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Healthcare labor groups raise Ebola staffing concerns

October 20, 2014

Healthcare labor organizations are raising concerns about Ebola preparation — including the need for training and proper staffing levels. For example, the California Nurses Association wants at least two nurses to care for each Ebola patient with additional nurses added as needed.

National Nurses United, an association of nurses, launched a “national week of action” which includes a petition demanding President Obama and Congress take immediate steps to guarantee all hospitals and healthcare employers institute the highest Ebola protocols.

“No matter where we are working, we are all Dallas nurses now,” said National Nurses United Co-President Jean Ross. “We are asking everyone to sign our petition demanding the president, the Congress, and every hospital in the United States, ensure that optimal protections are implemented immediately. That is how we are going to contain Ebola and protect our patients.”

Two nurses at a Dallas hospital are now being treated for Ebola after a patient, who later died, came in with the disease.

National Nurses United says it did a survey of 3,000 nurses and 84 percent reported their hospitals have not provided adequate training on Ebola.

Separately, the American Hospital Association, American Medical Association and the American Nurses Association released a joint statement last week that they would remain in communication with one another and are committed to maintaining “a strong collaborative effort to address this public health threat.”

Here’s a link the CDC website regarding Ebola.