When It Comes To A Matter Of National Health, No Nurse Should Ever Fear Retribution

[Michael M. Heuninckx]

Yesterday, I was listening to an interview Matt Lauer of the Today Show conducted with Briana Aguirre, a Registered Nurse from Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital in Dallas.

Briana in the interview states, "I can no longer defend my hospital at all" and was one of the nurses who treated Nurse Nina Pham, her friend and colleague, after she tested positive for the Ebola virus. While listening to Briana's story, I felt her pain and frustration, and during the interview I had a sinking feeling in the pit in my stomach as she was describing the events. I was horrified to learn about how the Ebola case was managed and how ill equipped the nurses and medical staff was when they were faced with the daunting task of managing the care of patients diagnosed with or suspected of having the Ebola virus.

What struck me personally, as a fellow nurse, was the fact that Briana was scared to tell her story. Briana was brought to tears, for fear that she might face retribution from the hospital and lose her job. I can only imagine the amount of strength and courage it must have taken Briana to come forward with her story.

As nurses we can all think of the potential ramifications and mistakes that could possibly be repeated if her story was not heard and she remained quiet. By speaking out, Briana Aguirre is not only potentially saving the lives and further spread of the Ebola virus to her coworkers and to the patients of the hospital, but also impacting the lives of all medical professionals and their patients around the world.

As nurses we must rally behind, support and make certain that the courageous actions of Nurse Briana Aguirre is not taken in vain. As health care professionals, we must ensure that: we listen to the lessons learned, create awareness about Briana's story and share this information with fellow nurses.

This will aid nurses in this country and around the world to continue the fight against Ebola. All of these actions will lead to improvements that, as nurses, we are able to offer all of our patients. Our voices as nurses must be heard, and those voices should never be intimidated or threatened when we dare to share the truth. The voice of Briana comes from grave concern and warning. I believe that if this knowledge and warning is not taken seriously, it could have a catastrophic impact on the overall health of our nation.

I personally would like to thank Registered Nurse, Briana Aguirre, for coming forward to share her story about her personal experiences. Fear of retribution should never be the fear of any nurse when it comes to the health of our nation. As nurses we must have a voice and we must be listened to.

I encourage all nurses to do their homework, become passionate about this issue and ensure that all measures are being followed appropriately. As we all know, the educational process for nurses is never over and it is now up to us to ensure proper safety for ourselves and for the patients we take care of. Actively seek out your hospitals policies regarding Ebola, compare those policies to the standards set by the CDC. Also, research what other originzations, such as Doctors Without Borders, Nebraska Medical Center and Emory University Hospital, and find out how they handle Ebola. If you find gaps in policy in your local hospital, help fill them; make your voice heard, share you concerns with hospital administrators and ensure that those are followed through and new policies implemented. Do not let the gaps in the healthcare system lead to you becoming exposed, potentially exposing your family members and others patients to this deadly disease. Start the courageous conversation today, continue to educate yourself and ensure that your voice is listened to and immediate action is taken.

Michael M. Heuninckx RN-BSN

***For anyone who is interested in listening to Briana Aguirre's full interview with Matt Lauer, copy and paste the link below into your browser:

Full interview: Matt Lauer and Dallas nurse Briana Aguirre - Video on TODAY.com

[suzil]

First to change the BON in the states, we have to get rid of the riff raff that is within them!

[GuyNurse1]

Interesting: "How to Keep Your Nursing License in the Age of Ebola"

Texas Mostly

[lindarn]

Statement from the ANA:

“While we believe nurses are obligated to care for patients in a non-discriminatory manner, with

respect for all individuals, we also recognize there may be limits to the personal risk of harm

nurses can be expected to accept as an ethical duty.

“We strongly encourage nurses to speak up if they believe there is inadequate planning,

education or treatment related to providing care to these or any patients, and seek to resolve any

conflicts of risk and responsibility swiftly. Nurses should have the right to refuse an assignment

if they do not feel adequately prepared or do not have the necessary equipment to care for Ebola

patients.

No where does the ANA state that they stand behind the front line nurses, and/or, offer professional or legal assistance when a nurse, or nurses, have been fired, or worse, for refusal to care for a patient without adequate personal protection for themselves. Just more rhetoric nonsense from the ANA.

