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!
I'm so sorry that happened to you. Happy to see that there is a reasonable explanation for why you had trouble with the hood and that it's probably not anxiety. How frightening and frustrating for you.
Specializes in Neurosciences, stepdown, acute rehab, LTC.
I’m so weird I love the PAPR and I wish I could wear one all day because the fan is blowing in my face - so soothing. Unfortunately the N95 fits ? . I think your primary will write a general note saying that you can’t wear one - I don’t think there’s much of a liability issue there. Panic attacks / claustrophobia are true problems.
I can’t wait to see how MUCH shorter the hospitals will be since they’re using this pandemic as an opportunity to bully/mistreat nurses..reform is coming soon enough.
I sure hope so. We already now have have 5 nurses and one secretary from our unit out with COVID. So we are very short. Nurses are being texted every day asking to come in for bonus so that means they may be working 4-5 days of 12-14 hour shifts often times with one CNA for the whole unit!
I would have refused to sign the write up. I will cut to the chase. If you want to work as a nurse, you will end up having to figure things out so that you can. Truly its not really your fault, its's the faulty hospital system. This is why many nurses quit and new ones are hired like an assembly line. If it's not your fault never sign off or take responsibility. I was bullied to take responsibility for something I didn't do and I refused to take responsibility. If it came down to it I would walk from the place rather than sign off on something that is not my fault. Don't get in the habit of it or you can say goodbye to your nursing license. How can you work on a unit without the proper mask?
The only reason I signed it is because it basically just stated the facts. Otherwise I would have never signed it. It said it is recommended that I get the note from the doctor, etc... think she was doing it as much to cover herself since I later found out she was on probation for other things.
Specializes in ICU/community health/school nursing.
As a nurse who used to fit test other nurses - right now it's hard to get more than the "one size fits most" N95 masks but they are out there. I wish you'd been given the opportunity to sit in a breakroom to acclimate to the PAPR. If you're claustrophobic, like I am, that might help. Hang in there.
Thanks I appreciate it. I actually have run into the nurse that was so awful to me. She was the exact opposite....she asked how I was doing and told me to "take care of myself". Not sure if someone spoke to her about her behavior. I had thought of reporting it after it happened, but I didn't want to draw more attention to myself either, so now I'm glad that I didn't. In my past experiences I have found it often doesn't get you very far and can even make things worse!
Amy Mc
1 Post
I'm so sorry that happened to you. Happy to see that there is a reasonable explanation for why you had trouble with the hood and that it's probably not anxiety. How frightening and frustrating for you.