Ebola, A Nurse’s Perspective

Posted on by dtolar Posted in HealthTagged , ,

So a few months ago the country was enthralled with the idea of a few patients, infected with the Ebola virus, coming to the United States. Up until this point, we had been safe from Ebola due to the fact that bats can’t fly over the Atlantic. Some people were completely indifferent, while others had seen Outbreak one too many times. Most were a healthy mix, somewhere in between, but what bothered me the most was both the lack of education and the poor information that was spreading more virulently than the virus could ever hope to.

First, I want to stress that I am a nurse, not a virologist, and hopefully throughout my post you will see that I am not pretending to be one. I have a Bachelor’s in Nursing and am currently a graduate student. I have worked extensively with Infectious Disease Specialists. I have been exposed to almost every infectious disease known to the modern world. I have taken courses in Biology, Microbiology, Anatomy, Physiology, Pathophysiology, Advanced Pathophysiology, Pharmacology, and an assortment of others. However, I am not and will not pretend to be an expert, just an experienced professional. When it comes to an epidemic of any sort, my first focus is on the patient, protecting and healing them, my second focus is on protecting the community. I don’t care about which strain does what, or what we can do with in lab. As a nurse, I concern myself with the current patient and future possible patients. I feel the first thing we should examine is Ebola itself. It is foreign to the US, both literally and figuratively. What it does to people and how it harmonizes with nature are both things that most westerners have little concept of. It is a virus, not a bacteria. This means that it is not its own organism. It is actually much smaller and basic than you can imagine. It is nothing more than a few pieces of DNA/RNA and some proteins. No cell wall, no cytoplasm, no metabolic functions. This is both their advantage and their downfall. Viruses require a host. For this example I will use the HIV virus. HIV gets into the human body and invades the host’s white blood cells, T4 cells to be exact but I won’t get that involved. The proteins help get the virus into the cell and those few small sequences of DNA/RNA write themselves into the host DNA/RNA. Now instead of the white blood cell attacking invaders, it is nothing more than an HIV factory. All of its metabolic functions are redirected at producing more of the virus, which pours out of the white blood cell like a sieve until eventually the host cell dies. This is why HIV infected patients have poor immune systems. The virus re-writes the DNA of the host cells. This is not something we can stop. New viruses are pouring out of the white blood cells at a rate of millions a day. We cannot filter them out. We cannot “kill” a little chunk of DNA and we don’t know enough about the human genome to correct the DNA sequences. This is why a lot of viral infections like HIV, Herpes, and Hepatitis are life long infections. HIV invades the white blood cells, Herpes invade the nerve roots, and Hepatitis invades the liver.

Now that we have a better grasp of viruses, we will focus on Ebola a bit more. In tropical Africa, Ebola naturally lives in bats. It is nice to the bats and doesn’t cause them many issues. It is rumored that there are many viruses humans carry our entire lives and have no idea because they show zero symptoms. Therefore, they have never been studied. If this sounds crazy, just remember that it was in recent years the we discovered there was a virus behind cervical cancer. A virus that men can carry and spread without ever knowing they have it. Where the problem arises is that in tropical Africa, people like to eat bats. Sometimes they get infected with Ebola and it spreads. This process is called Zoonosis and can be true of bacteria or viruses. Racoons carry Rabies, Armadillos carry Leprosy, Birds carry the Flu, Bats carry Ebola.

