California nurses say they aren’t prepared to deal with Ebola
Siemny Chhuon
News10.net
October 13, 2014
SACRAMENTO – One day after a nurse in Dallas tested positive for Ebola, nurses nationwide are saying they’re not prepared to deal with the deadly virus.
“We’re scared because as nurses we are the front line people to first come in contact with these types of patients,” Sacramento nurse Carol Kisner said, speaking on behalf of the California Nurses Association (CAN). Kisner has been a nurse for 25 years and works at Mercy General Hospital.
Kisner said hospitals lack the necessary protective equipment, such as HAZMAT suits, face shields, and fluid resistant suits and gowns.
She also said there is inadequate training on how to deal with Ebola. Right now, she said nurses are only being given video training which she maintains is not enough.
“We need interactive hands-on training where we first-hand try on HAZMAT suits, get comfortable with them, so in a real-life situation all of us will be fully prepared,” Kisner said.
National Nurses United, which CAN is a part of, is calling for a full emergency preparedness plan for Ebola. It includes having adequate supplies, proper training of all hospital staff, and fully equipped isolation rooms.
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