Supplemental Digital Content #2
Examples of Comments for Primary Themes with Fewer than 150 Comments
Theme
Nurses Should
Comment

As a grandmother who babysits my infant and toddler grandchildren, I am very
be Able to Opt
concerned about bringing home the virus/illness with me. I am also undergoing
Out of EVD
immunotherapy (desensitization therapy).
Patient Care to

In the same way that I believe the nurse has the right to not assist with abortions, they
Ensure Best
have the right to choose not to care for an Ebola patient.... I'll care for a patient, you
Patient Care;
give me the right tools to protect myself, my family and the other patients you expect me
Nurses Who
to provide care for…..
Volunteer

A nurse should not be forced to put her/his life on the line to care for EVD patients.
Should Care for

Sensitive subject with nurses, especially those with kids. Have heard many say if they
EVD Patients
are forced to take care of Ebola patient they will quit if needed.

Our hospital administration basically have told us that we cannot refuse to take care of
such a patient, even if we feel uncomfortable. It has the potential to become a safety
issue when you force a nurse to attempt to provide care when he/she feels incapable of
doing so. Mistakes will be made!

I agree that nurses uncomfortable with caring for PUI and EVD patients should be
allowed to opt out of taking care of these patients simple because of the fear factor.
They will not give good quality care to a patient they are afraid to touch, even in
appropriate protective equipment. Having a reluctant nurse in this situation puts the
nurse, the patient, and others at risk.
Health Care

Places like Emory have guidelines that seem better than CDC.
Institutions are

Great webinars from Johns Hopkins for donning and doffing PPE.
doing their Best

After the Dallas event, my hospital developed a very good program, with workers who
volunteered to care for these patients, dedicated supplies, and guidelines. …There was
initially some concern about being forced to care for an EVD patient, but volunteers
stepped forward.
Nurses as

Professionals
Cannot Opt Out
Nurses are to care for all patients, as per nursing code of ethics. (And are responsible
for own education).

I took an oath to care for the sick and I will keep it. I do fully expect to be provided by
of EVD Patient
my facility, with the proper equipment, staffing and protective suits to do my job to the
Care
best of my ability…..

… if a nurse declines to take care of a patient with any disease, it is time for that nurse
to retire from the Profession of Nursing.

You will see the best of nursing and the worst. We will be on the frontline and that is
never pretty.

I was there at the beginning of the AIDS epidemic when hysteria reigned in the
workplace. …. Nursing is not a risk-free profession.

….choose employers who are invested in workplace safety and partner to create
policies that protect all.
Lack of Science

Guiding
Evidence Based
We need tested and proven effective strategies. Nurses need confidence in their
protective gear and in their facility leadership or they will choose other lines of work.

Care
Clearly good science and evidenced medicine will provide the best course of action to
address EVD, not hysteria and unnecessary panic.

…Fearbola is taking over the nation and hopefully soon, people will get a grasp of
what Ebola really is.

…EVD has the highest mortality rate and is not well understood even by the experts.
This makes caring for the EVD patient highly controversial at the bedside nursing
level.
Nursing Stress

The EVD has added another layer of caregiver fatigue to a workforce that is already
overworked and grossly underpaid.

Contracting it/spreading it, unable to adequately care for these pts.
Concern with

Many people say they will quit. Too much of a risk.

… I am anxious to see if nursing school enrollments fall off in the next year.

This is a good practice run for potentials in biologic warfare or genetic mutations of
Other Emerging
Diseases
illnesses.

The whole country is crazy about Ebola when we should be a lot more concerned about
the flu, SARS.

Better screenings still need to take place, hospitals need to be made more vigilant
against all infectious illnesses.

This is just the beginning of new emerging diseases. Utilize your Public Health Nurse
Force!” “We need a new practice specialty of nursing for emerging diseases and
biohazard etc...They need special education, training and preparedness and surely
should be compensated with hazard pay.