Where exactly, was this/these statement(s) made public, and to whom? Who saw these statements? The news, CNN, you get the picture. If the public is not made aware that the ANA has made these statements, look for more vilification of front line nurse who dare to refuse to care for these patients without adequate personal protection, and the necessary training to don them.

I also believe that some were saying that the hospitals will try to deny disability benefits, sick time, etc, if they believe that the nurse did not don the PPE gowns properly, or "broke protocol" while caring for these patients. For a protocol that has not adequately been determined. No word that they did not take the time and provide the necessary training on how to properly don this outfits. They will be quick to condemn the nursing staff that had the audacity to get sick. This will be the epitome of blaming the victim.

Lets not even talk about 1:1, of not 1:2, staffing of an Ebola patient. I cannot even imagine taking more than one Ebola patient, let alone two.

There was an episode on, "Blue Bloods", TV show a couple of weeks ago, concerning an officer who shot and killed a suspect. I don't remember the particulars, but the officer was second guessed by, what I can only assume, was someone on the Police Board, that would be the equivalent to the BON.

Frank, set up a scenario, where this former police officer, now a member of the Police Disciplinary Board, had to respond to a personal threat, with other officers, acting as the bad guys.

Frank questioned her after it was over, as to what color was the bad guy's shirt, what kind of gun was he holding, etc, you get the picture.

Suddenly, the officer who was in trouble, because he did not respond in the manner he should have, when confronted with a threat needing a split second decision, was not as guilty as the board was making him out to be. She could not remember anything about the crook, as Frank was questioning her, and called into question her ability to recall important facts, about the crook who attacked her.

She was suddenly very apologetic, and forgiving, when she was confronted with the same kind of spit section decision making that had confronted the officer.

This is the same kind of situation we, as nurses, confront on a daily basis.

Nurses in the Ivory Towers, who have not practiced on 20 years, in VERY different employment situations, that nurses are having to deal with every day!! They have no idea how to deal with the deliberate short staffing, cost cutting, higher patient acuity, on even med surg floors, having family now believe that it is their God given right, to camp out at a patient's bedside 24/7, even with a patient who is not acutely ill. Treating nurses like maids, servants, and waitresses, the, "have it your way", mentality, "customer service", mode of present day nursing employment.

It did not exist when they were practicing. I remember when hospitals used to make visitors get a pass, when they came into the hospital. There were only so many passes, and when there were none at the front desk in the lobby, a visitor had to leave the patient unit, for another visitor to go up to visit. The other visitors had to remain in the lobby, until another visitor left the patient unit and returned to the lobby.

I know that I am dating myself, but that was hospitals fifteen years ago. Nurses routinely told visitors that they had to leave, because there were too many visitors at the bedside, and I remember the announcement over the hospital PA system, that it was 10:00 PM, and visiting hours were over, and all visitors had to leave the hospital. This was for the patient's benefit, so they could/would, go to sleep. Imagine that!!

We now have a free for all in place of sensible hospital protocols in the past. When it comes to visiting. I long for the old days.

JMHO and my NY $0.02

Lindarn, RN ,BSN, CCRN (ret)

Somewhere in the PACNW

[suzil]

I so agree with you! I miss the old days. Visitors that were contained. Now we have all these people roaming around the halls demanding food, drink and the comforts of home!

[Michael M. Heuninckx]

advocacy is the most empowering and important part of what we do.

I applaud her for doing what is right for our pts and our profession.

I could not have said this better myself.

Thank You!!!

Michael M. Heuninckx RN-BSN

[Michael M. Heuninckx]

I am a huge fan of quotes and the ones above are phenomenal!

[Michael M. Heuninckx]

I would like to thank everyone who took the time out of their day to read and comment on this article. This just speaks volumes for the profession of nursing. I am sure if Nurse Briana Aguirre was reading this she would feel the love and support.

THANK YOU ALL!!!!!

