Sherrie Smith

Mywords1 - It's easy for you to preach ethics behind the safety of your desk during the deadliest health crisis of our lifetimes. Thank you to fellow nurses for the discussion and support.

I also feel the Department of Health has a responsibility to educate citizens during this public health crisis how imperative it is that we all wear masks. The message needs to be clear and consistent.

This particular client seemed to enjoy seeing my frustration at his refusal to wear a mask. He came for a routine vaccination. I would like to be able to say, "You may return on another day when you feel up to wearing a mask for the few minutes that you need to be in the building." I care about the public health of my community or I wouldn't have chosen this job, but my own health matters too. I am a nurse, not a martyr.

At Virginia Department of Health, RN's are being told that we must serve clients who refuse to wear masks. Ironically, it is VDH that is supposed to be enforcing the mask requirement in public buildings in Virginia. How is this ethical or even legal?