Bellevue staffers call-in ‘sick’ after Ebola patient arrives

NY Post ^ | 10/25/14 | By Jamie Schram and Larry Celona

[GrandJediMasterYoda]

Bellevue staffers call-in ‘sick’ after Ebola patient arrives

By Jamie Schram and Larry Celona

An extraordinary number of Bellevue Hospital staffers called in sick on Friday rather than treat the city’s first Ebola patient — and those who showed up were terrified to enter his isolation chamber, sources told The Post. “The nurses on the floor are miserable with a ‘why me?’ attitude, scared to death and overworked because all their co-workers called out sick,” one source said. “One nurse even went as far as to pretend she was having a stroke to get out of working there, but once they cleared her in the ER they sent her back up,” the source added.

[yorkiemom]

“Medical personnel that are highly trained are infecting themselves in the hot zone regularly. “

Excellent point.

[yorkiemom]

“While Ebola is not highly contagious, it is INCREADIBLY infectious. 1to 10 virus particles is enough to infect you if it comes in contact with a break in skin or mucous membranes. Not many diseases can match that, and THATS why the need for higher level protection when dealing with it.”

Thank you for the clarification.

I was thinking the two terms, contagious and infectious, were interchangeable.

[Rodamala]

'The nurses on the floor are miserable with a ‘why me?’ attitude, scared to death and overworked because all their co-workers called out sick,”

"Why me?"

Because 85% of your coworkers are merely there to collect a paycheck... or are simply sociopaths that are only there to inflict their will upon the sick, dying, or otherwise helpless.

[Noamie]

I’d put $5 down that this also occurred with RN staff at Emory University Hospital (CDC) on the first 2 Ebola visits, but was kept on the down low.

When the stuff hits the fan, medical care will fly to the wind.

And I don’t blame them. They have families, too.

[exDemMom]

Its not what you wear, its how you take it off. Medical personnel that are highly trained are infecting themselves in the hot zone regularly. If you are so bullet proof, why don’t you go over there and show em how its done.

I would have no problem with going over there if needed. I'm completely capable of running a lab and analyzing samples.

[NoKoolAidforMe]

Sorry. That was not my intent.

[Mom MD]

I’m talking about real patient care, not sitting in a lab. You seem to know exactly what is needed to prevent contamination, and they could use your expertise with the rate of infection of health care workers.

[yorkiemom]

Oh good ;)

[exDemMom]

I’m talking about real patient care, not sitting in a lab. You seem to know exactly what is needed to prevent contamination, and they could use your expertise with the rate of infection of health care workers.

Laboratory work carries its share of hazards that are different than what you encounter dealing with patients. Researchers receive frequent safety training--including PPE use--some labs have weekly safety briefings. How often do clinicians receive safety training? I admit, I do not know the OSHA regulations for clinicians.

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

Look, I understand what these nurses are saying about protecting themselves and their families, since there doesn’t seem to be an established protocol.

However, if they quit all over the country, I might as well shoot myself if I get Ebola. I don’t want to die alone in agony, with my insides turning into soup.

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

That's because these nurses learned what happened to those nurses.

Those nurses got better, too.

I'm not belittling the concerns of these people, but if they all quit en masse if Ebola cases continue, then we're all f***ed.