Protect Yourself and Your Patients
- Return to COVID-19 Pandemic main page
A key priority for NYSNA Nurses in this crisis is securing Personal Protective Equipment, or PPE, for those on the frontlines of the COVID-19 Pandemic, and pushing lawmakers to secure the supply chain for PPE and equipment by whatever means necessary. Our members continue to report crisis conditions around PPE, so we will keep pressing federal and state officials to do whatever it takes to get more supplies to frontline caregivers.
You can take action to tell the Governor to get the PPE where it’s needed the most. Frontline healthcare workers battling this pandemic deserve higher OSHA infection control standards, unlimited paid sick time, and disability protections.
- “Relaxed Quarantine Rules put Workers, Patients and Community at Risk”
- Health and Safety Update (3/18/2020)
- Is your facility prepared? Check out the Coronavirus checklist
- If you did not receive the Member COVID-19 Health and Safety Survey, contact us.
What is Adequate PPE?
NYSNA continues to push back against relaxed PPE standards by the CDC, the New York Department of Health, and our employers. NYSNA’s position is that anyone treating COVID-positive patients and PUIs needs adequate PPE, which includes:
- A fit-tested N95 (or higher level) respirator
- A liquid-repellent or impermeable gown
- Gloves
- Face shield or non-vented goggles
Disposable respiratory protection should be worn for a single patient care session and should not be reused!
Protect yourself and your patients
- Join our statewide Day of Action, Friday, March 27. Members will be delivering our demand letter to hospital command centers across the state. Contact your NYSNA Rep and local leaders for how to get involved.
- File a COVID POA. And here’s why it’s important to file these supplemental protests of assignment
- Keep daily documentation. NYSNA has created a simple way to keep an electronic COVID Daily Diary which could be critical in protecting your license and your health as this pandemic progresses.