Mass. nurses ‘exhausted,’ call for help
More effective national response is being sought
The union representing the state’s 23,000 nurses and caregivers worry frontline heroes are becoming “exhausted and traumatized” with hospitals not totally prepared for another surge.
“The lack of continuity on the state, federal and facility level on how to address this crisis demands that the voices of frontline nurse and healthcare professionals be heard,” said Katie Murphy, MNA president and an ICU nurse.
As of Monday, the state had 922 confirmed COVID-19 patients in the hospital. Out of that, 204 are listed as being in an ICU and 91 are intubated.
The 922 current patients is a jump from 436 patients at the start of November. The highest peak of Massachusetts’ coronavirus hospitalizations was 3,965 on April 21.
Massachusetts has also pushed past 200,000 coronavirus cases — 201,835 to be exact — and 10,299 deaths.
The focus is now on the holidays and the possible spread the virus could bring as vaccines are on the horizon. Medical workers and caregivers are the ones who will face the brunt of any surge.
“As we spend the most time with patients, and as confirmed by recent studies, we are at the greatest risk for infection if proper policies are not implemented and followed,” Murphy said.
The union is calling for a multistep attack:
•A more effective and coordinated national response to this pandemic, with full use of the
Defense Production Act to produce PPE, testing materials, treatments, and vaccines.
•Utilize N95 masks as well as face shields or goggles for all patients at all times. And, have a new N95 mask available at the beginning of each shift.
•Patients must be cohorted — housed together — and administrators should be negotiating with union nurses and healthcare professionals where appropriate, on how best to staff these units.