so proud to be a nurse, now more than ever. Your fellow nurses are standing with you and offering our prayers. How brave you both are! Thank you for your service to your very ill patient during his final days. I think you both are amazing women and I am PROUD that we are sisters in nursing!

Since this is quite literally in my own backyard, I would like to extend a personal thank you to ALL the TX Health Presbyterian healthcare employees. You have all worked under unbelievable stress for the last several weeks and comported yourselves with extreme grace under pressure. You have been in the limelight and have NOT been found wanting.

To Brianna ~ Your bravery is awe inspiring! You most likely saved countless lives by speaking out about the conditions that the CDC was telling the rest of the US were safe. Stay strong and know that what you did, was the correct thing to do.

To Amber and Nina ~ two braver young nurses I don't think exist. You both volunteered to take care of a patient that you knew was suffering from a disease that had the ability to kill you, yet you chose to do it anyway. Your care and compassion for the patient certainly helped ease his pain and suffering. Prayers continue to both of you and your complete and speedy recovery. You are very loved by your families and your co-workers and they are all looking forward to the day that they can hold you again in their arms.

To all other nurses and doctors here and abroad taking care of these patients, you are the unsung hero's. You selflessly give of yourselves in an effort to help others. I can only hope that one day, I can follow in your footsteps. You are all in my prayers.

Specializes in NICU, PICU, PCVICU and peds oncology.

While my heart aches for Nina, Amber and Brianna, at the same time it's bursting with pride that these three women stepped up to do what needed to be done with little or no thought to their own well-being. And as awful as this whole situation is, I believe we're seeing something we've never had before, and that's having the spotlight on what we do every day under the guise of doing our jobs. At a time when the eyes of the world are on nurses and nurses are being blamed for their own plight, some hint of sober reality is creeping into the hearts and minds of people everywhere. Not only do we represent the largest single group of health care providers, we also take on more of the risk in pandemics. We're the ones in the isolation garb on the inside of the room with sick people for 12 hours at a time (with time out for food and a pee break if we're lucky) while everyone else either does what they need to do from outside the room or they're in and back out again before the door closes. We nurses are often scapegoated for things that are beyond our control and are expected to function perfectly 100% of the time, like machines do. People tend to forget that we're as human as they are, AND we provide intimate care to people at their most vulnerable. Let's all hope that this spotlight reveals us for who and what we are - well-educated people who care deeply about others and put their own interests second to those of their patients. My hat is off to all nurses everywhere.

Thank you to all nurses who put their lives on the line to treat these helpless people. Nina and Amber, prayers for you to get better. To the ones speaking out, thank you for your bravery. Bless you all. I stand with you all : )

To Nina, Amber, and Brianna

YOU are the kind of nurses I would want to take care of me. Not afraid to get right in there and do what needs to be done.

A lot of people over the years have told me "Oh, I could never be a nurse" and "It takes a special person to be a nurse".

And I would brush it off. As the years go by and I am able to see human nature with a more experienced eye, I can now say

it REALLY DOES take someone special and not everyone CAN do this job. It is a hard, nasty, disgusting job sometimes.

But certain nurses DO IT and they ARE truly HEROS. I am proud to be a part of a profession that includes you three.

Brianna, you are truly an advocate for all of us. And that is the number one duty of a nurse to his/her patient.

I wish you well and keep your head held high and stay calm. You did the RIGHT thing on behalf of all of us.

Take care Nina, Amber, and Brianna and all of the other caregivers around the world dealing with the scourge of ebola.

You are not alone. We love you.:)

RNSue

Specializes in 15 years in ICU, 22 years in PACU.

Forgive my use of a much overused word, but these nurses are truly HEROS! In the last 30 or so years I have forgotten how we bravely show up on the front lines in a paper gown and flimsy third-world-imported gloves to battle the latest global epidemic. HIV, MRSA, SARS, H1N1 to name a few. Why? Because somebody will have to do it and it's my turn in the isolation room. So many unsung heroes but now we have a couple to celebrate. I have read some mighty stupid comments posted on the CNN message boards from people showing symptoms of Fear-bola. They have accused us of being selfish or wantonly ignorant of public safety. I don't believe that nonsense but the general public that watches reality TV and FOX news need to hear us loud and clear. We will continue to stand strong and be the critical caregiver you have always trusted and relied upon. WHEN Nina and Amber survive this ordeal, don't you know some entitled old fart will be the first to beg or more likely demand those very nurses give lifesaving transfusions to their sorry azz. I've heard it from my fellow Crusties, "What more do they want..... blood?"

Specializes in School Nursing.

I answered "I don't know" to the question about feeling safe going to local hospital for Ebola treatment. Living in a city with hundreds of hospitals, some of them are the BEST in the world, so depending on the hospital, yes, I would feel safe, but there are many around that I wouldn't go to for a cold, let alone Ebola treatment.

Hold that lamp high for it is always darkest before the dawn. Your courage is making a difference, and Together Everyone Achieves More..(team).

Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

My deepest appreciation, thanks and respect to ALL health care workers putting their lives on the line, in harm's way every day. I am pretty geographically far away, but who can say where and when any such disease like Ebola will strike next? I honor those here and abroad, stepping forward so bravely and selflessly, to do the right things for the ones needing them most.

THANK YOU and GOD BE WITH ALL OF YOU.

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