Michael M. Heuninckx RN-BSN

[target98765]

Yes, she speaks the truth. NURSES are an oppressed group that live in fear of losing OUR jobs. WE are given poor working conditions and we just hang our heads and deal with the poor situations meanwhile getting more and more disgruntled and unhappy with our situations. Now with what has happened in Texas I feel we are at a threshold and we need to step over it. Sadly, some of us WILL certainly loose our jobs.

[lee1]

I certainly wish there was a way nurse's did not need to work for A HOSPITAL, but did contract nursing, then most of these issues would stop I would hope. A national agency possibly. Hospitals have always tried to intimidate nurses to keep their profits as high as possible and make the nurses work under impossible odds. Too many nurses live pay check to pay check and are afraid of losing their jobs and benefits. I also think that middle management in hospitals has grown out of control. What exactly are they doing????

For sure now, those nurses that were on the verge of retirement will probably go ahead and retire, those students who were not sure of whether they really wanted to be nurses will change their minds. Nurses will become even more needed and the shortage is sure to grow higher and higher sooner.

[lindarn]

And as we say in Brooklyn, that and $0.50, will get you on the subway!

As usual, just my $0.02.

Lindarn, RN, BSN, (CCRN-ret)

Somewhere in the PACNW

[milkglass]

Interesting: "How to Keep Your Nursing License in the Age of Ebola"

Texas Mostly

This was a great blog article. But, sadly it really does not answer its title (which may be the point). I came away with the conclusion that despite you're employed by a hospital with protocols and taking orders from a physician who is not your employer.. guess what, all of that is a candle in the wind when your license is in trouble.

I had never heard of the scare story of nurse Martha Lunsford during nursing school. I'm curious as to why nursing schools even share it because yeah, it scares you into trying to protect your license, but doesn't give any advice on how to do so! Guess following protocols and orders aren't enough.

[lindarn]

The problem is that hospitals do not want to hire nurses as independent contractors. They want employed slaves that they can bully, and treat like trash.

There is NO reason that nurses cannot band together, and form practice groups, like doctors, physical therapists, occupational therapists, and bill the hospital for our services.

Unfortunately, independent contracting is not in nurses mindset. Nurses perceive themselves as employees, not independent contractors. It is not taught in schools, or encouraged.

PTs, and OTs, are taught in school about how to start independent businesses. Business classes were added to PT and OT programs, when they increased their entry into practice from a Bachelors degree to a Doctorate and Masters program.

Nursing could do this as well, instead of having fluff, fill in classes for a BSN. There is no reason that it could not. When I was finishing my BSN, in our senior classes, one of the subjects that was discussed, was nursing working as independent contractors, and selling our serviced back to the hospital. They brought in nurses who had started their own businesses, to discuss this concept with us.

Now this was back in the 1980's and in California. It was a novel concept at the time. But it needs to spread and become a new normal. If only one nurse in a community of hundreds of nurses, want to work as an independent contractor, it is not going to work.

Nurses need to form partnerships while still in school, and talk about doing this. Doctors have been doing this for years. I worked with a group of medical residents, who had gone to medical school together, and/or, worked together in the same hospital during their internship and residencies.

A group of them moved to Montana, where two of the residents were from, and started their own medical practice.

This is what nursing needs!!

We cannot depend on anyone else doing for us. The PTB, prefer that nurses remain, "barefoot and pregnant". Sorry guys. But you know what I mean. Why do you think that nursing has not gone ahead and increased the entry into practice to a BSN, and eliminated the Associates Degrees programs, and what ever Diploma programs are left. They know that if nursing increased its educational requirements, we would start to ask for more money.

Now that it is the HOSPITALS that are asking for BSNs, and nursing is being intentionally over produced, and there is now a glut of nurses, they don't have to worry about us asking for more money, we should just be happy to have a job. Think out side the box!

This has been a deliberate scheme, that has been a long time coming. I have no doubt in my mind, that this is what has been going on all along. Think about it. The perfect storm. Too many nurses and not enough jobs to go around. They are the ones that have been screaming, "nursing shortage", for years, putting the unknowing public in a panic. I do not think that I am being an alarmist, at all.

As I said, think outside the box.

As usual, JMHO and my NY $0.02

Lindarn, RN, BSN, CCRN (ret)

Somewhere in the PACNW