National Nurses United

NATIONAL N ational nurses united's latest nationwide survey of more than 15,000 registered nurses reveals that nearly a year into the pan- demic, hospitals are failing to prepare for a surge of Covid-19 cases during flu season and that basic infection control and preven- tion measures are still lacking. Nurses cite the health care industry's inappropriate pur- suit of profit during this public health crisis as the main reason for its failure to follow the proper infection control measures that nurses have been demanding since the beginning of the pandemic. This survey is the fourth national survey of nurses during the pandemic by NNU. These latest survey results, released in November, also reveal that nurses face ongo- ing issues of not getting tested, not being notified in a timely manner when they are exposed, inadequate personal protective equipment (PPE), unsafe staffing, mental health impacts, and increasing workplace violence. The country is in the midst of flu season, yet only 18 percent of RNs in hospitals report any preparation for surge capacity and planning. Meanwhile, just 16.5 percent of RNs in hospitals report they have univer- sal personal protective equipment (PPE) in the emergency department, where patients may not be screened for Covid-19 before receiving care. Only one in five nurses report that all patients are screened for respiratory symptoms to identify and distinguish between Covid-19 and other illnesses before admission to a health care facility—an important step to stop infectious disease transmission within facilities. Fewer than half, 43.6 percent, of RNs who work in hospitals report that all patients are screened for Covid-19, though all should. Hospitals are failing to implement proven measures to prevent the spread of Covid-19 within facilities: Only 60 percent of RNs who work in hospitals report that their facil- ity has a dedicated Covid unit or area. Strikingly, 8 percent of RNs who work in hospitals report that their facilities shut down their Covid unit or area. Also, only 17 percent of hospital RNs report universal PPE use in emergency departments and just 8.6 percent report plans for outdoor triage for patients with respiratory symptoms. "Hospitals are continuing to fail when it comes to preparation for Covid-19, even as flu season begins," said NNU Executive Director Bonnie Castillo, RN. "They have had nearly a year to get their act together. We should not still be operating under crisis standards of care. Their lack of preparation means they are knowingly sacrificing the lives of nurses and other health care work- ers. More than 240 registered nurses have died from Covid-19. Enough is enough. Nurses need PPE now to do their jobs safely. We know that President-elect Joe Biden is committed to using the Defense Production Act to get PPE mass produced in this coun- try and to pass an OSHA emergency temporary standard to protect nurses and other workers." Nurses are not getting tested and they are not being informed in a timely manner when they are exposed to Covid-19 at work. Only one-third of RNs overall and fewer than half (42 percent) of RNs in hospitals report that they have ever been tested for Covid-19. This is an increase from the last survey in July, when just 23 percent of RNs overall reported being tested, but does not go far enough. RNs must have access to test- ing and employers must take seriously the task of identifying and responding to expo- sures, including conducting contact tracing and informing staff of exposure. Over 70 percent of nurses say their employers do not inform them of exposures in a timely man- ner. Employers are not providing RNs with the necessary PPE to do their jobs safely. More than 80 percent of nurses report they are reusing at least one type of single-use PPE. About 20 percent of nurses in hospitals report that their employer has recently limited the use of N95 respirator masks. In addition, fewer than half of nurses in hospitals report National nurse survey exposes hospitals' knowing failure to prepare for a Covid-19 surge NEWS BRIEFS 2020 Statement of Ownership, Management, and Circulation Publication title: National Nurse. Publication number: USPS 0807-560, ISSN 2153-0386. Filing date: 10-1-2020. Issue frequency: Quarterly, with combined issues in January-February-March, April-May-June, July- August-September, and October-November-December. Number of issues published annually: 4. Annual subscription price: $40. Complete mailing address of known office of publication: 155 Grand Ave., Oakland, Alameda County, California, 94612. Contact person: Lucia Hwang. Telephone: (510) 273-2200. Complete mailing addresses of headquarters or general business office of publisher: Same as above. Publisher: California Nurses Association/National Nurses United, 155 Grand Ave., Oakland, California, 94612. Editor: Lucia Hwang. Managing edi- tor: None. Owner: California Nurses Association/National Nurses United, 155 Grand Ave., Oakland, California, 94612. Known bondholders, mortgagees, and other security holders owning or holding 1 percent or more of total amount: none. Tax status: Has not changed during preceding 12 months. Publication title: National Nurse. Issue date for circulation data below: April-May-June 2020. Extent and nature of circulation: Registered nurse members of CNA/NNU and subscribers. For the following, the first number represents the average number of copies of each issue during preceding 12 months and the second number represents the number of copies of the single issue published nearest to filing date. Total number of copies (net press run): 136,157; 125,000. Mailed outside-county paid subscriptions stated on PS Form 3541: 125,922; 122,460. Mailed in-county paid subscriptions stated on PS Form 3541: 0; 0. Paid distribution outside the mails including sales through dealers and carriers, street vendors, counter sales, and other paid distribution outside USPS: 0; 0. Paid distribution by other classes of mail through the USPS: 26, 27. Total paid distribution: 125,948; 122,487. Free or nominal rate outside-county copies included on PS Form 3541: 0; 0. Free or nominal rate in-county copies included on PS Form 3541: 0; 0. Free or nominal rate copies mailed at other classes through the USPS: 0; 0. Free or nominal rate distribution outside the mail: 0; 0. Total free or nominal rate distribution: 0; 0. Total distribution: 125,948; 122,487. Copies not distributed: 10,209; 2,513. Total: 136,157; 125,000. Percent paid: 100%; 100%. Information in this statement will be published in the October-November-December 2020 issue of this publication. 6 N A T I O N A L N U R S E W W W . N A T I O N A L N U R S E S U N I T E D . O R G O C T O B E R | N O V E M B E R | D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 0

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