To mask or not to mask

[RNNPICU]

So I have been having some discussions with nurses and non-health care people about use of masks.

I think because I see so many people inappropriately using masks, even N95 that look like they are an inappropriate size, and are wearing it just because. Sigh,

However, CDC is now recommending a cloth masks for everyone to go to the grocery store? I am not fully understanding how this is protecting against COVID or even spread. If I had sneezed or even just basic moisture accumulation from breathing can make the cloth mask wet and therefore ineffective. I guess I don't feel like I trust a cloth material.

A friend of the family stated they wore one to the store and then once in the car tossed it into the back seat. Another friend said they will do it to protect the 80 year old grocery store shoppper. They are asymptomatic and no known exposures

I see people running outside with masks on and just think with sweat and breathing patterns that this would render them ineffective.

I need to wear a mask at work, but am doubtful of the effectiveness of a cloth mask or bandana at home.

What are some of your thoughts. I don't want to diminish the importance of wearing a mask when medically necessary, but I might be feeling a little bitter about the one mask per week or until soiled deal.

[Katie82, RN]

As nurses, we all know that masks in the community provide minimal protection. I have, in the past few weeks, seen some ridiculous fits on masks, even from health care workers in the media. But they do serve some purpose. They may be a reminder to not touch your face. They may make folks feel like they are "doing their part" and taking this seriously. Think the greatest advantage is that they may minimize the spread of droplets should the wearer cough or sneeze, and with pollen in season, this is especially useful.

[LockportRN]

I don't really have a problem with people wearing masks in the grocery store but what gets me is that HCP's can't get them yet so many others can??

Thursday I spoke to my daughter. Her hospital gave her and her coworkers a single surgical mask and told them to wear it for a week. To put the mask in a brown bag at night and use it again the next day. She is a RD and is required to assess all new patients in her assignment. They could take the mask or leave it but if they choose not to wear a bacteria and virus laden mask for a week, they were required to sign a paper stating that they understood the risks. She signed the paper stating that she didn't feel it was a great idea to wear one mask to all the patient rooms she is assigned to, put it in a back to ferment and grow all night and them take those germs and place it right up to her nose and mouth to breath all that gunk in all day.

So, anyway, I had to go to the store after we hung up. I would have to estimate that better than 30% of the people I saw there had every hospital type of masks on. So me, being curious (and more than a little p#$%), started asking them where they bought their masks as we can't find them for her. Every single one of them said they got them from 'a friend, a coworker, or family' that happened to work in medical sales. And I got madder after hearing that many of these people said they were HCP (even one was an anestheologist) or in medical sales. Soo, I know too many HCP's working without the PPE's needed to save their lives while they save others' lives, but there are enough masks for these people to walk around shopping???! I reigned in my anger and just told them of the horrible conditions I know too many are working in without PPE's and walked on. By the looks on their faces, I think a few got my drift

My Boo is a single mom and is brave and is smart and strong...but she is scared. What if she gets it and can't work? What if she brings it home to her babies? So she goes to work. Takes as little risk as she can. And she washes her hands and face and uniforms, removes shoes etc. And at night, after she finishes homework with her girls, she cries sometimes...the tension/stress gets too much in the dark hours.

So when I see so many out there using surgical or F95's so inappropriately...touching everything (yes, gloves on, touching items, scratching head, touching faces, touching more items), with masks hanging around their necks or under their chins while they talk/play with their phones, I lose it a little bit. I wonder, when they get sick, go to the ER, do they even think about the dangers these HCP have put themselves in? Do they even think about spreading their disease knowing they have a stockpile of PPE's at home while their HCP is forced to reuse theirs? I just wonder. I am sad for the world. I am mad at... I am scared for her. I am worried for many. And I've gone on too long. Thank you for listening. Be safe everyone.

[Herecomesthesun]

My PICOT question for the Evidence Based Nursing class is regarding the effectiveness of reusable cloth masks. I have read about 5 scholarly articles/ studies about the effectiveness. I too was sceptical that cloth masks would do anything. It does turn out that surgical masks filter out approx 40-70% of particles, and some homemade cloth masks have the ability to filter 20-50%. So some cloth masks are as effective as the lower end surgical masks. From the studies I've read, cloth masks do help to reduce the transmission of respiratory viruses to the wearer, and more importantly (in this case) from the wearer.

There was only one peer reviewed meta analysis, which had some good info in it, but unfortunately stated that there wasn't nearly enough research done on the topic to give a conclusive answer.

Another interesting theory is that the poor filtering of cloth masks allowed just enough virus through so the body would mount a response and create immunity, as opposed to getting a full dose of the virus and getting sick.

My opinion after doing a deep dive into the study is yes, the public should definitely wear cloth masks at all times when out in public, but the nurses and other medical staff should be wearing a surgical mask at all times in the hospital. I'm not sure how I feel about wearing a mask when running, I guess I would base my judgment on how populated the area was.

The amount of virus a person is exposed to directly impacts whether they get sick. Because the nurse has a higher risk of being exposed, they should always be wearing a surgical mask, and should have access to eye protection and an n95 if they are working with a positive Pt or even with a patient who is a suspected positive.