When I said Westerners don’t really understand Ebola, the primary aspect that I am talking about is the patient. We don’t ever see what Ebola does. Our media is too censored, we hear how many died, and see people in haz-mat suits. Speaking of suits, we’ve all seen the pictures. Rubber gloves are adequate for AIDS and hepatitis, a simple mask (N95) stops Tuberculosis, but this requires space suits, just keep that in mind when you think its no big deal. So here is what happens when you catch Ebola, I figure you’re getting bored with reading right about now, so I’ll spice it up. First the virus gets into your system, I’ll elaborate on that later. Then, it hangs out for a few days, even up to 21, growing, multiplying at a rate of millions a day, and guess what, you’re infectious. Now at this point it would pretty much require a straight blood to blood interaction so the only real threat here is for IV drug users who share needles. Just like with the flu or hand foot and mouth disease, you can be spreading it to others before you show a symptom*(apparently not many see the *, so please read the elaboration at the bottom). Remember, nurse mind set, protect the community. At first it’s not bad, little nausea, some sweating, diarrhea, much like a stomach bug. But then the virus really starts to build up in your liver and adrenal glands, after it has saturated your blood cells, the lining of your vessel, your skin, and bones. Hepatocellular necrosis occurs, which is fancy term for your liver starts to decompose.Your liver is what regulates blood clotting. This causes your blood either clot up and turn to jelly in your veins, stay liquid and bleed profusely, or a combo of both. The adrenal glands then do the same, causing your blood pressure to drop. This requires lots of IV fluids to keep your circulating volume up. At the same time inflammatory cytokines are released which causes vascular leakage. Cells don’t do a good job of holding things together so it all becomes a bloody goop. Anywhere in your body that blood vessels are shallow, like your nose, ears, gums, throat, GI tract, urethra, vagina, rectum, all start oozing fluids and bleeding because the tissues that normally keep it contained are disintegrating. So now you bleed from every orifice, including your eyeballs. Every time someone or something touches you, your tissue gets damaged which further the cycle, so a shot in the arm can turn into a massive blood blister. Those who survive are left with massive scarring. Since the adrenals cannot keep your blood pressure up, and you are losing blood and fluids, we have to put IV fluids in to keep you out of hypovolemic shock. This in turn reduces your blood concentration, lowering your oxygen carrying capacity, which causes your heart to race. So you lay in bed, oozing fluids from everywhere, all while feeling like you just ran a marathon, with bloody diarrhea, oh and did I mention pain? Lots and lots of pain, but you can’t have any pain medicine because your liver and kidneys have failed. This why it pains me when I see this outbreak ONLY has a 50% death rate, when in Africa it is up to 90%…ONLY 50%. That is literally worse than cancer, and people are blowing it off. Imagine if cancer was infectious, and you lived in a country with zero cancer, and someone thought it would be a good idea to fly a few people in. I think there would be a different attitude.

The biggest part of the discussion is how Ebola is spread. I will say two things on the topic, no, it is not airborne, and yes, basic hygiene plays a HUGE factor. But while on the topic of whether it is or is not airborne, the definition of an airborne contagion is one that can freely float in the air, survive lengths of time, and infect someone else. VERY few things fit in this category, most have been eradicated, Small Pox, Tuberculosis, Measles. Things that are also NOT airborne, are the flu and the cold. For the flu, you have to come into direct contact with the patients body fluids. How then, do you explain why people catch it and have no idea how. Well for one, people can spread it before they show symptoms, just like Ebola, and one other HUGE factor…droplets….let that word really sink in. The virus may not be airborne, but the droplets are. I’m going to digress for a second and get back to HIV and Hepatitis, while I let droplets dwell in your mind. Everyone knows that HIV and Hepatitis are spread by blood contact, and sexual fluids, I don’t mean a drop of blood on the skin, or even a mucous membrane, it has to get INSIDE of you. This is why only gloves are required. HIV and Hepatitis are not found in urine, stool (Some forms of hepatitis are, but you have to eat the stool to get infected) saliva, sweat, tears, or mucous. This is where some viruses are different. The flu gets into your mucous and other secretions, Ebola tends to stay in the blood, but remember, every one of your bodily fluids are full of blood now. So a person with the flu sneezes, and now millions of little droplets (remember those guys?) shoot out of their nose at nearly mach 1, all across the room, same for a cough, all it takes is a little microscopic droplet to land in your eye, nose, mouth, or the unlikely scenario of an open wound, and you’ve now been infected, because you came in CONTACT with their bodily fluids. I see the word contact thrown around a lot, but most people think of mass amounts of contact with blood, but what they don’t realize is that contact also includes microscopic mucous and saliva droplets, each one chock full of Ebola. Bacteria can survive for long periods of time without a host because they are their own organism. They can feed on just about anything and be happy. Viruses lifespan without a host is much shorter. Their goal is to infect, replicate, and spread, if they cant replicate, they die. Measles only lives 2 hours. But Ebola, depending on what data you look at, can survive for several days.

