Will working with masks become permanent?

[Emergent, RN]

What do you all think? Do you think masks are now a permanent part of a nurses work day?

[JadedCPN, BSN, RN]

Permanent as in forever and ever in a mandated type of way, ehh I don't see it happening necessarily. Permanent because its mandated for the foreseeable future, yea. Which may turn into a permanent because it becomes the culture even when its not mandated anymore.

[caliotter3]

What I would rather know is if they are going to be a permanent part of going to Kroger's or the bank. Some of us can't afford the luxury of home delivery of food. And I hate standing in a long line snaking down the sidewalk, wearing a mask, in the heat, while getting dizzy and faint. You can only do so much from a phone or internet connection. Wearing a mask at work with patients I can see. At least I shouldn't be passing out from the heat on a hospital ward.

[Emergent, RN]

42 minutes ago, caliotter3 said:

What I would rather know is if they are going to be a permanent part of going to Kroger's or the bank. Some of us can't afford the luxury of home delivery of food. And I hate standing in a long line snaking down the sidewalk, wearing a mask, in the heat, while getting dizzy and faint. You can only do so much from a phone or internet connection. Wearing a mask at work with patients I can see. At least I shouldn't be passing out from the heat on a hospital ward.

I went to the supermarket the other day. All the workers are wearing masks, but I was one of the few customers wearing one. I made a couple while I was in self quarantine after my covid-19 contract.

[Daisy4RN]

I hope it doesnt become a permanent thing for nurses nor the public. Masks are very uncomfortable. The last hospital I worked at made wearing masks mandatory for any staff that didn't receive a flu vacc, I wore it for 6 months all day and hated it. About half the people where I live are wearing them to the store etc. I can handle it for short periods of time.

[speedynurse, ADN, BSN, RN, EMT-P]

I think the masks will eventually go away. I honestly do not mind the masks....I often put one on by choice in the ED to try to decrease my chances of catching something from my patients ?

[JadedCPN, BSN, RN]

1 minute ago, speedynurse said:

I think the masks will eventually go away. I honestly do not mind the masks....I often put one on by choice in the ED to try to decrease my chances of catching something from my patients ?

Agreed, and that's what I had in mind when I stated it would possibly become "the culture." Prior to all of this, it was always the culture of the EDs only to always wear masks, but I never saw it on any of the floors consistently. Now after all of this, maybe it will be the culture on any unit.

[MarcieKayFNP]

That’s a very good question. Who is to say how long this virus will plague us. In theory, if Everyone complies with social distancing, wearing masks, quarantined if positive & uses good hand washing skills, we might get lucky.?

[Kitiger, RN]

I do private duty homecare. We are trying our hardest to protect our clients from the virus. I wear a mask for my entire 10 hour shift except to quickly eat and drink at least twice during the shift. I go to the kitchen to eat, while my client is in the bedroom. I have to time it to when my client is sitting up, dozing (less likelihood that he/she will start coughing, as I don't have someone to relieve me for lunch.)

I see this lasting at least until we get a vaccine.

On the other hand, if I get the virus and recover, and the client & the client's entire family does the same, maybe I wouldn't need the mask ALL the time? That would depend on whether the illness confers enough immunity.

[Rose_Queen, BSN, MSN, RN]

18 hours ago, speedynurse said:

I often put one on by choice in the ED to try to decrease my chances of catching something from my patients

If you mean a regular mask and not a filtering facepiece respirator, you are not protecting yourself very well, if at all. Masks are intended more to protect others from the wearer and not the other way around. Especially the way I've seen many wear a mask- tied so loosely that the sides aren't even touching skin.

[caliotter3]

While standing in line outside of the bank yesterday, I noticed a lady who wore her mask with her nostrils exposed. I thought she must have a hard time breathing, but she sure looks like a little pug!

[speedynurse, ADN, BSN, RN, EMT-P]

1 hour ago, Rose_Queen said:

If you mean a regular mask and not a filtering facepiece respirator, you are not protecting yourself very well, if at all. Masks are intended more to protect others from the wearer and not the other way around. Especially the way I've seen many wear a mask- tied so loosely that the sides aren't even touching skin.

I don’t think we were talking about N95s....as many of the people posting were talking about masks re: flu season. And yes, I do use a regular mask for like basic flu patients....GI bugs, etc. I highly doubt any employer would allow an N95 for those conditions ???

As for N95s....since we are re-using the N95s and other PPE multiple times in my workplace for covid rule outs, I don’t think we ARE protecting ourselves very well - but that is certainly not our choice. I think most nurses in ICUs and EDs are having to re-use their N95s per their employers.