Healthcare Workers Fighting for Safer Working Conditions
Surveys show that nurses still do not have access to life-protecting PPE. 45% of all nurses continue to report PPE shortages.
by Jessica de la Davies
This portrait is made with pictures of doctors and nurses who passed away during the coronavirus pandemic. These are the people who have made the ultimate sacrifice to care for others.
Healthcare workers across the United States are reporting burnout in record numbers.
On Thursday, the U.S. workplace regulator will publish a new rule requiring employers to take precautions to protect workers, including healthcare workers, from coronavirus.
This comes amidst condemnation by the largest U.S. union of Registered Nurses, National Nurses United of the Centers for Disease Control’s announcement that fully vaccinated people do not need to wear masks in most settings.
NNU Executive Director Bonnie Castillo issued a statement, “Now is not the time to relax protective measures, we are outraged that the CDC has done just that while we are still amid the deadliest pandemic in a century.
Meanwhile, the American Nurses Association (ANA) surveyed nurse from all 50 states and 3 U.S. territories from May 15-31 of this year to gather information on nurses’ access to personal protective equipment (PPE) like N95 masks, gloves, gowns.
Fun Fact: 45% of Nurses Report Have to Reuse Dirty One-time Use PPE
The survey shows that nurses still do not have access to life-protecting PPE. 45% of all nurses continue to report PPE shortages, with 79% being pressure to reuse dirty one-time use only equipment. 53% of nurses report feeling unsafe at work.
America’s nurses report feeling burned out and unappreciated. Gone are the days of nurses being applauded on their way to and from work.
The Ultimate Sacrifice
According to the World Health Organization (WHO) more than 115, 000 healthcare workers around the world have died from coronavirus.
ABC News reports over 3600 of these deaths are American nurses, doctors, support staff, and techs. Nurses and support staff died in higher numbers than doctors.
Under Donald Trump, the CDC lowered restrictions on mask requirements for a virus that was known to be airborne. The CDC initially suggested that paper surgical masks were adequate for everyday patient care even though it was known that N95 masks were the safer choice. This decision cost the lives and health of thousands of dedicated healthcare workers.
Deaths are declining as vaccines have been made available.
Why are hospitals continuing to force nurses to reuse onetime only N95 masks and other life-protecting supplies despite availability? These practices are considered substandard in most parts of the world.
Nurses continue to say that new N95 masks are kept from them in locked storage areas. In some instances, nurses say they feel forced to choose between providing life-saving care and protecting themselves.
Is it because for-profit hospitals are saving money by reusing PPE equipment?
These PPE shortages have been widely known for over a year. Recall in March of 2020, Americans were shocked to see nurses being forced to provide care wearing trash bags.
Many nurses are concerned that these substandard practices around infection control will become the new normal in healthcare settings. Others worry hospitals will prioritize stockholder profits over their safety.
Please subscribe now as it’s FREE and helps us a lot.
If you’d like to support us with a one-time donation, we’ve added a “Buy Me a Coffee” option.
Thank you for sharing this article with your followers on Twitter, Facebook and Pintrest.
Jessica de la Davies is an independent journalist, Member of the Society of Professional Journalism, All American Outstanding Woman of Achievement, 2x Producer of The Nutcracker on PBS, Special Ambassador for the American Diabetes Association, former Ms. USA, and Editor of HotFlash on Substack.