So with all this information, lets have some role play, so that you can see exactly what this means, to a nurse, in the real world. Imagine it as a cheesy PSA or lifetime movie. You go to see your doctor because its that time of year, you need some blood drawn and refills of your blood pressure med. You sit patiently in the waiting room, thumbing a magazine while your 2-year-old plays with her toys. Like all two year olds, she touches everything, and everything goes in her mouth, toys, pens, her own fingers. She is a 22 lb drool factory and you love her to pieces. You see the doctor, get your goodies, and go home. A week later your angel starts vomiting blood and within 3 days she dies because her heart raced so fast it finally gave up while trying to maintain a blood pressure. Her eyes are blood red and demonic, her skin falls off in sheets. What you don’t know is that 3 days before your visit, someone thought they had the flu. It is October you see and they sneezed while thumbing through that very same magazine you thumbed through. The same thumb you grabbed her pacifier out of your purse with in the waiting room. The people caring for Ebola patients wear space suits, and burn the bodies, yet it still spreads. Here in America, we have much better protocols, and much better hygiene. So if it spreads, it will be contained much better. Still, it spreads prior to symptoms and survives will outside the body, just like the flu. Despite vaccines and good hand washing, thousands still get the flu every year. But while the flu kills 1-2% of its victims, Ebola kills 50% on a good day, and spreads the same way. So please, do not write it off as hype. It is a real thing and it is here.

The case in Dallas has been confirmed. The patient had contact with five children and adolescents prior to admission. Those five kids attend four of the largest schools in Dallas. One sneeze and we could already have thousands of people, who don’t know it yet, infected.

Thank you for reading. Please feel free to comment.

Symptoms* I have had a lot of comments in regards to this. I picked my words carefully, but I never imagined getting thousands of views an hour, or my article getting picked apart, but I will try to elaborate now. I said spread, the virus, I did not say you were contagious. What I meant by this, was the summation of two concepts. To fully explain everything I could write a book, but this is meant to be short and sweet. The first concept is that of a fomite. We have established that the virus can survive for an unspecified amount of time outside the host, and we have established that sneezing/coughing is a perfectly logical method of transmission. So if patient A is infectious/contagious, they sneeze on patient B, but then patient B goes home and picks up their sisters 1 6 month old, who rubs his face, and licks all over your shoulder, he could very well have just orally consumed large quantities of the virus, therefore become patient C. Patient B never got sick, the virus never entered their system, yet they are responsible for spreading the virus to someone else. This is why the 5 exposed kids are so important, there may only be a 2% chance or whatever that they’ll get sick, but if they went to school, and each rubbed up against  500 kids in the hallways, you now have 2500 exposed kids, 50 of which will statistically become infected, 25 of which will probably die. No I do not have a source for the 2%, that is just an EXAMPLE number used to represent the relatively low likelihood of contracting the virus if exposed, granted the R0 factor of R2 is correct. Remember, heal the patient, PROTECT the community. The second concept of this is defining “symptom”. Lets assume it means anything other than your baseline condition. That means the first signs of being contagious, are also the more mild symptoms, sneezy, achy, nausea, flu-like symptoms. So who is going to wake up, feel a little under the weather, and think, crap, I have Ebola, better get quarantined, no, THAT’S how you start fear mongering and mass panic. Again, flu season is upon us, the initial stages of Ebola are like the flu, and its human nature to be in denial, so many people, if infected, would hope its just the flu and wait it out, they are not showing symptoms indicative of Ebola, but they ARE symptomatic of something, and therefore, by the CDC definition, would be contagious. Its also normal procedure for people to be symptomatic BEFORE seeking medical care, so technically, everyone will be contagious, BEFORE knowing they have Ebola. But like I said before, I omitted this lengthy explanation because I didn’t feel it was necessary for the point of the article.

