Ten nurses at Providence St. John’s Health Center remained on suspension Thursday after refusing to treat coronavirus patients without N95 respirator masks, although their union claimed victory with the hospital’s announcement it is now providing the equipment.
According to the California Nurses Association/National Nurses United, at least 15 nurses at the Santa Monica hospital refused to treat coronavirus patients unless they were given N95 masks or higher-standard equipment. Ten of those nurses were subsequently suspended, according to the union.
“We are so proud of these nurses,” Bonnie Castillo, a registered nurse and executive director of CNA/NNU, said in a statement. “Nurses understand and respect the science of infection control and that, with this virus, we must follow the precautionary principle by taking the most protective measures. This is the only way we can maintain our hospitals as centers of healing, and not vectors of disease.”
In a statement to the Associated Press, hospital officials said that as of Tuesday, it has been providing N95 to all nurses caring for patients who either have coronavirus or are awaiting test results. The hospital did not comment specifically on the suspended nurses, but noted, “It’s no secret there is a national shortage” of the N95 masks.
Providence officials announced Wednesday that the hospital system had begun a process of disinfecting N95 masks to improve its supply. Hospital officials said the disinfection system, coupled with donations of masks and recent deliveries, have helped bolster local supplies, although a national shortage continues.
The nurses’ union hailed the decision to provide the masks to those treating COVID-19 patients, although the nurses .
“It’s a victory,” Chelsea Halmy, one of the suspended nurses, said in a statement provided by the union. “They’re finally doing what they should have been doing in the first place. We are glad, but it’s upsetting that it had to come to this point and that our safety wasn’t their first priority. We still have so much more work to do.”