Nurses suspended for refusing COVID-19 care without N95 mask
Source: ABC News
Nurse Mike Gulick was meticulous about not bringing the coronavirus home to his wife and their 2-year-old daughter. Hed stop at a hotel after work just to take a shower. Hed wash his clothes in Lysol disinfectant. They did a tremendous amount of handwashing.
But at Providence Saint Johns Health Center in Santa Monica, California, Gulick and his colleagues worried that caring for infected patients without first being able to don an N95 respirator mask was risky. The N95 mask filters out 95% of all airborne particles, including ones too tiny to be blocked by regular masks. But administrators at his hospital said they werent necessary and didnt provide them, he said.
<snip>
Then, last week, a nurse on Gulicks ward tested positive for the coronavirus, which causes the disease COVID-19. The next day doctors doing rounds on their ward asked the nurses why they werent wearing N95 masks, Gulick said, and told them they should have better protection.
For Gulick, that was it. He and a handful of nurses told their managers they wouldnt enter COVID-19 patient rooms without N95 masks. The hospital suspended them, according to the National Nurses Union, which represents them. Ten nurses are now being paid but not allowed to return to work pending an investigation from human resources, the union said.
Read more: https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory/nurses-suspended-refusing-covid-19-care-n95-mask-70176442?cid=clicksource_4380645_2_heads_hero_live_headlines_hed
RockCreek
(739 posts)Against people doing the right thing for patient care.
I was born in that hospital, and used to be happy to say that.
customerserviceguy
(25,183 posts)everybody's admiring healthcare workers these days, with the notable exception of hospital administrators, who have become dicks.
RockCreek
(739 posts)It's just being noticed more now.
NNadir
(33,525 posts)...if asked to go in himself and share his self declared expertise in medicine, would suddenly find some of "his" masks, paid for the American taxpayers but grifted by him.
bluestarone
(16,976 posts)Sue the fuckers for FULL BACKPAY!!!!
luvtheGWN
(1,336 posts)When the bottom line is all that matters, then to hell with the disposable medical staff. This action is akin to cutting off your nose to spite your face. Or do they think that there are trained professionals just lining up outside the HR office begging to be hired, and treated the same way?
machoneman
(4,007 posts)pay attention and supply the needed gear. Sadly, it's the patients that will suffer the most.
George II
(67,782 posts)Why do people immediately jump to that conclusion without doing a simple google search?
Your apology would be greatly appreciated.
luvtheGWN
(1,336 posts)with this proviso: The actions taken belie the statement above. "Belief that healthcare is a human right" and "our caregivers provide quality, compassionate care to all those we serve", for example. If a hospital is not going to protect caregivers, then there isn't a whole lot of compassion, is there?
I "jumped to that conclusion" because this sort of behaviour would NOT be allowed in Canadian hospitals.
George II
(67,782 posts)....I suspect he/she will be fired or demoted pretty quickly.
customerserviceguy
(25,183 posts)Come up with by a group of pencil-pushers at a seminar, no doubt. Besides having beautiful buzzwords, it was never intended to mean anything.
lapucelle
(18,275 posts)90-percent
(6,829 posts)"It's like curing dandruff by decapitation."
-90% Jimmy
ehrnst
(32,640 posts)See also, the Veterans' Administration hospital scandals.
AllyCat
(16,189 posts)Unless it is an aeresolizing procedure, no N95. I was denied one just this week. Fortunately, I had brought one from home.
ffr
(22,670 posts)Fuck! If you chose to stay at home, nobody would look down on you for it.
Be safe!!!!!!!
kacekwl
(7,017 posts)ventilators, tests, everywhere everyone has more than what they need why are these stories reported daily ? Who's lying here ?
AllyCat
(16,189 posts)George II
(67,782 posts)TeamPooka
(24,229 posts)treestar
(82,383 posts)or contracts the specify that they have the right to protective equipment. This is ridiculous.
Massacure
(7,525 posts)Per the article, "The hospital suspended them, according to the National Nurses Union, which represents them. Ten nurses are now being paid but not allowed to return to work pending an investigation from human resources, the union said."
Joinfortmill
(14,432 posts)mpcamb
(2,871 posts)Overinflated salary- gone.
Great nurse- back on duty.