deenurse76

Nope. I wouldn't have done any different. In fact, I would have felt safer with the CDC telling me that I was okay. I probably would have even felt paranoid and stupid for thinking I wasn't since they seemed so unconcerned. So can you imagine how she feels right now? On top of being sick with this deadly virus, she is very likely beating herself up for something that was in no way her fault (feelings that probably aren't helped by people unfairly blaming her.) And I get it from the non-medical community but when fellow nurses are doing it...I just can't wrap my mind around it. Whenever I think about it, I hurt for her and Nina Pham. Both these women have been victimized by ineffective medical advice they received and I sincerely hope that their medical bills now (and in the future because this virus can cause long-term health issues for those who survive) are paid for by the responsible parties (looking at you, CDC). Neither of them deserved this.

Because the CDC (Centers for Disease Control aka the experts on this disease that only came to our shores 1 month ago!) told her it was okay for her to fly. The experts said she was good. Is she supposed to presume to know more than them? Keep in mind that she made her trip before Nina Pham's diagnosis. And when she learned about it and became aware of her elevated temperature she did exactly what she should have done...she contacted the CDC and they said she was good. Why shouldn't she have trusted their recommendation when they had all the facts and why is it considered selfish that she did? Oh, and let's keep in mind that this individual you're labeling as selfish is the same individual currently fighting for her life after caring for an ebola stricken patient.

Nina and Amber, if you're reading this, I want to tell you how much I admire you both deeply. I find you both to be brave beyond belief. Neither of you deserve this media crap-storm you're receiving. It's especially egregious given the severe circumstances you're both dealing with presently. I know you both must be very well aware of the statistics for this disease and no doubt you're feeling quite a measure of fear and uncertainty. Just please know that there are thousands of well-wishes and prayers with you both right now. I wish you both a speedy recovery.

Newbie nurse here and you'll get no criticism from me. Amber Vinson may very well lose her life because she trusted the people in charge and did her job to the best of her ability. She was told that she had the proper PPE to care for the patient, that her chances of contracting ebola were minimal and that she was okay to travel by the CDC! They are the professional specialists here! Why wouldn't she trust them? Had I been in her shoes, I would have too. Especially because, using those critical nursing skills everyone keeps throwing out there, I can discern that the reason healthcare workers are at risk when caring for an ebola patient is specifically because we are caring for them through the latter stages of the disease with all the copious body fluids it produces. That alone sets a contrast between the risks posed to healthcare workers and the risks posed to the general public. So, if the CDC tells us that we are LOW-RISK in spite of that, why wouldn't and shouldn't we believe them? They are the infectious disease experts, are they not? So why is Amber Vinson being vilified for following the directions of the people who should have known and DO know more than her on the subject? She did what she should have done...she deferred to the experts and sought their professional opinion. She contacted the CDC, reported her symptoms, and trusted what they told her...now she could very well die. Honestly, the fact that there are people on the sidelines calling for her nursing license and criminal action against her just makes me sick to my stomach. Someone definitely dropped the ball here, but it was NOT Amber Vinson.

I fumbled badly through my first code. I'm ACLS/BLS certified, but it's still scary that first time (and the second, third, fourth, etc.). My charge RN wanted me in the room for the experience (being a newbie myself) and I was terrified. Suddenly, the MD was barking orders at me and the next thing I knew I was doing compressions when all I'd really wanted to do was to find a safe corner in the very back of the room and hide. My second code, I ran the defibrillator and passed out the meds. After a while, I got into the habit of lining them up because I knew what was coming next. My third code, I pushed the meds and took turns with the compressions. My fourth code, I did a little of everything and helped the RT bag. There was a lot of blood in that one. I'll probably remember it the rest of my life. Each time I do one, it gets easier and easier. Still scary, but not as much as the time before. I don't think I'll ever not feel a jolt of nervous terror whenever I hear the words "code blue," but I don't feel as "out of control" as I did in the beginning. I guess it's true what they say: practice does make perfect (but, it's also kind of morbid when you think about what you're practicing.).

Confucius say...Nurse who want urine offer straight cath.

I'm a new nurse and I both love and hate my job. Every shift, I dread going in and when I'm there I usually want to tear my hair out. Patients make me crazy. The pinging monitors make me crazy. The pace is flat out ridiculous (I work in an ED). And yet, I couldn't imagine doing anything else. This is what I want and if I have to go through the hard knocks to get it, so be it. I know that each day is a learning process. I know that every time I go in and successfully complete a shift that I become a better nurse. I have no intention of quitting my job. That place is teaching me how to be a competent, efficient, creative, gutsy, innovative, "do whatever I gotta do to get the job done" nurse. Why would I want to be anywhere that didn't teach me all that? Not all new nurses expect to be handed a silver platter upon graduating as the OP seems to imply. Some of us know what we're up against and we're up for the challenge.