ReflectiveRN

All of this makes me sick inside. I am staying in place so I do not have to refuse an unsafe assignment without proper PPE because ALL patients are possibly potential COVID-19 patients...just not tested yet and possibly asymptomatic. I think most RNs cannot risk losing their jobs and they have no choice financially to not go to work...and this is heartbreaking. I am lucky I can STAY HOME IN PLACE...and I hope I can find work after this. If not, I will say goodbye to bedside nursing.

I worry about all the nurses who feel like they have no way out and have to accept unsafe working conditions without proper PPE given the amount of "untested" potentials... I hope we don't lose too many. Praying for them and hoping that if they feel unsafe they also can know there are enough of us who will back them and support all RNs who choose not to work in unsafe conditions!! Even non-union hospitals have a responsibility to their workers to not put them in unsafe working conditions. I am going to join this organization today. Any other thoughts on how we can help those overwhelmed RNs who aren't thinking straight? https://www.nationalnursesunited.org

since community spread has happened all across the US, and testing has been slow to get to hospitals and states... It is clear, any RN providing "any" patient care should have at least an N95 mask. Surgical masks are not protective enough, and still there are many "unknowns" about COVID-19. The facts are that many Italian RNs and Medical providers have contracted the disease and now we will wait and watch our own in the US do the same? This to me is unethical, unacceptable, and wrong. Something must change NOW. If an Employer makes a decision to terminate someone with ethical principles, and a desire to not spread the disease to anyone else...then they are truly unethical and should be ashamed. Any nursing board that judges empathetic caring nurses making smart decision to not work under these conditions is WRONG. We have to stand by our standards of care, the importance of patient safety and the importance of not spreading infectious disease no matter if it means less RNs or providers per patient - until the proper PPE is available to all PERIOD.

OSBN the evidence-based practice tells us to don the proper PPE, and with what was learned from other viruses such as EBOLA, not wearing the proper PPE is unacceptable. Take away a license? You will be held liable for your unsavory, unethical management of the State Board of Nursing. Especially if you cannot prove that you as a medical provider did not risk your own life - even then you didn't follow evidence-based practice and not sure you should hold the role you do. What do you think? Threatening sole supporters of families with the risk of losing their license and jobs is criminal given the current state of this Pandemic and lack of proper PPE! Unacceptable.

Maybe they need to create a new job description - Pandemic RN willing to work without the proper safety equipment with high risk of contracting virus, 200 dollars an hour sounds about right - even then, I would not show up for my shift or sign up for that job. No way.

Any RN's that actually accept that it is OK to work without proper protective equipment are not thinking wisely. Healthcare workers have died from the virus. Don't be one of them and if you do not get the right high level PAPRs, you have every right to protect yourself and walk out. Do it for your kids, family, and for all nurses...because it is not smart as profession to accept unsafe work environments ever...If you do you should be getting paid a lot more an hour, in my opinion.

family over professional commitment, stay there with her

When there are so many unknowns and something does not feel right, follow your Nursing instinct. Protect your babies.

Don't put yourself at risk if you don't feel safe. As a nursing professional you have a right to work in a safe environment. With so many "unknowns" about this virus I would say protect yourself and family first...if the hospital cannot provide it, I would not go to work. We have to draw the line, it is unacceptable to work directly with patients and not have the proper gear especially when it is highly likely there are so many positive patients yet diagnosed in the overall hospital population. BE SAFE, keep your family healthy...BE SMART. We should not let PRESSURE from any person or system stop us from being safe.

Read, Reflect, Assess https://www.nursingworld.org/~4ade15/globalassets/docs/ana/ascec_whitepaper031008final.pdf Adapting Standards of Care Under Extreme Conditions American Nursing Association, 2008 https://www.nursingworld.org/practice-policy/nursing-excellence/official-position-statements/id/risk-and-responsibility-in-providing-nursing-care/ Risk and Responsibility in Providing Nursing Care American Nursing Association Position Statement, Revised June 2015 When a health system is not prepared and puts healthcare workers at risk due to poor preparation to have PPE equipment available, and a virus's potential for harm is unknown due to his newness...only time will tell after scientific studies have been done. Is it a choice to provide nursing care in this setting when you feel unsafe? The second statement mentions nurses have a right to not provide care when faced with a moral dilemma and that is a moral option whether or not to provide care, vs. moral obligation. How do you feel about the current situation RNs are dealing with nationwide? Thank you for your sharing your thoughts and reading if you have time. Sending prayers to those on the frontlines taking a risk for the welfare of others. I hope we don't lose too many healthcare workers in the US. I'm not promoting fear - I'm promoting Self-Care and Choice for RN's. Smart nursing, , because we are professionals who agreed to work in safe, prepared settings.

Use your professional assessment/reflection model here... it makes zero sense to do that, since you could spread the virus to others. No protection, No care. I see no way that legally they could take away licenses for that. They are using pressure to make nurses face this in unsafe ways because they are afraid of the breakdown of the hospital/healthcare system. Use LOGIC, there have already been amazing doctors and nurses that have died. So sad. I'm following the CDC recommendations and ensuring my family who has a member that is on an immunosuppressant is not exposed. I choose to do this to protect her. It is a moral option, not a moral obligation.

Do you think all the firefighter would run into the overwhelming uncontrolled fire....knowing based on the information and facts in front of them that they likely would be at high risk for injury? Review the facts of the situation our country is facing now. Consider your roles in life as a professional and a "mother", "father", "daughter", "brother". Where does your responsibility truly lie? Assessing and reflecting is a process nurses are very good at. Please read the facts in the news, see how our healthcare providers are prepared and able to stay safe in other country that are "ahead" of us in some ways with testing, and make your logical decision. Nurses have always been the caretakers, the ones who work crazy long hours often missing breaks putting patients well-being above their own and for this they are admirable. However, as educated, smart individuals we must think twice about what we will be facing in the weeks ahead. - The systems office is closed - The HR Answer Line is not on today - The Executives and Administrators and "office" hospital executives are working remote - Half the doctors are staying home and sharing patient load Why do they not come and support us at the bedside when we need it most? Where are they? Will they step up when needed? Will the Nursing Officer put on her scrubs? Will your Nursing Manager? Will the CFO that gets a bonus come too? They should, but they won't. They see the fire ahead. You need to see it too and be safe. I have attached the American Nurses Association Statement on Risk and Responsibility in Providing Nursing Care. Read this carefully. Consider your choices as professionals, and realize it is a "moral option" not a "moral responsibility" to do what is right not only for our patients and community but for our families and selves. https://www.nursingworld.org/practice-policy/nursing-excellence/official-position-statements/id/risk-and-responsibility-in-providing-nursing-care/ Also consider this article written very recently by CNN https://www.cnn.com/2020/03/16/health/doctors-coronavirus-health-care-hit-harder/index.html Be safe and smart, and realize you deserve to be protected even if it means making hard decisions based on what you are facing. Look at the FACTS of what you see and know. Some people may judge me for my opinion and reflection, some people need money to feed their families and pay rent and don't want to think about it or just are pushing through...there are many "unknowns" about the virus. I worry about our healthcare professionals...we need to be there when the fire is over too. Share your thoughts. What do you think?