I'm a senior nursing student and this debate arose with a couple of my classmates and me. I work as an ER tech and they work as patient care techs on the floor. As of right now, CDC guidelines state for PPE:
Quote
Updated PPE recommendations for the care of patients with known or suspected COVID-19:
Based on local and regional situational analysis of PPE supplies, facemasks are an acceptable alternative when the supply chain of respirators cannot meet the demand. During this time, available respirators should be prioritized for procedures that are likely to generate respiratory aerosols, which would pose the highest exposure risk to HCP.
Facemasks protect the wearer from splashes and sprays.
Respirators, which filter inspired air, offer respiratory protection.
When the supply chain is restored, facilities with a respiratory protection program should return to use of respirators for patients with known or suspected COVID-19. Facilities that do not currently have a respiratory protection program, but care for patients infected with pathogens for which a respirator is recommended, should implement a respiratory protection program.
Eye protection, gown, and gloves continue to be recommended
So basically CDC is saying wear an N95 if you have it, but if you don't, wear a surgical mask until you can get an N95.
So if you have a suspected or confirmed COVID-19 patient, and all you have is a surgical mask and no N95, can you refuse to take care of that patient? Do you face any legal repercussions or potential fallout from your employer if you do refuse? Asking not only about tech positions, but RN positions as well.
Where are the N95 mask when you need them? We go through all of the hastle to get fitted every year and when the time comes when you actually need the dang thing, someone is hiding them in the vault in Fort Knox, Kentucky.
Where are the N95 mask when you need them? We go through all of the hastle to get fitted every year and when the time comes when you actually need the dang thing, someone is hiding them in the vault in Fort Knox, Kentucky.
I’ve never been “fitted” for an n95, we have fit kits and n95’s hidden and locked away right now - our first presumptive positive patient runs tomorrow.
Because there are still no tests in my area, and no current way for our providers to order them, we’re running half-a-dozen coughing patients next to a dozen other compromised patients in the same room. Everyone who’s had a micro course ought to know what the outcome here is.
if there’s anything that we should have picked up from the Ebola fiasco it’s that donning and doffing are kinda important, and even with protective equipment, you’re pissing in the wind if you make even a tiny mistake.
We aren’t making tiny mistakes right now. We’re making big ones because we are in deep denial.
Where are the N95 mask when you need them? We go through all of the hastle to get fitted every year and when the time comes when you actually need the dang thing, someone is hiding them in the vault in Fort Knox, Kentucky.
We are told to adhere to the CDC recommendation of N95 for aerosolizing procedures covered by a procedure mask and just a procedure mask for all other pt interactions with r/o COVID pts. I hear repeatedly from my manager that is all you need and since CNAs do not do these procedures they shouldn't even get N95s. Coughing does not qualify as aerosolizing since the CDC doesn't include it in their list. I fail to comprehend how coughing is not aerosolizing and I disagree with hospital policy. I understand that we're rationing the remaining stock of N95s for when we get hit with pts but we're already taking care of r/o pts who may or may not be positive. I ask myself would I go into a r/o COVID pt room w/o an N95 and my answer is no way so how can I insist that other staff do so? Perhaps it's time to resign from my position.
Thank you... if coughing does NOT qualify, how the **** did this become a pandemic?
Specializes in Psych, Addictions, SOL (Student of Life).
9 hours ago, Workitinurfava said:
Where are the N95 mask when you need them? We go through all of the hastle to get fitted every year and when the time comes when you actually need the dang thing, someone is hiding them in the vault in Fort Knox, Kentucky.
I read last night that a large part of the problem is that most of the N95 and P100 masks along with a lot of other PPE is manufactured in China. When the virus was at it's peak there the government shut down manufacturing and other business much as the USA has now done. Chinese workers are returning to their jobs and masks are being produced - 3M corporation is trying to get approval to send private cargo or even military cargo plans to bring these much needed supplies to the US.
I read last night that a large part of the problem is that most of the N95 and P100 masks along with a lot of other PPE is manufactured in China. When the virus was at it's peak there the government shut down manufacturing and other business much as the USA has now done. Chinese workers are returning to their jobs and masks are being produced - 3M corporation is trying to get approval to send private cargo or even military cargo plans to bring these much needed supplies to the US.
I don't work on a med-surg floor. We had enough mask to go around prior to COVID but now all of a sudden we can't find any and none are becoming accessible. There is something off about this and it leads me to believe that this is being done on purpose. I hear what you are saying about the government but for mask to disappear in a matter of a week......hmm.
I’m a 34 yo mom of 2 little ones, CCRN RN, have a mortgage to pay, and husband laid off due to COVID19. I also have severe asthma and am on a prednisone burst right now. My state licensing board has addressed this by saying we are required to follow guidelines set by CDC and to refuse care is to lose our license.
I feel obligated and I feel like I’m risking my life. I did not sign up for unsafe practices, I don’t care who thinks we need to sacrifice our lives, I think it’s blatantly wrong. In addition to that, we always talk about flattening the curve, but if we aren’t caring for nurses, the line we are flattening the curve towards also drops as nurses get sick and some die.
I want to raise my kids. I want to pay my mortgage. I want to keep people alive. I don’t want to die doing it.
The Texas Board of Nursing (BON or Board) has safe harbor nursing peer review forms available to make the process faster and easier for a nurse who believes he/she is being asked to accept an unsafe assignment, engage in conduct beyond his/her scope of practice, or engage in unprofessional or illegal conduct. ...
It sure seems it would fall under “unsafe assignment.”
We didn’t go into this job to risk our lives due to unsafe and unacceptable equipment a FB standards. It’s preposterous that the CDC lowers its standards and facilities mindlessly follow. we aren’t military, we shouldn’t be expected to sacrifice our health and lives for our job. Police don’t go into action without vests and firearms, firefighters won’t run into a burning house without equipment and oxygen, and a soldier doesn’t go into a battlefield with a nerf gun. pardon my French but give me a ***ing break. We can’t allow this to be acceptable, both the low standards as well as expectations to just go and risk our lives.
I’m a 34 yo mom of 2 little ones, CCRN RN, have a mortgage to pay, and husband laid off due to COVID19. I also have severe asthma and am on a prednisone burst right now. My state licensing board has addressed this by saying we are required to follow guidelines set by CDC and to refuse care is to lose our license.
I feel obligated and I feel like I’m risking my life. I did not sign up for unsafe practices, I don’t care who thinks we need to sacrifice our lives, I think it’s blatantly wrong. In addition to that, we always talk about flattening the curve, but if we aren’t caring for nurses, the line we are flattening the curve towards also drops as nurses get sick and some die.
I want to raise my kids. I want to pay my mortgage. I want to keep people alive. I don’t want to die doing it.
I wonder if this can qualify you for fmla, so you can keep your job and your kids safe? I will actually look into it and get back
caliotter3
38,333 Posts
No wonder more and more nurses, and most likely other HCWs, are questioning whether they should be working during this time.