Registered Nurses Announce Live Video Chat to Discuss Survey Data Finding Hospitals Unprepared for H1N1

WASHINGTON - Registered nurses from the California Nurses
Association/National Nurses Organizing Committee will host a
live video chat for America's RNs this Friday at 12 noon to
present the results of a new survey on H1N1/swine flu
preparedness in American hospitals, and answer questions from
nurses.  The RNs will also discuss their "careplan" to
ensure that our nation handles the H1N1 virus in a medically
appropriate manner.

WHAT: Registered Nurse Live Chat: Data on
Hospital Preparedness for H1N1

WHEN: Friday, August 28 - 12 Noon,
PST

WHERE: Log-in via www.CalNurses.org

The study, conducted at 190 healthcare facilities in nine
states found that a disturbing number of our nation's healthcare
facilities are not prepared for the coming H1N1/swine flu
pandemic, according to results released today by the California
Nurses Association/National Nurses Organizing Committee. 

Key findings of the study included:

• At more than one-fourth of the hospitals, nurses cite
  inadequate isolation of swine flu patients, increasing the risk
  of infection to others.
• Nurses at 15 percent of hospitals do not have access to the
  proper respirator masks, exposing nurses and patients to
  infection; at up to 40 percent of the hospitals, nurses are
  expected to reuse masks, in violation of Centers for Disease
  Control guidelines.
• At 18 percent of the hospitals, RNs report that nurses have
  become infected; one Sacramento, Calif. RN has already
  died.