Hospitals in Nine States Jeopardize Patient Safety With Lack of H1N1 Readiness

Unfortunately, CNA officials say, hospital administrators are doing little to fortify their preparedness.

For example, one registered nurse in Chicago, Brenda Langford, says hospital managers have been presented with copies of the survey findings, but "have not moved to change our practice to be in compliance" with CDC recommendations.

"If the Cook County Health and Hospital System won't make these needed changes and the Cook County Department of Public Health won't support our efforts to protect nurses and the public, it is left up to the NNOC to make sure these needed protections are implemented," says Langford.

Survey respondents at the 190 hospitals reported that in general, nurses have not been properly fitted for masks and have not been given adequate training on how to identify infected patients and procedures for caring for them.

At 65% of the facilities, nurses have not been guaranteed adequate sick leave if they become ill while caring for a patient, which would result in a penalty for staying home while they were potentially infectious.

The CNA/NNOC says it represents 86,000 registered nurses in 50 states.