ADDENDUM: Sadly, I feel the need to point out that the title of this blog is “Ebola, A Nurse’s Perspective”, not “A Nurse’s Guide to Surviving the Apocalypse”, or “How to Become an Ebola Expert in 15 minutes”.  It could just as well be “Hamburgers, A Chef’s Perspective” and no one would be hounding me over grammar, a misplaced comma, or wanting citations as to why I say it should be on the grill 5 minutes per side of 7 minutes per side. The point is those things are irrelevant to the goal of the article, this is MY perspective (a particular attitude toward or way of regarding something; a point of view.) I don’t have to prove anything, the point of my article is to take what the uneducated (in a medical sense) journalists say, what the talking heads on TV say, and then let you know what the people say who are on the front lines. That’s like discrediting your grandads account of what happened when he stormed Normandy beach, because its not what your history teacher told you. Have I experienced Ebola first hand? Nope, have I experienced a WHOLE lot of other things that the majority of the population has not? You bet your ass I have, and I felt the need to take the time to hopefully help other people out a little. So please keep that in mind, I’m not perfect, but my experiences are my experiences, and I wanted to share them with you, to let you inside the head of a nurse for a minute.

2,089 thoughts on “Ebola, A Nurse’s Perspective”

  2. Sherry's avatar
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    Sherry says:

    Thank you so much for this article. I am not a nurse, but after reading The Hot Zone years ago I have had a healthy knowledge and fear of ebola and my ears perk up when I hear the word.

    I wish the public would be required to read your article. This is the same air headed public that thinks the flu shot is for the 24 hour stomach flu. Get your head out of the sand people.

    I am sorry people have critiqued your article, the fact is even if you were wrong, it would be much better for this country to pay attention rather than argue. We are sitting on a ticking time bomb.

    Again, much appreciate your going public with this.

    Liked by 3 people

  3. Beverly Thompson's avatar
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    Beverly Thompson says:

    I appreciate your article despite others comments. My question is: American worker brought to Atlanta….good to go. American newsperson brought to Oklahoma….good to go……Why was Dallas Presbyterian so out in the ozone to not prepare health workers for receipt of, acknowledgement of, and care of jerk who exposed “loved” ones and strangers to his germs? Hope he got to his girl friend and had a good time before seeking health care. And WHY are we sending America’s finest to build health care facilities in Liberia while the Liberians sit around and watch us? Can someone get off their duffs and do something for themselves? Hand them a shovel and tell them to dig wells for clean water and buildings to pipe it into so they might try washing up before and after getting with their ‘loved’ ones.

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    1. Marie's avatar
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      Marie says:

      I agree with questioning how Dallas Presbyterian dealt with Mr. Duncan, but not with your comments on the Liberians, opinions which presumably extend to the other affected West African countries. One of the first highly publicized deaths from Ebola was a doctor from Sierra Leone, and plenty of doctors and healthcare workers from Guinea, Liberia, etc., have died. Of course the volunteers who are coming in from other countries are heroes, but so are the local healthcare workers. Their efforts should not be trivialized. Furthermore, a region should not be looked down upon nor its people presumed to be lazy just because they don’t have an infrastructure equal to ours.

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  6. Jen K.'s avatar
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    Jen K. says:

    Thank you for taking time to write this article. As a nurse I am knowledgeable in viral processes. This really hit home for me.

    The average person in the public is generally unaware, and really through no fault of their own for the most part. The irresponsibility of the news and those who should be getting the facts right is alarming.

