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Nurses call on governments to create safe workplaces for the care of Ebola patients
Conclusions of high-level international nursing summit on Ebola
Nurses, at a high-level nursing summit, held 27-28 October, on “Nursing and the Ebola Virus” organised by the International Council of Nurses ((ICN) and the Spanish Nursing Council (CGE), called for governments to create safe working environments for healthcare professionals as a prerequisite to the provision of care to patients with Ebola.
Summit participants analysed the global situation and exchange experiences, lessons to be learned and changes that could be introduced to minimize risk associated with the care and treatment of infected individuals.
The meeting brought together representatives from ICN, CGE, the European Federation of Nurses, Public Services International, Médécins Sans Frontières, members of Spanish nursing unions, delegates from the European and African countries where patients with Ebola have been treated, and expert nurses in the direct care of Ebola patients.
“'Nurses are central to dealing with this crisis and simultaneously at great risk',” said David Benton, ICN’s Chief Executive Officer. “Training of nurses and the establishment of protocols for care of patients with Ebola have thus far been fragmented. This meeting will ensure that we get the full picture from those who know what is needed. Only then can we set clear guidelines for nurses and ensure that patients receive the quality care they require in a safe and protected environment.”
After hearing the testimony of all the experts, the President of the Spanish Nursing Council (Consejo General de Enfermería), Máximo González Jurado, said “The theme of this summit is to be ‘zero tolerance’. He also stressed that, “transparency in these cases is fundamental, because it is what makes us learn and is the only way to get through this crisis".
The summit commenced with presentations and discussion by representatives of different countries and international organisations on care to patients with Ebola. This was followed by a session on proposed standards for education and training programmes for healthcare workers. On the second day of the summit, the essential factors to be included in the specific protocols and procedures for care of those with or suspected of having the Ebola virus were established. The summit concluded with the agreement to:
· develop training programmes that guarantee competence, and that will be internationally accredited by ICN
· create a centralised information platform to obtain all information on nursing and the Ebola Virus Disease
· demand active participation by nurses at the decision-making level regarding prevention and care of patients with Ebola.
Nurses are among the people at highest risk of getting infected with Ebola. According to the World Health Organization, a total of 443 health-care workers are known to have been infected and 244 have died.[1] Ebola infections among healthcare workers can have devastating effects on health systems, including closure of hospitals, depletion of the much needed healthcare workforce and distrust in the health system.
More information can be found on www.icn.ch/news/ebola/
