Surviving COVID-19: When Nurses Need Advocates

By Janice M.PHILLIPS, PHD, RN, CENP, FAAN

The Coronavirus (COVID-19) has taken the world by storm leaving no nation untouched. For the first time in over 100 years, nurses in the United States are experiencing in real time what it is like to be on the front lines serving during a pandemic. Not since 1917-1918 has the United States’ health care system been tasked to meet the health care needs of its residents during such a widespread and deadly infectious disease outbreak.

Similar to nurses across

the globe, nurses in the United States are providing direct care to some of the nation’s sickest patients affected by the virus. Each day nurses report to duty, placing themselves in harm’s way by increasing their personal risk for becoming infected by the COVID-19. The ability to apply personal protective equipment (PPE), whenever needed, is absolutely imperative in helping to mitigate the risk of exposure to any infectious disease. With COVID-19 cases surpassing one million in the United States and over 72,000 deaths nationwide, the ability to have access to life protecting equipment and supplies cannot be overemphasized.

However, of concern are the recent reports that nurses in some settings across the country do not have appropriate access to PPE as recommended by leading public health authorities. Building on their strong history of advocating on behalf

of patients and the profession, nurses are now expanding their efforts to advocate for themselves and other nurses on the front lines during the current

pandemic. Nurses across the country have started mobilizing and protesting to shed light on the criticality of the lack of PPE in their respective workplaces.

The American Nurses Association and other professional nursing organizations such as the National Black Nurses Association have

Legislation Provisions Status CommentsThe Coronavirus Aid, Relief, And Economic Security (The CARES ACT)H.R. 6406 American-Made Protection for Health Care Workers and First Responders Act

$16 B to the Strategic National StockpileRequires federal government to include PPE into the national stockpile as well as procure such equipment from U.S. sources.

Passed

Proposed

To be immediately used to purchase PPE and other life saving supplieshttps://www.govtrack.us/congress/ bills/116/hr6406One of the first pieces of legislation to be introduced this Congressional session on 3/24/2020.Similar pieces of legislation may be forthcoming.

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Health Policy

RESOURCESHistory of the Strategic National Stockpile

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK396378/

The CARES ACT and Key Health Care Priorities

The American Nurses Association and Related Resources

https://thehill.com/blogs/congress-blog/ healthcare/489878-cares-act-delivers-on-our-healthcare-needs-in-a-big-way

https://anacapitolbeat.org/2020/03/27/congress- passes-and-the-president-signs-into-law-third-covid- 19-package/

reached out to the nation’s highest-ranking elected officials demanding an immediate resolution to the shortage of PPE. The AARP, the nation’s largest nonprofit, nonpartisan

organization dedicated to empowering Americans age 50 and older, has been steadfast in advocating for better working conditions and protections for nurses during the

current COVID-19 pandemic. A growing number of groups, professional societies, nongovernmental agencies, and others are advocating on behalf of all of the health professions. This is a priority for protecting all members of America’s health care workforce.

Although Congressional responses are unfolding, advocacy on behalf of nurses continues to grow and is much appreciated. The table provides a brief snapshot of recently passed and proposed legislation that will aid in addressing the current PPE shortage. To date, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, And Economic Security (CARES Act) constitutes the greatest piece of recent legislation that will help address the shortage. Other pieces of legislation may be forthcoming. Some states and hospitals

are also instituting their own plan of action to ensure that frontline workers are protected. Prompt federal, state, and local responses are all needed during this time of crisis.

All nurses are encouraged to stay abreast of the latest developments in this area. Please see the additional resources that provide information about the shortage and suggested solutions. In the meantime, be well, be safe and know that you are appreciated no matter where you are serving during this unprecedented time in our nursing history.

Janice M. Phillips, PhD, RN, CENP,FAAN, is an associate professorat Rush University College ofNursing and the director of nursingresearch and health equity atRush University Medical Center.

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