Unable to wear N95 or papr

Nurses COVID

Published

I had a horrible experience yesterday.  I was asked to float to the covid unit.  I told them that I was fit tested and failed the test for N95, so they said I had to wear a Papr. Well, I got up to the floor and they couldn't find any hoods.  Meanwhile an hour had gone by with 6 patients having no nurse.  Rather than find another nurse that could take the patients, the supervisor wasted another hour trying to find a hood.  When the supervisor finally found one, basically taking a hood from an OT therapist's locker, I tried to put the hood on.  As soon as I got the hood on, I couldn't breathe, got nauseated and started sweating.  I basically had a panic attack because I couldn't breathe.  I told the charge nurse I had to get it off.  She called the supervisor who basically said "tough".  Then she called me down to her office and tried to bully me into wearing it.  She even tried to get me to wear an n95, saying....I want to see this on you.  I told her I failed the fit test and it didn't fit.  She then called my manager saying I refused to wear the mask and refused to work on the unit.  I told her I would work anywhere else they needed me, but physically could not handle wearing the hood.  So, I was placed on another unit, but basically threatened that I needed to get a doctor's note and I had to sign a write up about what happened.  I am sick about this whole thing.....especially since there was no regard for my safety and now I'm being punished.  I have never had a panic attack before and I have no trouble working with contagious patients, but I can't put up with being bullied into risking my own health and well-being.  Has anyone else had a similar experience?  Any advice on where to go from here?  Then ironically, I got a text this morning asking me to come in to work for bonus!  That's after the supervisor said I needed a doctor's not before coming back to work!

Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.

The hospital should have announced its policy many months ago.   So yes, it was handled badly.   But ... if you claim that you have a "disability" which makes it impossible for you to do certain kinds of work, they have every right (and even an obligation) to require that your "disability" be properly verified and documented by a physician.

They can't just take people's word for it.  However ... I agree that it was handled badly at the time as everyone should have been well aware of the policy long ago, giving you time to get your documentation in place.

 

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This is true, but I had no idea that I couldn't tolerate wearing the hood since I had never tried it.  I understand that they need documentation, now, but the way it was handled was unprofessional and intimidation.

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Specializes in PICU.

I wonder if the cord wasn't plugged in all the way with the hood. You should always feel the airflow around you with the hood on, the sweating may have been that the hood wasn't plugged in.

The hood is way more comfortable than the N95.

Sorry it was such a drama

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Specializes in in primary care pediatrics and NICU.
28 minutes ago, RNNPICU said:

I wonder if the cord wasn't plugged in all the way with the hood. You should always feel the airflow around you with the hood on, the sweating may have been that the hood wasn't plugged in.

The hood is way more comfortable than the N95.

Sorry it was such a drama

Agreed. I failed 6 styles of N-95.  The PAPR is totally better imo anyway. In my hospital, each unit has posted, at the charge desk, a list of staff who passed fit test and those needing PAPR.  

This info should be avail when doing staffing - either per unit or central staffing. They sure know who is dialysis, ecmo, charge certified for the shift- why not fit tested also? 

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That is a good point!  Our hospital is in chaos right now.  Huge turnover so I'm sure this got overlooked.  But I am not going to risk my own safety for this oversight.

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Specializes in oncology.
On 11/29/2020 at 9:27 AM, runner502 said:

I was fit tested and failed the test for N95

That was the time for alternatives to be decided upon and tried by you. Floating is always disliked but every nurse should be ready with the necessary equipment to take their turns. Perhaps this turn of events will encourage the CNO to plan accordingly.

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I hope so.  I have no problem floating but not when I am at risk unnecessarily.

 

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On 11/29/2020 at 4:18 PM, NYTramaRN said:

Let me know how it plays out.

Not much has happened.  I had sent a message to my manager saying I was upset about how things were handled and that I'd like to take with her about it.  When I saw her at work the other day she said we would meet at some point but agreed that it wasn't handled well. 

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Specializes in Critical Care.

Since you failed the fit test they should have given you a hood for the PAPR and gone over with you how to use it and turn it on.  If it was on and working properly the oxygen makes it so easy to breathe, whereas the TB mask makes you feel like you are suffocating.  But if the PAPR wasn't on and you couldn't feel the oxygen then you would feel like you were suffocating in the hood and also it wouldn't protect you either!

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You may end up needing disability paperwork in order to continue to work in most healthcare.  I would go to my doctor and see what options there are before the hospital backs you into a corner. 

From an objective point of view, anyone who didn't want to work with Covid could say they can't mentally tolerate the confinement of the protective gear.  So, I would not expect this to go away without additional paperwork

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Specializes in Burn/ICU/Pediatrics.
On 12/2/2020 at 9:23 AM, RNNPICU said:

I wonder if the cord wasn't plugged in all the way with the hood. You should always feel the airflow around you with the hood on, the sweating may have been that the hood wasn't plugged in.

The hood is way more comfortable than the N95.

Sorry it was such a drama

I also have to wear a papr because I failed fit testing with every mask.

Occasionally I turn off the machine before removing the hood and forget that I'm essentially suffocating myself. It's also difficult to breathe in the hood when the hose isn't attached, even though there's a hole in the back for the removed hose. 

I remember the first time I wore one, I did have a little panic attack inside of it but I felt I had to suck it up because I was so bullied over the N95s not fitting. I panicked for a bit but did get used to it quickly and now I love it. Maybe if you could ask for the opportunity to try wearing the papr again. Under not so stressful circumstances, you might have a much different experience. 

Good luck and I'm sorry this is happening.

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Thanks for your support.  It looks like I will not have to go on the floor period because, due to an autoimmune chronic condition that I live with I am more at risk.  So my doctor is going to write a note stating that it is "not advisable" according to CDC guidelines for me to work on this unit.  That is what I was originally hoping to get to avoid all of this, but was hoping it wouldn't come to the point where I would have to float since we've been so busy on our unit. But now I realize I should have done this sooner.  My being unable to breathe was not an excuse not to go on the unit as someone earlier seemed to indicate.  Until you are in someone else's shoes it is easy to pass judgment.  I try to keep my medical condition private and not make it be a big issue, but sometimes I have to speak up.

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