Nursing and the Ebola Virus

[0.adamantite]

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.

[Kyrshamarks, BSN, RN]

the gloves are going to be contaminated period. take off gown and glove same time. I have used the bio hazard tyvec suits many many times. you can also in zip them and remove with the gloves at the same time.

[MassED, BSN, RN]

CDC - 2007 Isolation Precautions:Figure - HICPAC

Gloves are the first thing you remove... Check out this CDC website.

They forgot to add about booties or feet....

And a shower!

[MassED, BSN, RN]

Then do you put on clean gloves? How do you prevent the virus from touching your fingers if you touch anything else with bare hands then?

Layers of gloves

[classicdame, MSN, EdD]

Macawake: Varicella is airborne when patient is shedding virus.

[Kyrshamarks, BSN, RN]

darn phone

[teri-w]

My concern is the hospital where I work they are having policy of 1:1 care of patient. Once paitent is isolated the nurse must remain in the room with the patient. At end of care for patient or her shift then all clothing/shoes and things on her/his person are removed. The RN is showered and sent home in alternative clothing. Reimbursed for cost. What I am really not happy about is there are rumors once in contact with you must take 21days off work. You must use you PTO. I am in a non-PTO accruing position. Why should I incur financial strain to my family because I cared for the patient. In my 26yrs I have never refused care but am I able to legally refuse under protection of my family financial health?

[ktwlpn, LPN]

What I am really not happy about is there are rumors once in contact with you must take 21days off work. You must use you PTO. I am in a non-PTO accruing position. Why should I incur financial strain to my family because I cared for the patient. In my 26yrs I have never refused care but am I able to legally refuse under protection of my family financial health?

You should confirm that,might not be true. I've learned very little of what I hear at work is actually based on facts. No sense in getting worked up until you know. This is something that will have to be determined and fair for all.

[APRN., DNP, RN, APRN, NP]

I was taught option #2, and prefer to use that method to remove my gloves.

[brandy1017, ASN, RN]

Layers of gloves

That's right I read somewhere that they would triple glove when working with Ebola patients. Didn't think of that before.

[brandy1017, ASN, RN]

Now a Texas nurse apparently has Ebola from taking care of Duncan. This is getting scarier and sadder, hope she makes it! Are they going to decontaminate her house, quarantine her family, what if there are any pets. What an invasion of privacy to have strangers in your house cleaning it. That's what they did in Texas and in Spain and even the poor woman's dog was euthanized.

Nothing has been said about Ebola and what protections if any the hospital would provide where I work. All we have our cheap isolation gowns, shoe protectors that don't even fit my shoes, lol and TB masks. We don't have plastic face masks, only goggles if you can get them from central supply.

[sistrmoon, BSN, RN]

Now a Texas nurse apparently has Ebola from taking care of Duncan. This is getting scarier and sadder, hope she makes it! Are they going to decontaminate her house, quarantine her family, what if there are any pets. What an invasion of privacy to have strangers in your house cleaning it. That's what they did in Texas and in Spain and even the poor woman's dog was euthanized.

Nothing has been said about Ebola and what protections if any the hospital would provide where I work. All we have our cheap isolation gowns, shoe protectors that don't even fit my shoes, lol and TB masks. We don't have plastic face masks, only goggles if you can get them from central supply.

Oh man. Just read the story. And it was his 2nd visit and she was wearing proper PPE. So scary.

http://us.cnn.com/2014/10/12/health/ebola/index.html

[SandyB]

From bbc article what JOURNALISTS wear. http://www.bbc.com/news/health-29518703