COVID-19
Updates
NAHN Calls for More Federal Action to Keep Nurses and Hispanic Communities Safe in the Face of the Coronavirus Pandemic
In response to the Coronavirus Pandemic the National Association of Hispanic Nurses (NAHN) is calling on the federal government to protect nurses by increasing the production and distribution of personal protective gear, to develop a more robust Spanish-language public awareness campaign on the virus, and immediately approve an increase in funding to ensure that ICE detention facilities, already lagging in providing basic care, can improve and carry out necessary healthcare measures.
NAHN urges greater federal intervention to assist state and local governments in their efforts to supply health care systems with personal protective equipment, ventilators, hospital beds and other critical necessities. Every available corner of the federal executive department from the Department of Defense to the Department of Homeland Security should make respirator masks and other personal protective gear available to support nurses and other healthcare workers. In addition to deploying government resources, more urgent action is required on behalf of the administration to alleviate manufacturer supply chain challenges. There needs to be urgent relief on the face-to-face visits with a faster path to telehealth options. In what is rapidly becoming a fragile health care ecosystem, if nurses and other healthcare workers are not protected the entire public health system is jeopardized.
Read more here.
Read in Spanish here.
NAHN Focuses on Facts in Response to Covid-19
NAHN recommends that members of the public continue to practice good hand hygiene and follow CDC recommendations on everyday preventative actions. Concern, and even fear, are normal reactions among the public. That worry can be managed with accurate information. NAHN urges members of the public to stay safe, smart, and informed. The World Health Organization (WHO) has recently launched a social media campaign called “Be Ready for Covid-19” that provides advice on how to protect ourselves and others.
NAHN supports the practice of training healthcare professionals in early identification and notification. Nurses must receive the highest level of protection to provide care for the individuals and communities in which they serve. Aggressive preparedness plans along with control processes will help prevent spread within a facility. NAHN applauds the nurses and healthcare professionals around the world that continue to provide careful and compassionate care, especially for vulnerable populations.
Go here to read and download the entire statement from NAHN.