Despite their important roles and the high risk of nCoV infection, US nurses consider their health not to be a priority.

The US currently recognizes at least eight health workers positive for nCoV, including three from a hospital in Vacaville, California, and five who work for Life Care, a nursing home in Kirkland, state. Washington.

At Evergreen Health Hospital in Kirkland, where at least 11 deaths were reported from nCoV, nurses who were asked to quarantine themselves returned to work, fearing the risk of spreading the virus in the event that they were unlucky. has been infected.

Despite the high risk, 40% of Evergreen nurses said they lacked adequate protective gear, according to a survey by the Washington State Nurse Association, which represents 16,000 local nurses. More than half said they felt unwilling to take care of patients with or suspected nCoV infection.

The association says nurses at other Washington state hospitals are also concerned about the shortage of supplies. "Some people are afraid of themselves or colleagues having close contact with Covid-19 patients, but still have to continue working," the association reported.

"If the nurses are not safe, our community is really at risk," said Jenny Managhebi, a clinical nurse at the University of California Medical Center. 24 nurses at her facility were asked to isolate themselves after a patient was positive for nCoV. "If I am not safe at the patient's bedside, my husband and children at home are not safe," said Managhebi.

Of the 19 states where Covid-19 appeared in the US, Washington was the most heavily affected state, accounting for 13/14 deaths, with the remainder in California. Not only are nurses in Washington and California worried, their colleagues across the country are in the same mood.

According to a survey by the National Union of Nurse (NNU), which represents about 150,000 nurses nationwide, released on March 5, only 29% of the 6,500 nurses surveyed said the disease. Their institute has a plan to isolate patients suspected of having nCoV. Less than half of nurses are instructed on how to handle the virus and 40% do not have an N95 respirator, which is thicker than a medical mask and blocks most particles.

A nurse in California, who is in isolation after caring for an nCoV patient, complained that the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are not testing her virus quickly enough. "This is not a ticket booth at a crowded restaurant, this is a medical emergency!", She wrote in a post shared by NNU.

At a press conference on March 5, the NNU asked the federal government to ensure that all health workers receive the best protective gear and call for immediate parliamentary approval of an emergency budget package. deputy Covid-19.

In response to the criticism, Mary Shepler, the head nurse at Evergreen Hospital, confirmed that the facility was prepared for the epidemic with adequate supplies, including disposable masks and eliminated face shields. Duplicate and reuse. Shepler said the hospital also conducts training sessions, adding that she understands the pressure people are facing in the face of a new strain of virus. "It's all uncomfortable on this new front," Shepler said.

According to the nurse, after quarantining a number of employees who had contact with Covid-19 patients, the hospital rated large-scale isolation unrealistic because they lacked manpower. Therefore, asymptomatic nurses are brought back to work, the approach considered by CDC to be reasonable. The hospital regularly checks their health and also requires them to wear masks while treating patients.

The California Nurse Association, which represents about 155,000 nurses, said any health worker in the state who had been in contact with nCoV would receive at least 14 days of paid leave, as well as maintain these other benefits during that leave. However, some worry that hospitals will be seriously understaffed if too many nurses are quarantined.

The use of protective gear is also important, because improper removal can spread the disease from a patient. "We used to have training classes all day, but now we have to learn how to wear and remove protective clothing online," said Gerard Brogan, nursing practice director at the California Nurse Association.

An unnamed nurse in Orange County, who works for a hospital of Tenet Healthcare, revealed that health workers were not instructed what to do in case of a Covid-19 patient entering an emergency room, said. added that some doctors even mock people who appear to be too worried.

"It is extremely confusing. While some doctors have worn the hospital gas masks for weeks now, others refuse it, as if they think being alert to the disease is weak or worried. outrageous ", the nurse said.

Nurse Managhebi in California said she and her colleagues asked to have the N95 mask in the cart filled with supplies for them, instead of forcing them to ask the new manager. Nurses also want the hospital to adopt a detailed procedure on how to handle suspected nCoV infections, similar to the Ebola outbreak plan.

"However, they say that these things are not necessary at the moment," said Managhebi.