What is it like in your hospital right now?

2BS Nurse, BSN · Mar 26, 2020

1 hour ago, c_etude said:
I'm PRN and I'm called off all the time. Apparently it's not as bad as the media claims and besides COVID-19 can stay on surfaces for 19 days so it's rediculous everybody is buying out masks and gloves. Almost comical.

It's still too early in some cities. It will come.

Guest862922, LPN, RN · Mar 26, 2020

Similar situation exists in the hospital I work. It’s a rural hospital, 129 beds in Florida. We received 1 N95 mask which we have to keep in a brown paper bag. We can only get another one if the mask becomes soiled or ruined. One visitor allowed per patient between 8am and 9 pm including the ED where I work. We have to take our temperature twice during a shift. Census is low, started to cut hours. Luckily I work nights in the “skeleton crew” so I can keep my hours. We see management coming in early hours but not much information we get I.e. if anybody who suspected with COVID we treated was ever confirmed. Feeling secrecy and let down. We don’t know if we get infected/sick then how long we can stay home meaning could we self quarantined for 14 days or just stay home until symptoms gone...So much about “healthcare workers heroes”... In reality I feel the less protected and cared about right now. I feel that my hospital management putting their head in the sand. The atmosphere is kinda weird at work these days. We’re trying to be funny but snap real fast on each other. The uncertainty ruins everything. I just wish this crap would be over soon.

Rogue1 · Mar 26, 2020

I'm at am urban WI hospital, same story as a lot I see here: in prep we currently have a low census, lots of staff cancellation, and an eerie 'calm before the storm' vibe.

I'd like to be a fly on the wall for all the telemedicine appointments they must be doing to keep patients at home--I'd love to see exactly how well it really works. Is this going to be the way we do it from here on out? Also wondering if there's going to be a huge wave of all those non-urgent cases playing catch up after this whole C19 thing slows down (whenever that is). Unusual times.

AshleyHallmark · Mar 26, 2020

OKC, OK

Our hospital is at a VERY low census right now. So low that my floor (and possibly one other floor) closed Sunday, 3/22. Our few patients and all staff/nurses/techs were transferred to other floors. Still closed as of today, Thursday 3/26. Nurses are down to maybe 3 patients each, which I am sure they are loving. (I'm in 3rd semester of nursing school and a nurse tech.) We are also in the "calm before the storm." Praying for all my nurse community, especially the nurse who lost her life to COVID-19 at Mount Sinai.

Curious as to other facility's policy on nurse tech/CNA/AUA going into R/O Covid rooms.

JohnyPapr · Mar 26, 2020

Making you wear the same mask all shift on R/0 patients? Jesus stay safe out there my fellow RNs. I don't mean to sound like a privileged *** but that will never happen at my hospital. If it does all the RNs will stop coming to work. You can tell we are union. But that is not the reason why we won't run out of masks. Our hospital is a university hospital that gets a lot of funding AND hundreds of millions in donations every year from Hollywood and Tech elite for tax write offs. We are probably the most or second most wealthiest hospital in the world.

Elon Musk just donated 100,000 unused N95 masks from his Tesla factory to our hospital last week. We have the boxes stored away out of sight and guarded like Fort Knox. Even on our unit even the boxes stay in the charge nurse station with someone watching it to protect it from our own staff members who might hoard for themselves. We are treating N95s like toilet paper. The Tsunami of Covid positives didn't even start yet in California. We are two weeks behind New York.

The float team RNs are getting cancelled due to low census. Our OR nurses got furloughed because they cancelled all non-essential surgeries. But as far as full-time staff and per diem RNs, we never get cancelled. They are over staffing us every shift with full-time and per diem staff to be ready for the big surge of Covid patients any day. We are one of the three designated Covid units. We have 24 beds. They are over staffing us with 10 floor RNs, a charge, one break nurse, and 3 CNAs. 1 RN is a dedicated Covid PPE Champion who sets up the room for admissions, keeps PPE carts stocked with gloves, gowns, masks, and Sani Wipes. He/she also monitors the floor and makes sure everyone is following proper PPE donning and doffing and infection control protocol. They also monitor ancillary staff like housekeeping and phlebotomy entering R/O rooms and educate them on donning and doffing PPE and infection control procedures to decrease the risk of transmission. So we only have 1, 2, or 3 patients each with the low census.

AshleyHallmark · Mar 26, 2020

3 minutes ago, AshleyHallmark said:
OKC, OK
Our hospital is at a VERY low census right now. So low that my floor (and possibly one other floor) closed Sunday, 3/22. Our few patients and all staff/nurses/techs were transferred to other floors. Still closed as of today, Thursday 3/26. Nurses are down to maybe 3 patients each, which I am sure they are loving. (I'm in 3rd semester of nursing school and a nurse tech.) We are also in the "calm before the storm." Praying for all my nurse community, especially the nurse who lost her life to COVID-19 at Mount Sinai.
We are allowed to use a different N95 for each RO room, but we have to reuse that mask 5 times with that patient before getting a new one. Each floor is different. Rules and policies change daily.
Curious as to other facility's policy on nurse tech/CNA/AUA going into R/O Covid rooms.

Silver_Rik, ASN, BSN, RN · Mar 26, 2020

We have run almost 1300 tests, 35 positive. Only 3-4 have been admitted, the rest were sent home to quarantine and recover.

elective surgeries canceled, running only 1/2 our OR less some days. Ambulatory clinic shut down. People are staying away unless they have no choice.

thecareerchanger, BSN · Mar 26, 2020

I am on one of the designated COVID units at my hospital which basically houses patients who are positive or r/o COVID. Staff on my unit is split between two units and every time I work I never know what to expect. We are given 1 n95 mask per day along with surgical mask and face shield. Hair cover is apparently optional (I just ordered my own from Amazon as it is not optional for me). I work 2 sometimes 3 12s per week as I am part-time but was asked to work extra shifts if possible but I am hesitant as I feel that increases my exposure and I have a family even though I know the help is needed. I work in Nassau County, NY so as you can imagine my hospital is a mess right now.

Walter Hobbs · Mar 27, 2020

Critical care/ telemetry RN here retired last year.

Thank you all for your comments and updates from the front lines. I worked for the VA and the VHA is calling retired nurses to gauge interest in returning to work during the C-19 crisis.

Thank you all for the work you do, but I do not think I will join you. My heart says jump in and help, but my head says stay home. My wife is mildly immunocompromised and I am "elderly" 67 and healthy. The stories of lack of PPE administrative lack of support make my decision to stay away easier.

sliddlejohn56 · Mar 27, 2020

Just a question...Do any of you believe that every time a Corona test is given, it should be pre-assumed as positive and be given in full safety attire? Or is this too much?

otgd8 · Mar 27, 2020

@sliddlejohn56 I was thinking they should be treated as COVID + but with the lack of PPE I don't think the facilities can do that or want to do it.

ECRNICU · Mar 27, 2020

In Florida, hospital on lockdown for visitors, employees starting to come up positive, told not to wear a mask on my unit because we will “scare” the patients, screening employees coming in....... I’m very worried about myself and my family if I get exposed. This whole thing is showing the chink in the armor of my organization and our country.