    People unfortunately will believe nearly anything if it is from an ‘authority’, a term I use loosely for media.

    So all that being said, I will share this article for certain. If only one life is saved (thus maybe leading to hundreds) then it is worth it. Thank you for being proactive.

    Liked by 1 person

  7. Kim's avatar
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    Kim says:

    Your article is a wonderful look at this bloody, disgusting disease, the processes and the hows and whys of transmission. Thank you so much. I have personally shared it several times on my Facebook.
    If I’m reading it correctly, and I believe I am, persons do NOT have to be running a fever to be contagious as the CDC is leading us to believe. This is my line of thought as the symptom of tiredness or headache is extremely non specific and most people would not seek to quarantine themselves on those alone; therefore there is a strong likelihood of many people in Dallas who are actually walking around contagious right now. Just saying.

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  9. Jill's avatar
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    Jill says:

    I have a Question. I live In a state where it gets way below zero in the winter. And we are going to be coming into winter soon. Can The frigid cold Kill this Virus?

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  10. Richard Sandow's avatar
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    Richard Sandow says:

    Thank you for a very informative article. I learned more about Ebola from you than all the talking heads on television combined. With now a second health care person confirmed with the disease, it’s time we all try to become as educated as possible. Having a professional’s perspective is valuable. Thank you, again.

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  12. Mary Novak's avatar
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    Mary Novak says:

    Good article! I think people need to be aware of the dangers of this virus. The government is minimizing this way too much, and we are all at risk! A second woman in Dallas was just found to have the virus. She was on a Frontier Airline flight while she was contaminated. How many more people have been exposed!

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  13. Alicia M's avatar
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    Alicia M says:

    I really enjoyed reading your article, from one nurse to another I am very glad you put your experience and knowledge out there for those to view and become more aware of the dangers that are quickly becoming a reality. As much as we don’t want to admit or acknowledge, we have an issue and everyone needs to do their part…which means getting educated and doing what we can to minimize this sickness.

    Liked by 1 person

  15. Fran Groth MA Behavioral Science's avatar
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    Fran Groth MA Behavioral Science says:

    Excellantly communicated! Your position was perfectly excepressed as your examples and suceeded giving me what I wanted to know! I sincerely thank you!
    Warm Regards
    Fran Groth MA ABS

    Like

  16. Barbara's avatar
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    Barbara says:

    Thank you so much for getting this information to us. I have many words regarding the information, or misinformation, but they are not fit to print.

    Like

  17. Antonio T. Smith, Jr's avatar
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    Antonio T. Smith, Jr says:

    I love this article. You did an amazing job and I formed me very well. I had zero knowledge of anything concerning Ebola. I can hear your passion to help people and I am so grateful you are a Nurse, you have definitely fulfilled one of your purposes in life. As always, when someone does something good, people will hide behind a keyboard and give hurtful and hateful opinions as if you are not a human being with feelings and family. I hope this hasn’t happened to you. If so, I pray you let it fall off our back like water on a duck and and stay happy and helpful. Additionally, you are a wonderful writer. It would be my honor to purchase a book from you one day. May God bless you and keep you safe. Sincerely- Antonio T Smith, Jr

