Local 5004 Update: The Virus of Least Resistance

The nurses at Englewood are dealing with two viruses. One virus is COVID, the other is succumbing to management’s pressure to ignore their nurse practice act which sets the scope of practice and responsibilities of nurses. It seems that nurses would rather acquiesce to the pressure put upon them by management, than uphold their professional license.

That is the virus of least resistance which has infected the nursing practice at Englewood.

Some situations that nurses have chosen:

• care for ICU patients who are being treated with ECMO. Nurses who have had no training. Their reasoning – the perfusionist runs the machine. What nurses are ignoring is the proper monitoring, and assessment of these patient which is the nurse’s responsibility and requires considerable training.
• sign a document stating they received education regarding trach care. They have not received the education, but they signed as they felt they were under duress by the supervisor.
• deliver medications, that they have not received adequate information about. Dosage, interactions with other drugs, untoward reactions, effects of the drugs on vital organs etc. Yet these nurses infuse these drugs.

If you do not possess the competency for the care you are being asked to deliver, please understand your liability under the nurse practice act.

The licensee must possess the skill and experience to treat the conditions presented and when the licensee has been appropriately trained and adequately equipped for the proper care of patients. The Board of Nursing will hold nurses to their professional and ethical responsibilities which their licenses reflect …

Therefore, we ask, do you possess the required knowledge and have you demonstrated the clinical competency required to implement care safely.

Management is spreading false information regarding the Executive Order that the NJ Governor executed during the current pandemic. Their position is that this order allows and protects nurses from functioning outside of their scope of practice. This is not true!

Below is the Board of Nursing’s policy during the COVID pandemic.

NJBON COVID-19 Policy Statement: Licensees of the New Jersey Board of Nursing have a proud history of providing compassionate and quality care to patients with all diseases and sicknesses, including infectious diseases. Licensees of the Board are expected to treat patients who are suspected of or diagnosed with Covid-19, when the licensee possesses the skill and experience to treat the conditions presented and when the license has been appropriately trained and adequately equipped for the proper care of such patients. The role of the Board is to protect the public of this State. The Board will hold nurses to their professional and ethical responsibilities and to the social contract which their licenses reflect.

STOP THE VIRUS OF LEAST RESISTANCE!

In solidarity,

Alice Barden, President