Nursing and the Ebola Virus

Nurses COVID

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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.

Specializes in ICU.

Not to be picky, but the mortality rate is 55%, not 90%. Several countries have already shut their borders, lets hope all do until this is contained. It's a reality though that we will have to deal with at some point in our lives. We just do the best we can.

Specializes in Rehab, Skilled Nursing.

Kent Brantly is fighting for his life. No news of his death.

Specializes in Critical Care; Cardiac; Professional Development.

You are right. I stand corrected.

Specializes in Rehab, Skilled Nursing.
Not to be picky, but the mortality rate is 55%, not 90%. Several countries have already shut their borders, lets hope all do until this is contained. It's a reality though that we will have to deal with at some point in our lives. We just do the best we can.

My source was the World Health Organization and I quote, "EVD outbreaks have a case fatality rate up to 90%"

50 or 90 percent chance still means death to me.

I'm not sure how I should feel if I were put in a position to care for highly contagious patients in which caring for them would lead to my fatal demise.

Why has all this time passed with no vaccine? First outbreak recorded in the 70's..

Makes you wonder..

Specializes in OR, Nursing Professional Development.
My source was the World Health Organization and I quote, "EVD outbreaks have a case fatality rate up to 90%"

50 or 90 percent chance still means death to me.

Many places are reporting that the fatality rate of this outbreak is 60%, owing to faster identification and earlier treatment. So, while still quite serious and threatening, it sounds like we are getting better at controlling the disease.

Specializes in Critical Care; Cardiac; Professional Development.

I had read this outbreak shows mortality of 60% when identified and treated early. The challenge has been...identifying and treating early. I have read articles about medical workers being regarded with high suspicion and villages going so far as to blow up bridges to keep them from entering their township.

It bears noting that a 60% death rate only sounds good when held up to a 90% death rate. It also says nothing about where on the scale between "full recovery no deficits" and "living the rest of life debiliated/ventilated/etcetcetc" the survivers fall.

Throughout recorded history, there have been communicable diseases with high mortality rates for which there was no known cure, and physicians and nurses have cared for the victims without making a big fuss about it. You use the best practices and protective equipment available, and do your job. I was around for the same panicky discussions when HIV first became a problem, and now everyone is used to it and it's not considered a huge deal, just something we all deal with.

Specializes in ER.

If we treat Ebola aggressively, the system is going to run out of blood/blood products quickly. We'll have to cohort patients, and deal with how to contain any visitors. I'd rather have them sleep over than be walking around the hospital.

the CDC and WHO are not clearly stating when a person becomes contagious. Is it before symptoms start? I did see that the virus can remain in sperm up to 7weeks after recovery. That is a long period of isolation.

I just saw on the news that the two americans are being medivac to Emory University Hospital.

Specializes in LTC,Hospice/palliative care,acute care.

I saw in the news today an American Ebola patient is being flown to the US for care.Did 'nt the CDC just have an unfortunate incident with some anthrax? If our "experts" can't handle this the results can be disastrous.

Anyone remember the book "The Hot Zone"? Back in the mid 90's biological weapons were in the news daily. Remember the crisis in the "monkey house"in Reston,VA-right outside of Washington,DC? It was a scary time. My son came down with a GI thing in the first grade and asked the doc if he had Ebola-I had no idea the poor kid was paying any attention to the news.

Specializes in Peds Urology,primary care, hem/onc.

I have to admit....bringing these patients voluntarily to the US makes me nervous. This doctor and nurse were following all of the protective gear and decontamination protocols that are supposed to protect them from getting the virus and they got it anyway. I worry that the virus has changed and we do not have a good handle on how to protect healthcare workers from it. Why would you willingly bring it here? Since the recent gaffe with anthrax.....not sure how much I trust the CDC. The other American who died had been taking care of his sick sister and it was not known she had Ebola until after she died. Makes sense how he caught it. I just pray everything they think they know about how to quarantine these patients and protect the healthcare workers taking care of them is correct. My heart breaks for this Doctor and Nurse but they knew the risks and chose to go to Africa. I am glad I do not work at Emory and have to make the decision on caring for them.

I saw in the news today an American Ebola patient is being flown to the US for care.Did 'nt the CDC just have an unfortunate incident with some anthrax? If our "experts" can't handle this the results can be disastrous.

Anyone remember the book "The Hot Zone"? Back in the mid 90's biological weapons were in the news daily. Remember the crisis in the "monkey house"in Reston,VA-right outside of Washington,DC? It was a scary time. My son came down with a GI thing in the first grade and asked the doc if he had Ebola-I had no idea the poor kid was paying any attention to the news.

BOTH are being flown to the US with at least one going to Emory.

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