    Liked by 2 people

  19. StacyRN's avatar
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    StacyRN says:

    This is a thoughtful and well written perspective. There is cause for concern, but people need to be discerning in gathering reliable information. I can tell you that I have nurse friends in lots of places, and most people have not been trained on effective use of PPE (protective personal equipment) for Ebola cases. There are reasons that the situation in Dallas is a big mess, yet Dr. Brantley’s facility had no issues at Emory. That’s because Emory and 3 other places in the country are equipped and trained to handle biocontainment situations, and the other hospitals are most often NOT equipped or capable of handling them. Wearing a suit is not sufficient. They must put it on and take it off correctly, they must be able to understand mode of transmission and realize that although Ebola is killed with hospital-grade disinfectants, Ebola on dried on surfaces can survive for several hours; and the virus in body fluids (such as blood) can survive up to several days at room temperature. So, if contaminated objects are touched, and later that person wipes their eyes/nose/prepares food, etc. that they can still get ebola. The other issues are that when people are severely infected, the disease is much easier to transmit (think about spray from sneezing/coughing/vomiting/diarrhea etc), simply because it has had more time to replicate, meaning more virus packed into a set amount of fluid. This is why the ICU nurses are at greater risk than the ER workers who initially are in contact with the patient. I agree that it’s scary, and quite honestly I’m disappointed that the CDC didn’t send teams to Dallas till yesterday. If you want healthcare workers to protect themselves and contain the outbreak, thus protecting the community, they need to be educated specifically on how to do so, particularly when 50% of people who contract the disease die…

    Liked by 2 people

  20. cristinaquinones's avatar
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    cristinaquinones says:

    Thank you for this article! As a nursing student, I am here everyday shaking my head, we are absolutely NOT equipped to handle Ebola. You didn’t mention that the hospital in Dallas was not equipped with materials to handle the Level 4 Biohazard of the Ebola patient in the first place, and should have not treated him.

    My mother is currently traveling in central and southern Texas, and though she is flying Southwestern airlines, I told her to buy a mask to wear at the airport and be very cautious. So many people are comparing Ebola to the flu, are you kidding me? I began studying Ebola this past summer for one of my classes, and I remember stating ” with our social habits in the U.S., if Ebola ever infected someone in our country, it would spread like wildfire”.

    It’s not something you can just shake off. We may have better medical care to an extent, but socially, we are not very responsible with our habits. Just think about buying groceries, going to school, work, elevators, taxis, just the fact that the 2nd nurse who KNEW she was exposed to an extremely contagious and dangerous virus decided to FLY across the country shows our irresponsibility as Americans! She really should have KNOWN better especially after seeing her fellow coworker fall ill with the virus. What on earth couldn’t wait a few weeks? I can only assume that the protocol and measures taken upon healing and treating the first Ebola patient were much too casual, and she felt it wasn’t a big deal. Now thousands could be infected across the U.S., and it will take a couple of weeks to find out.

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  21. MattAttack's avatar
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    MattAttack says:

    Thanks for taking the time to lay this out as simply as possible. As you said, it is a complex situation, and the best way to deal with it is to be informed. That is to say, engage the BS filter and avoid knee-jerk panic.

    Thanks you.

    Like

  22. Laura Richards's avatar
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    Laura Richards says:

    You did a wonderful job explaining Ebola as we know it. One clarification is that Hep B can be spread in stools especially with open cuts. I have seen this working in intensive care nursery in crisis situations. We have to treat all fevers and or bleeding like it is Ebola until we know better. I have seen too many of my coworkers not using PPE correctly and attitudes even by HMO’s that this is a hype and the extensive PPE are not necessary! Wiping down grocery carts before use, removing magazines and toys from doctors waiting rooms and good hygiene of washing your hands after any contact including drinking fountains, restroom usage are good to begin with!

    Like

  23. Monique's avatar
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    Monique says:

    Wow! Thank you for giving a clearer picture. You are right, we don’t see pictures of what the virus does to people. I heard about the gentleman in Dallas and also heard that one of the workers or officers showed signs of the virus. I sincerely hope they are able to contain this. Flu season has just become a little more disconcerting.

    Like

  24. Robin Metler's avatar
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    Robin Metler says:

    Thank you for writing and sharing this… I agree with an earlier comment that all Americans should have to read this. Thank you again!

    Like

  25. Sandi's avatar
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    Sandi says:

    Your well-composed article is very informative, important, interesting and helpful. Sincere thanks for taking the time and effort to explain Ebola and make us normal citizens more aware of the dangers of this pernicious, insidious disease.

