I have been appalled to read the recent statements in the media from various 'medical professionals' blaming poor nursing practices for the transmission of ebola. I have read articles siting nursing breaches or lack of nursing education as the reason for the recent ebola transmission to nurses in both Spain and the United States of America. have previously worked as a Registered Nurse in a tertiary hospital. I have nursed sick patients and adhered to Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) equipment protocols. PPE protocols are not faultless. It is known that they fail. It is common that Hospitals can not contain outbreaks of Rotavirus and Norovirus (both viral diarrhoeal infections) with PPE. Nurses working with patients with ebola are (often for altruistic reasons) placing themselves in a position of risk so that the general public can benefit from good health and treatment when they are sick. Nurses deserve our thanks and they deserve our support and respect when they fall ill. I challenge the next 'health professional' who publicly shames a nurse's practice to don PPE and nurse an infected ebola patient with explosive diarrhoea. Stop blaming nurses. Start asking- What can we do to support our nurses? How can we improve our protocols and systems?
