Issue link: https://nnumagazine.uberflip.com/i/428960
sensus that a particular risk is not harmful, especially one that can have catastrophic consequences, the highest level of safeguards must be adopted, and a sharp contrast to the profit principle that has guided the response of most hospitals, DeMoro noted. Further, the Ebola standards set a new benchmark for strong infection control protections for other epidemics that are expected to accelerate in coming years. NNU will press for legislation and regulation in other states, and continue to demand the federal government enact mandatory guidelines all hospitals must follow for Ebola and other epidemics modeled on the California standards. N O V E M B E R 2 0 1 4 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 N A T I O N A L N U R S E 15 Oct. 16: Continuing major media coverage of NNU. On CNN, RoseAnn DeMoro tells Wolf Blitzer, "The status quo is indefensible if it puts our nurses lives in jeopardy, and that's precisely what we have." Oct. 20: After multiple NNU protests and extensive media coverage of NNU criticism, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Preven- tion announces latest revision to CDC Ebola guidelines, moving closer to NNU proposals. CDC guidelines remain voluntary with too much leeway for hospitals on protective gear. Oct. 21: CNA/NNU nurses meet with California Gov. Jerry Brown and state health officials to report major holes in hospital pre- paredness in California and call for stronger state standards. Oct. 24: NNU Co-president Deborah Burger, RN testifying before House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, calls on Congress to mandate improved hospital preparedness. "If we cannot protect our nurses and other healthcare workers, we cannot protect anyone." Oct. 28: After University of California medical centers named as California Ebola treatment centers, UC RNs, CNA members, protest that UC hospitals are far from prepared. Nov. 6: Nurses rally at large Huntington Memorial Hospital in Los Angeles, one of a series of actions over two weeks by NNU and CNA members protesting at hospitals across the U.S. for improved Ebola protections. Nov. 11: 20,000 RNs strike at hospitals in California and Washing- ton, D.C. over eroding patient care standards, including failure of hospitals to have optimal Ebola safety protocols and equipment. Nov. 12: 100,000 RNs in 15 U.S. states, Washington, D.C., and five other countries hold a global "Day of Action" to call for improved protections for nurses and patients. Nov. 14: California announces updated, mandatory state standards for Ebola with civil penalties for hospitals that fail to comply, a new national model. Nov. 17: Sierra Leone physician, Martin Salia, becomes second Ebola patient to die in the U.S. Nov. 18: NNU holds rallies in Washington D.C., outside the Depart- ment of Labor, and at California State Capitol in Sacramento praising California standards and calling on federal OSHA to match the California model. Nov. 19: Latest statistics include 15,145 global Ebola infections in eight countries, with at least 5,420 deaths. Numbers believed to be significantly underreported. Clockwise across all pages from top left opposite: RNs in Oakland, Calif. take over downtown streets; RNs in Kansas City, Mo. protest outside state OSHA office; RN and NNU Copresident Jean Ross and Minnesota RNs hold candlelight vigil at state Capitol; Florida RNs protest at state OSHA office; North Carolina RNs rally at Durham VA Medical Center; CNA/NNOC Copresident Zenei Cortez, RN speaks at Sacramento press conference on Capitol steps.