    Like

  26. Emedic's avatar
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    Emedic says:

    Thank you so much for the article. It’s sad that you had ANY negative response. I too am on the front lines and COULDN’T AGREE WITH YOU MORE! Stay safe and continue to educTe and be concerned for our fellow Americans. I think you rock!

    Like

  29. brandy jones's avatar
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    brandy jones says:

    This was so well written. I too am a healthcare worker and you definitely nailed it! Thank you so much for taking the time to describe and explain this situation without sugar-coating it. I am now following your blog and sharing it with others. 🙂

    Like

  30. MARILYN FULLER's avatar
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    MARILYN FULLER says:

    THANK YOU! YOU ARE EXPLAINING EBOLA AND IT’S DANGERS SO WELL! I WANTED TO GET ON U TUBE AND SHOUT OUT TO THE WORLD AND I AM ASKING YOU TO DO THAT BECAUSE YOU DO IT VERY WELL. I AM NOT A NURSE, BUT I WAS A PHLEBOTOMIST FOR MANY YEARS AND I KNOW FIRST HAND HOW PEOPLE IN THE MEDICAL FIELD CAN MAKE MISTAKES WHEN HANDLING BODY FLUIDS. THEN THERE IS THE ISSUE OF “SOME” WHO WEAR THE SAME GLOVES ALL DAY AND PROTECT THEMSELVES, BUT NOT THE PATIENTS! THE LAB COATS THEY WEAR ARE USUALLY WORN ALL DAY OR ALL WEEK, AGAIN, PROTECTING THEMSELVES BUT NOT THE PUBLIC.
    (THIS PROTECTION IS FALSE ANYWAY, AS THE LAB COATS ARE NOT WATER PROOF, SO THEY GO HOME AND INFECT THE FAMILY!) THE LAB INDUSTRY NEED TO BE AWARE AND PRACTICE ULTIMATE SAFETY. I DON’T THINK IT IS BEING DONE. THE LAB HANDLES BODILY FLUIDS ALL DAY AND NIGHT!!!!

    I AM VERY PLEASED THAT YOU ADDRESSED THE ISSUE OF WHEN YOU BECOME CONTAGIOUS. I KNOW THAT SOME PEOPLE WHO HAVE A VIRUS EXPERIENCE A LOW TEMPERATURE! I HAVE HEARD MANY DOCTORS SAY
    OH, YOU MAY HAVE A VIRUS BECAUSE YOU HAVE A SUBNORMAL TEMP.
    HELLO!!! IF YOU LOOK ON THE INTERNET AND PUT “LOW TEMPERATURES AND VIRUS” YOU WILL FIND COMMENTS TO THE FACT.

    HOW MANY TIMES HAVE WE ALL FELT A LITTLE UNDER THE WEATHER AND THEN JUST SHRUGGED IT OFF FOR A COUPLE DAYS? I HAVE BECAUSE I DIDN’T WANT TO CALL IN SICK OR BE THE COMPLAINING TYPE. I REMEMBER I WOULD BE IN TROUBLE IF I CALLED IN SICK AND I KNOW MANY PEOPLE WHO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM.

    I AM GLAD I AM RETIRED. I FEEL FOR THE HEALTH CARE WORKERS. I NOTICED THAT THE INTERNET HAS HAD MORE ADS FOR SEEKING NURSES IN MY AREA. ARE NURSES QUITTING?

    Like

  32. russ's avatar
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    russ says:

    Required reading for everyone. Thanks so much for this. I have shared it with my wife who is a nurse and she shared it with her nurse friends on fb and some of them shared it. I wish everyone would take the time to read it. I’ll be sharing it again and again.

    Like

  34. Gina's avatar
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    Gina says:

    Thank you for informing me better.
    I am wondering if there is a way to get EBOLA from local bats?
    We have bats in our neighbors attick and we have had one of our cats catch one and kill it.
    My daughter touched the bat and cat after the kill.
    And can’t the US keep people from Africa from coming hear for now?

