Which nurses are considered frontline?

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Specializes in Neurosurgical ICU, Emergency, Psych, Art Therapy.

I’ve been actively following the recent proposed student loan forgiveness bills lately. When they mention “frontline healthcare workers” in regards to COVID-19, which nurses are included in that demographic and who would be excluded from that criteria? Would all inpatient nurses be considered if they actively screen/test patients for COVID-19? If patients are screened by a nurse but positive patients are required to be sent to other units with negative pressure rooms/appropriate isolation capabilities, would those screening nurses be included as they’re still at risk for exposure? Or do the “frontline” nurses have to be actively treating COVID-19 positive patients?

Thanks in advance!

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Specializes in Psych.

I, too, was wondering that. I'm a volunteer to float to my psych hospital's COVID-19 unit. But I haven't been floated there. Suppose I spend a shift there. Does that automatically make me a frontline worker? Am I already a frontline worker for being a listed volunteer? Doesn't make sense to me.

I don't think the legislation will pass, to be frank. Healthcare providers make up a disproportionate share of the student debt out there (I read that the average newly-minted doctor has about $200k in student loans). And when there is some sort of loan forgiveness program, the lenders themselves cannot go bankrupt, so someone ends up paying in a loan forgiveness program, and in this case it would be the taxpayers.

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Specializes in Neurosurgical ICU, Emergency, Psych, Art Therapy.
4 hours ago, A Hit With The Ladies said:

I, too, was wondering that. I'm a volunteer to float to my psych hospital's COVID-19 unit. But I haven't been floated there. Suppose I spend a shift there. Does that automatically make me a frontline worker? Am I already a frontline worker for being a listed volunteer? Doesn't make sense to me.

I don't think the legislation will pass, to be frank. Healthcare providers make up a disproportionate share of the student debt out there (I read that the average newly-minted doctor has about $200k in student loans). And when there is some sort of loan forgiveness program, the lenders themselves cannot go bankrupt, so someone ends up paying in a loan forgiveness program, and in this case it would be the taxpayers.

@A Hit With The Ladies Yea, I mean, I'm not getting my hopes up, as I also would be beyond surprised if we were helped by the government in any way... but, a girl can dream! It would be nice to know the specifications just out of curiosity. I also work psych and am a volunteer for our cover unit. I'm also a former ER nurse and am likely going to be transferring to Neuro ICU soon, which may have covid patients depending on the circumstances... I guess I'll just cross my fingers for something good to happen!

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OK, so I am one of those with over 200K (don't ask -- OK, two masters in different fields!) anyway, I did some digging (pre COVID-19) about student loan forgiveness -- the good news is that eventually after paying for 10 years (for working at a public entity loan forgiveness) 20-25 years for private entity. The hook is this these are federal loans -- what is "forgiven" is in that one year let's say 10 years from now, if I still owe say $150,000 -- it is considered forgiven BUT (and this is a big BUT) it is considered INCOME in that year and guess who gets that INCOME TAX -- the FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, so it's forgiveness (sort of) -- they get their money -- don't you worry about those in Power -- they know exactly what they are doing and all these laws for benefiting the common folk -- it's like pulling teeth because of the greed. It's plain and simple. If you don't believe me call them and ask them what happens -- it took me several years to finally get a straight answer. I do think something will have to be done. All people deemed "essential workers" need something akin to the G.I. bill after WW2 (we already have more USA deaths than during Vietnam War).

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Specializes in SCRN.

Inpatient nurses are frontline. Endo, surgical, cath lab nurses - probably not, but debatable, because what if there is an emergency requiring a procedure on COVID-19 patient?

Nursing home workers are also frontline.

Any nurse who potentially can be exposed to a COVID-19 patient is frontline. I am sure we treated some symptom-less patients that were "under the radar".

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Specializes in OR, Nursing Professional Development.
1 hour ago, RN-to- BSN said:

Endo, surgical, cath lab nurses - probably not, but debatable, because what if there is an emergency requiring a procedure on COVID-19 patient?

Trust me, procedural areas are caring for these patients too. Some need bronched, some need trached and PEGed, some need hemodialysis catheters placed. These procedures are not taking place at the bedside in my facility- they are happening in the OR and endo suites.

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I feel every nurse is a frontline worker that works in direct patient care.

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There are so many asymptomatic people out there that if you're caring for patients, you're frontline.

We have had numerous patients on the COVID units who come in for completely non-respiratory issues who then test positive for COVID. Often they come from nursing homes or other group homes, so obviously the nurses and aides there were exposed, too. Last week I discharged a 98-year-old with advanced dementia who never even required O2 inpatient, but I'm sure she exposed plenty of people at her facility before testing positive.

At my hospital, I think the nurses on the "clean" (I.e. non-COVID) floors have had more accidental exposures from people who only later tested positive. It's gotten to the point that now those nurses and aides are allowed to wear N95 masks, whereas they were previously only allotted regular surgical masks. I think I feel safer on the COVID units because we have the full PPE for all patient interactions.

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I was wondering the same! Now they are using different language.."eligible". WE ARE ALL AT RISK! They redeployed my from my LTC floor to a specific covid unit, now back to the LTC floor. Sometimes I walk into my unit, and they redeploy me to another. I was redeployed to a tele floor last night, and half the patients we suspected Covid. If I'm not considered "eligible" I will lose my mind!

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Specializes in Critical Care.
On 5/7/2020 at 5:25 PM, PrevHealthNurse said:

OK, so I am one of those with over 200K (don't ask -- OK, two masters in different fields!) anyway, I did some digging (pre COVID-19) about student loan forgiveness -- the good news is that eventually after paying for 10 years (for working at a public entity loan forgiveness) 20-25 years for private entity. The hook is this these are federal loans -- what is "forgiven" is in that one year let's say 10 years from now, if I still owe say $150,000 -- it is considered forgiven BUT (and this is a big BUT) it is considered INCOME in that year and guess who gets that INCOME TAX -- the FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, so it's forgiveness (sort of) -- they get their money -- don't you worry about those in Power -- they know exactly what they are doing and all these laws for benefiting the common folk -- it's like pulling teeth because of the greed. It's plain and simple. If you don't believe me call them and ask them what happens -- it took me several years to finally get a straight answer. I do think something will have to be done. All people deemed "essential workers" need something akin to the G.I. bill after WW2 (we already have more USA deaths than during Vietnam War).

I wouldn't put much faith in the public loan forgiveness as of the first people eligible this past year, 99% were denied! I kid you not! The majority on technicalities and the solution was to restart the clock over again!

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