Nurses share lessons from the 2014-15 Ebola outbreak

Now that U.S. clinicians have begun encountering patients infected with COVID-19, the experiences of nurses who responded to the 2014-15 Ebola outbreak offer lessons in preparedness and personal protection. Nurse leaders at two U.S. hospitals specially equipped to handle highly contagious and dangerous diseases attributed their ability to successfully handle Ebola patients to the use of clear protocols, frequent drills and workplace cultures fostering teamwork and nurse engagement. In all settings, clinicians should maintain their skills in standard precautions for handling infectious bodily fluids. Clear and fact-based communication is critical during any outbreak, nurse leaders emphasized. They recommended screening patients at all entry points; communicating travel histories to all team members; establishing systems of community-wide coordination; and forging ties between health systems and public health agencies. (Campaign for Action story, 2/25/20)