ANA Statement on Nurse Diagnosed with Ebola

SILVER SPRING, Md., Oct. 13, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced on Oct. 12 that a nurse employed by Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital in Dallas has tested positive for Ebola.  She is in stable condition and is currently in isolation.  The nurse was a member of the heath care team that provided care to Thomas Eric Duncan while he was in isolation in the hospital.  Duncan, who traveled to Texas from Liberia, died from Ebola on Oct. 8.  The nurse wore full protective gear while caring for Duncan.  CDC officials report that a breach in protocol may have occurred at some point.   They are looking closely at high-risk procedures that were performed on Duncan.  

"We offer our support to the nurse, her family, colleagues and community at this difficult time," said ANA President Pamela F. Cipriano, PhD, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN. 

"We urge all hospitals and health care workers to engage in comprehensive education and preparedness activities in order to ensure the safety of the public and health care professionals.    We have the utmost confidence that health care providers are eager to take part in learning protocols that will protect health care workers and keep patients safe. 

"However, it is essential that the CDC quickly investigate and fully share the findings surrounding the care of Thomas Eric Duncan to help health care providers understand any further precautions needed to prevent transmission of the disease.  It is only through rapid review and learning from this situation that we will prevent further incidents from happening.

"We will continue to work with the CDC and other health care agencies to accelerate the education of health care professionals about appropriate infection control and other protocols."

ANA has shared CDC resources with its members, including instructions about how to put on and safely remove personal protective equipment.  ANA is encouraging its members to participate in a call being hosted by the CDC on Oct. 14.  

The ANA is the only full-service professional organization representing the interests of the nation's 3.1 million registered nurses through its constituent and state nurses associations and its organizational affiliates. The ANA advances the nursing profession by fostering high standards of nursing practice, promoting the rights of nurses in the workplace, projecting a positive and realistic view of nursing, and by lobbying the Congress and regulatory agencies on health care issues affecting nurses and the public.

SOURCE American Nurses Association