The following text is a statement from the Texas Nurses Association, released Oct. 13, 2014.
Latest statement, 10/13/14:
"We wish a full recovery to the nurse diagnosed with Ebola in Dallas. Nurses are on the front line of health care delivery and their work can be inherently risky. This fact is generally under-appreciated until a tragedy like this occurs. With proper vigilance and rigorous application of safety protocols, we can minimize these risks. In the meantime, we have a nurse who deserves our full support.
"The Texas Nurses Association is collaborating with the Emergency Nurses Association to make sure that nurses have the tools they need to identify and care for all patients. Here's how the public can help: If you visit an emergency department, be sure to tell a nurse upfront if (1) you have a fever and (2) if you have recently traveled outside the United States. This will help us to deliver prompt, appropriate care.
"Hospitals must help by providing nurses with ready access to appropriate personal protection equipment (PPE). An informal poll of our members suggests that they have this access, but we are prepared to respond if we learn otherwise.
"It's worth underscoring that particular care must be taken when donning, securing, removing, and safely disposing of PPE after each use. Refresher education and training sessions are important ways hospitals can help protect their staff and the public. Hospitals - our metropolitan hospitals in particular - should assign resources to observe the proper use of PPE and infectious disease control protocols when dealing with a possible Ebola patient. This double check on safety protocol can help protect everyone.
"The facts are not known about how the nurse in Dallas was exposed. It is incorrect to assume that the nurse failed to follow protocols. Nurses work collaboratively within a complex healthcare environment. Just like in the case of Mr. Duncan, it is critical that we approach these cases objectively and learn from a full account of what happened. Only this way will nurses and all healthcare workers be equipped to safely care for patients and themselves."
