Nursing and the Ebola Virus

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For those of us in unaffected countries, are you concerned about the ebola virus spreading? Would you care for ebola patients? I live in an area with a very high density of African immigrants and come into contact with these individuals regularly. We have a lot of African immigrants who bring back tuberculosis from their home countries and at my unit we end up caring for them. We take care of a lot of rare infectious diseases. I was reading an article and it dawned on me how plausible it would be for me to encounter this virus. And I admit, it's terrifying and I might refuse that assignment. Many healthcare workers in Africa are dying because of caring for the ill.

It's not like we didn't have something similar to Ebola in this country before, but we managed. There may or may not be casualties, but I think that's up to the people who are put into that situation to decide whether or not they will provide care to these individuals or not. We do what we have always done, use the information we have and the safety precautions we have and know work, err on the side of caution, and do what we do. What else can we do?

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Looks like we have POTENTIAL case of Ebola that isn't tucked safely away in the isolation unit at Emory... praying this person's tests come back negative....:nailbiting:

New York City Hospital Treating Potential Ebola Patient - ABC News

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Specializes in Oncology/Haemetology/HIV.
Right now we are just speculating about the situation but I guarantee you that those who think they have halos and would be more than willing to help these patients now would have a change of heart if the disease did become epidemic in this country and they saw first hand what ebola is about. It's easy to say what you would do and preach to others about how wrong they are when the disease is not yet on your doorstep.

I have worked in Africa and am very aware of the risks. I have no halo. And compared to Africa, I would have few qualms about caring for an ebola pt in the comfort and safety of a specialized unit in the USA.

A question for you. When a form of ebola strikes the US (and it will, eventially) and your child/spouse/self is ill with relatively easily treatable symptoms that are survivable only with medical interventions, will you be fine when every medical professional refuses and walks away, despite more than adequate ppe, because they just don't want to take the chance. Tell me that you are perfectly at peace with your easily treatable loved is refused any care and allowed to die or develop irrepairable organ damage because of fear.

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I have worked in Africa and am very aware of the risks. I have no halo. And compared to Africa, I would have few qualms about caring for an ebola pt in the comfort and safety of a specialized unit in the USA.

A question for you. When a form of ebola strikes the US (and it will, eventially) and your child/spouse/self is ill with relatively easily treatable symptoms that are survivable only with medical interventions, will you be fine when every medical professional refuses and walks away, despite more than adequate ppe, because they just don't want to take the chance. Tell me that you are perfectly at peace with your easily treatable loved is refused any care and allowed to die or develop irrepairable organ damage because of fear.

Yes it's part of the job to treat infectious diseases...

BUT:

People are (rightly so) upset that a disease, so far contained in west Africa, was knowingly and willingly brought into our country. This is a disease with no known cure and is not fully researched.

If these cases were voluntarily brought in, then each and every staff

Member should he able to decide of they want to be involved with it or not.

Maybe this makes no sense, but i certainly hear both sides of the story.

I am not a nurse yet so I can't say what I would do if I were in the situation... I think it would depend on how confident I felt in my own skills/abilities as a nurse

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Specializes in Critical Care.

I just read that Samaritan's Purse was able to get an experimental monoclonal antibodies med for the two American Missionaries with help from the CDC. It hasn't been used in people before, but all monkeys treated with it survived the infection.

Maybe this will lead to offering this treatment to other people infected with Ebola, but where will the money come from to pay for this. The drug companies don't give out medicine for free. I hope this treatment will be offered to any healthcare worker if they become infected with Ebola!

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Specializes in Critical Care.
Which is exactly why I said "in case I could get your license in trouble." There are other grounds for discipline besides abandonment. If there were a real situation (as opposed to the current fevered speculation) and this was happening (people refusing to care for individuals with a particular diagnosis), it might be possible to make a case that nurses were violating a state code of nursing ethics and could be held accountable for that. One never knows. If I were a manager, I would certainly be reporting people to the BON so they could decide if there were anything to pursue.

I don't like your self riteous tone and frankly it offends me. I think it is reasonable to ask for volunteers not force nurses. Are you in management, because your tone comes across as the coercive atmosphere that too many nurses are forced to deal with from bad management! A good manager doesn't work by threats and force but commands respect by building rapport and teamwork!

I'm encouraged that your puntitive tone does not reflect the majority of responses here, you appear to be in the minority! I think nurses have to make their own decision on accepting an assignment and don't need to be coerced, intimidated or guilt tripped that they don't want to sign up to be martyrs where infection could be up to 90% mortality!

Even some nurses in Africa have fled rather than risk their lives. I think we have a right to make a personal decision whether to accept an assignment. We are not in the military where we signed on to put our lives on the line! I resent this attitude in nursing where we are expected to do as we are told and toe the line. This is the same crap with being forced to take the flu vaccine or lose your job! It is wrong! We should have the right to make our own decisions about our very lives and health!