    Like

  36. benjamin's avatar
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    benjamin says:

    Thank you for writing this article. I’ll be honest here: ever since news of this issue began to circulate I kept reiterating how preposterous it was that no one seemed to be talking about the threat of ‘droplets.’ Everyone acted like I was nuts for bringing it up, but even just thinking about how *normal* infections are transmit made me realize how bad this could become.

    I only wish our government would have the same degree of care about our communities as you brave nurses do; sometimes I feel as if there are entities within it that actually *want* an outbreak to occur.

    Best of luck to the author, their family and the commentators. God help us.

    Like

  38. Mary S. RN's avatar
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    Mary S. RN says:

    Thank you for your explanation. I am a nurse and I work in a local Emergency Room. My fears are real. I hope your thorough explanation educates as many people as possible. I pray this virus does NOT cause the excessive damage that is being predicted, but I’m truly fearful. Thank you for taking the time to compose this! Health care workers are at the front line, unarmed. By the time you ask the question, it’s too late. I believe we are in limbo regarding all the facts and I’m truly afraid of what the next few months will bring.

    Like

    2. Rio's avatar
      Reply
      Rio says:

      ::gasps!:: What an informed response, Randy! Can you please share YOUR medical credentials?

      It’s beyond frustrating that anyone who expresses concern is automatically accused of fear-mongering and inciting a panic.

      Like

  40. Jeanine Heard's avatar
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    Jeanine Heard says:

    Your article is great and I appreciate that you shared it. I too am a professional nurse who recently retires. I have found myself as of late, screaming at these people on TV spewing “talking points” on how safe we all are. I keep saying, “You morons, this is not a bacteria, it’s a VIRUS!” You said it all. Thanks again.

    Like

  41. Cathy's avatar
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    Cathy says:

    I am a recently retired RN (6mo) ago.. I remember how the media minimized HIV when it first came to the U.S.. And it was minimized in the hospitLs when we worked with pts..at first.. “Don’t use so many gloves on pts.. It’s costly”..now , universal precautions .. Gloves.. Etc.. Are used on any dressing change or when there is a chance of exposure to body fluids on ANY pt.. Your explanation is so well done on how exposure to Ebola can occur.. People need to listen.. Politicians need to take heed.. Thank u for your time to educate the public..

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  42. Rocklyn Pearce-Best's avatar
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    Rocklyn Pearce-Best says:

    Thanks for your REAL LIFE experiences, looking at the Ebola virus description ,replication within the host body & modes of transmissions ….Very honest , educating and informative!!!!!

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  43. Kelly Barnhart's avatar
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    Kelly Barnhart says:

    I enjoyed your insight. This was a well written and very educational article. I am also a nurse. I have been reading an extremely amount of information on the virus. Thank you for your diligence in trying to educate.

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  44. Janet's avatar
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    Janet says:

    Great simple clearly stated article. A true nurse for sure! I am a 33 year nurse remembering the 1 page handout we were given upon completing our medsug clinically,” read over this, you may see this one day” our instructor said!
    We should all brace for the worst and pray for the best. I am already strategizing the response as a school nurse. Best layed plans!!

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  46. Lisa's avatar
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    Lisa says:

    Great article. I really appreciate the insight from an educated experienced nurse. I am a Respiratory Therapist in PA. This is a growing concern amongst all in healthcare. We will continue to give great care and stay informed.

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  48. Tracey Turnage's avatar
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    Tracey Turnage says:

    Thank you so much. I am an R.N. and was just talking with my husband and kids last night about Ebola. Unfortunately I didn’t know much. Your article was very informative. I’m sorry anyone would critique or criticize!

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  50. laura's avatar
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    laura says:

    Thank you for explaining in laymans terms about Ebola. I feel so much more informed now. Maybe not safer, but I have a better understanding what we’re dealing with.

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