Issue link: https://nnumagazine.uberflip.com/i/198027
health facility, including the closure of emergency departments as well as the reduction of bed capacity. Address the critical need for several thousand ventilators/ respirators. Clinical/Practice only registered nurses and licensed physicians with current demonstrated and validated competency can perform assessments, prescribe/implement treatment, conduct evaluation, and determine the need for follow-up surveillance vs. "quarantine." Non-public health clinics must report suspect swine flu patients to the local Public Health Department. Emergency departments play a key role in the tracking and reporting of suspected swine flu cases and must remain a key member of the state or county notification network. Ensure that RNs and MDs control their practice environment and are able to provide care in the exclusive interest of the patient, particularly in an imminent pandemic environment. Acute care hospitals must immediately implement state, HHS and CDC guidelines on disaster preparedness and response including facility-based policies on disaster preparedness and response. Secure protection for health care personnel by providing personal protective equipment (PPE) including fit-tested disposable N95 respirator or better. Acute care hospitals must immediately staff up; there shall be no violation of safe staffing ratios or any state work rules and no retaliation for sick calls or care of a family member suffering from swine flu. Health care providers, first responders, and medically fragile and vulnerable populations must be given timely access to anti-viral medications, such as oseltamivir or zanamivir, when medically indicated/recommended. Conclusions in order to reduce the incidence of Novel H1N1 (swine) influenza, the United States needs to implement a nationwide surveillance, prevention and containment policy. It is critical that all facilities follow the same standards consistently; Swine Flu knows no geographic boundaries. CNA/NNOC recognizes registered nurses' role as patient advocates who are at the front lines of all serious health care problems and as such must be the leaders in influenza control. CNA/NNOC POSITION as frontline caregivers at the heart of the health care system, CNA/NNOC strongly recommends that all registered nurses (RNs) are vaccinated against the H1N1 influenza virus. Any vaccination program for RNs should include extensive education on the risks and benefits of vaccination with an emphasis on patient protection and the need to be prepared for a serious pandemic outbreak. CNA/NNOC supports an RN's right to decline vaccination. RNs should be granted presumptive eligibility for workers compensation benefits as a result of contracting the H1N1 influenza virus, and should not be subject to disciplinary action by an employer due to absenteeism or illness resulting from the vaccine. Hedy Dumpel, RN, JD is National Director of Nursing Practice and Patient Advocacy for CNA/NNOC. References World Health Organization Phases of Pandemic Influenza: http://www.who.int/csr/disease/avian_influenza/phase/en/index.html Centers for Disease Control (CDC) H1N1 Flu Clinical and Public Health Guidance: http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/guidance/ CDC Key Facts about Swine Influenza: http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/ key_facts.htm Novel Influenza A (H1N1) Virus Infections Among Health-Care Personnel —- United States, April—May 2009: The Joint Commission "Providing a Safer Environment for Health Care Personnel and Patients through Influenza Vaccination: Strategies from Research and Practice": http://www.jointcommission.org/PatientSafety/ InfectionControl/flumonograph.htm The Nation "Don't Let Insurance Company Greed Block Swine Flu Response" April 29, 2009: http://www.thenation.com/blogs/thebeat/ 431300 RNRN Call to Action Swine Influenza Pandemic, California Nurses Association,/National Nurses Organizing Committee: http://www.calnurses.org/swineflu/assets/pdf/rnrn_position_statement.pdf CDC. Interim guidance for infection control for care of patients with confirmed or suspected novel influenza A (H1N1) virus infection in a healthcare setting. Atlanta, GA: US Department of Health and Human Services, 34 N AT I O N A L N U R S E CDC; 2009. Available at http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/guidelines_ infection_control.htm. CDC. Interim guidance on case definitions to be used for investigations of novel influenza A (H1N1) cases. Atlanta, GA: US Department of Health and Human Services, CDC; 2009. Available at http://www.cdc.gov/ h1n1flu/casedef.htm. Novel swine-origin influenza A (H1N1) virus investigation team. Emergence of a novel swine-origin influenza A (H1N1) virus in humans. New England Journal of Medicine 2009; 360:2605—15. Siegel JD, Rhinehart E, Jackson M, Chiarello L; Health-care Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee. 2007 guideline for isolation precautions: preventing transmission of infectious agents in health-care settings. Atlanta, GA: US Department of Health and Human Services, CDC; 2007. Available at http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dhqp/gl_isolation.html. CDC. Guideline for preventing health-care-associated pneumonia. Atlanta, GA: US Department of Health and Human Services, CDC; 2004. Available at http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dhqp/gl_hcpneumonia.html. Daugherty EL, Perl TM, Needham DM, Rubinson L, Bilderback A, Rand CS. The use of personal protective equipment for control of influenza among critical care clinicians: a survey study. Critical Care Medicine 2009; 37:1210—6. 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 JANUARY | FEBRUARY 2010