Re ebola I don't know what I would do. I hope I never face this situation!

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Yes it's part of the job to treat infectious diseases...

BUT:

People are (rightly so) upset that a disease, so far contained in west Africa, was knowingly and willingly brought into our country. This is a disease with no known cure and is not fully researched.

If these cases were voluntarily brought in, then each and every staff

Member should he able to decide of they want to be involved with it or not.

Maybe this makes no sense, but i certainly hear both sides of the story.

I am not a nurse yet so I can't say what I would do if I were in the situation... I think it would depend on how confident I felt in my own skills/abilities as a nurse

2 different issues. 1 being that brought an infected person over here. No need for volunteers for those cases. They went to a specailized unit with 2 nurses waiting for them.

The 2nd, is having to treat an infected persons. A person shows up at the hospital where medical staff is working. Should they refuse to treat the person. Based upon the responses on this thread, many think the medical staff should just go home.

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I don't like your self riteous tone and frankly it offends me. I think it is reasonable to ask for volunteers not force nurses. Are you in management, because your tone comes across as the coercive atmosphere that too many nurses are forced to deal with from bad management! A good manager doesn't work by threats and force but commands respect by building rapport and teamwork!

I'm encouraged that your puntitive tone does not reflect the majority of responses here, but you appear to be in the minority! I think nurses have to make their own decision on accepting an assignment and don't need to be coerced, intimidated or guilt tripped that they don't want to sign up to be martyrs where infection could be up to 90% mortality!

I have a different take. I see an attempt by many to find others who are like minded, so they can feel justified by leaving patients to fend for themselves.

Those that run from the battle field should expect to be called to the carpet. It shouldn't be a shocker or considered self righteous.

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Specializes in Critical Care.
I have a different take. I see an attempt by many to find others who are like minded, so they can feel justified by leaving patients to fend for themselves.

Those that run from the battle field should expect to be called to the carpet. It shouldn't be a shocker or considered self righteous.

Again no need to be melodramatic! This is not a battle because we are not in the military! We are not at war! We are civilians and able to make our own decisions! I don't remember signing up or being drafted in the military!

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I have a different take. I see an attempt by many to find others who are like minded, so they can feel justified by leaving patients to fend for themselves.

Those that run from the battle field should expect to be called to the carpet. It shouldn't be a shocker or considered self righteous.

When I become a nurse I'll first be a mom/wife/daughter/friend and THEN a nurse. In other words, I am no martyr and I'm not signing up to be one. My health and well being comes first.

Selfish? Maybe...

But that's why I didn't sign up for the military. I am no position to put myself in a situation that can endanger me. It's not like I would walk away from someone who was infected with scabies because it grossed me out...obviously the circumstances would have to be really frightening to me for me to walk out, but I probably would if I were that afraid- which is why I won't judge anyone who does.

Again, I am not a nurse and I'm not in this situation so I really don't know what my final decision would be... But

I'd rather lose my license than my life

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I have to say this is the most fascinating (and informative) thread I have read in a long while.

Regardless on which side of the debate you might be.....or if you aren't sure yet on a position....I thank all the participants. I have learned quite a bit about a disease that was previously barely known to me, via the links provided and the stirred curiosity.

I do believe there is ONE thing we can ALL agree on: we pray that we don't see the suffering on this side of the globe that has already been experienced on the other side. Not because any of us are better or worse than anyone else, but because this is suffering on such a magnitude it should give anyone pause about how safe anyone is, anywhere....from anything.

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When I become a nurse I'll first be a mom/wife/daughter/friend and THEN a nurse. In other words, I am no martyr and I'm not signing up to be one. My health and well being comes first.

Selfish? Maybe...

But that's why I didn't sign up for the military. I am no position to put myself in a situation that can endanger me. It's not like I would walk away from someone who was infected with scabies because it grossed me out...obviously the circumstances would have to be really frightening to me for me to walk out, but I probably would if I were that afraid- which is why I won't judge anyone who does.

Again, I am not a nurse and I'm not in this situation so I really don't know what my final decision would be... But

I'd rather lose my license than my life

In your everyday life, you can come in contact with the infection. At work, or shopping. It can happen. How many times a day are we exposed to persons who show signs of cold or flu? You don't have the personal option of refusing to be exposed. You will not even be aware of it.

Surely this was all explaned to you in school. Just by reading the history of nursing should have given some warning. It's not martyrdom. It's just dealing with the situation at hand. If it shows up at the local hospital, then it's everywhere and no one is 'safe.' Your most likely safer in lock down, with the top of the line PPE, then around any other 'sick' people or shopping among the public where wearing extreme PPE would not be accepted.

You will not be frightened or walk out/away, cause you will not know your delaing with an infected person.

I don't see the situaiton as selfish, I see it as unrealistic.

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