Answer these 3 questions about your H1N1 readiness
Answer these 3 questions about your H1N1 readiness
ED nurses were confronted with H1N1 in the spring and probably will face it again this fall.
"We are providing staff education on signs and symptoms of H1N1 and the process for diagnosis and treatment. The hospital is keeping adequate supplies of personal protective equipment [PPE] ready to go, just in case we see an increase in cases," says Jennifer Maul, RN, CEN, ED clinical educator at Sutter Roseville (CA) Medical Center. Here are three questions to answer now:
• What about side effects of Tamiflu?
Nancy Bennett, MSN, RN, ED educator at The Hospital of Central Connecticut in New Britain, says that her ED nurses are worried about having to take Tamiflu themselves. "If we have a confirmed case of H1N1, everyone that's been in contact with that patient goes on Tamiflu," says Bennett. "Evidently, it can be a very hard drug to take, causing lots of gastrointestinal upset."
Bennett says that one ED nurse who cared for an H1N1 patient had to take Tamiflu and became very ill. "Our ED chief advised her to stop the Tamiflu. Once off the medication, she felt fine," says Bennett.
Home for 48 hours after symptoms leave
If ED nurses have fever, cough, or sore throat, they have to stay home 48 hours after their symptoms subside, even if they don't have H1N1, before they can return to work, notes Bennett. "So, someone who may have to stay home for three days with symptoms actually stays home for five, making staffing challenging," she adds.
Cindy Notobartolo, RN, BSN, corporate director of emergency/trauma, safety, and security services at Suburban Hospital in Bethesda, MD, says her ED, "in conjunction with infection control and guidance from the [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention], will be developing an expanded pandemic plan. Staffing issues, no matter the cause, will be specifically addressed."
• Do ED nurses know how to properly remove PPE?
Bennett's ED nurses have been inserviced in the use of PPE for airborne/contact/droplet precautions with probable, suspected, or confirmed H1N1. Here is how ED nurses are instructed to remove PPE:
- Remove gloves, face shields, and gowns in the patient rooms.
- Close door to patient's room.
- Exit room, close door.
- Clean hands.
- Remove N95 mask. "The N95 mask should be used for the entire shift, as long as it maintains its structural integrity," says Bennett.
- Place N95 mask in a brown paper bag with your name.
Avoiding problem in lobby
• How can the potential for spread of the virus be reduced?
Carl Bricker, RN, BS, ED manager at Riverside Methodist Hospital in Columbus, OH, says that his ED did not have to do any special sectioning off of the department when H1N1 hit, because treatment rooms all have doors.
"The only concern for us was during higher-volume times of the day with our lobby area," says Bricker. "However, we planned ahead and made use of areas not routinely used except for high census periods. Thus, we eliminated sending these potential flu patients back into public waiting areas and were able to bed them in a more rapid fashion." [An interim guidance for H1N1, airborne/contact/droplet precautions, and a sign for patients with flulike symptoms, all used by ED nurses at The Hospital of Central Connecticut, are included.]
Mask visitors, as well with flulike symptoms Sandy Cox, RN, BSN, ED manager at Summa Health System in Akron, OH, says that signs are posted on entrances, doorways, and elevators in her ED, specifically stating that any visitor with flulike symptoms has to wear a mask. "Appropriate PPE is available at all entrance areas, information desks, nursing stations, and triage areas," she says. "ED triage nurses do not allow any visitor that is ill to enter the exam areas." (The Visitor Flier used by ED nurses at Summa Health is included .] |
Subscribe Now for Access
You have reached your article limit for the month. We hope you found our articles both enjoyable and insightful. For information on new subscriptions, product trials, alternative billing arrangements or group and site discounts please call 800-688-2421. We look forward to having you as a long-term member of the Relias Media community.