Michigan Nurses Not Satisfied With Ebola Preparedness Of State's Hospitals
OKEMOS, MI (WWJ) -- Days after two Dallas nurses contracted Ebola from a patient who died of the virus, President Barack Obama has appointed Ron Klain to coordinate the government's "comprehensive response" to Ebola.
Meantime, the Michigan Association of Nurses say not enough is being done across the board in Michigan to prepare those first responder nurses.
The Association conducted a survey and found almost four-out-of-five nurses say they have not heard from their employer about Ebola preparedness.
John Armelagos, president of the Michigan Nurses Association, said that what happened in Dallas could happen in metro Detroit.
"For those respondents who have had contact with their employers about this, the majority of those folks say that the necessary equipment -- for example, Hazmat suits -- a simple surgical gown is not going to be sufficient," Armelagos said.
Armelagos said the governor and or federal authorities should specify what protective gear hospitals should use and mandate specific training.
"We would also suggest from the Michigan Nurses Association that the Governor and through his designees stipulate what must happen in terms of protective gear and what must happen in terms of adequate training for frontline professionals," Armelagos said.
The Association said the online survey reached about 11,000 members, with an estimated 300 respondents.
