Nurses: Personal protective equipment for health care workers lacking despite a positive case of coronavirus in the nursing home

HORNELL — As two Steuben County nursing homes cope with confirmed cases of the coronavirus, employees at one of the facilities have raised concerns the administration is not correctly handling the situation, and one nurse says she was terminated after speaking out.

Steuben health officials confirmed there are positive cases of COVID-19 in Hornell Gardens and the Fred & Harriett Taylor Health Center.

"The facilities are aware and are taking precautions to limit spread and exposure risks," Steuben County Public Health Director Darlene Smith said.

Hornell Gardens offers both long-term care and short-term rehabilitation services, and is operated by Rochester-based Hurlbut Care Communities. The Fred and Harriett Taylor Health Center has 120 beds, and is located in the Ira Davenport Memorial Hospital in Bath and operated by Arnot Health.

Colleen Cole, a licensed practical nurse at Hornell Gardens, says administration has not provided personal protective equipment to its health care workers despite a positive case of the coronavirus in the nursing home.

Michelle Leach, also a nurse at Hornell Gardens, said she was told by the facility's nursing director not to return to work after she said she refused to share PPE with other staff.

Cole said she aided a positive COVID-19 patient Sunday morning as he coughed and gasped to breathe by giving him a nebulizer treatment, which spreads droplets into the air.

"It was a needed treatment to get medicine into his lungs," she said.

She said she learned Sunday night the patient had tested positive for COVID-19 and knew she was at risk because her only protective equipment when treating him was a pair of gloves.

"I knew his symptoms aligned to COVID-19 symptoms; however, it is my responsibility to help him and activate emergency services for him, so that he could get more specialized care in a hospital," Cole said.

Ken Roberts, with Arnot Health, said there are three COVID-19 positive patients from the Fred & Harriett Taylor Health Center, but the numbers change rapidly.

Roberts said all staff, after being screened at the entrance, put on isolation masks and face shields that they wear for the entirety of their shift. The staff’s temperatures are taken again during their shift.

"Upon the first positive case, staff called family members of all residents — the most recent census was 107 residents — to inform them that there was a positive case," Roberts said. No visitors have been allowed into the facility since March 13.

Roberts said all COVID-19 positive patients are placed in one area of the facility, and staff caring for those patients wear N95 masks and full personal protective equipment.

Hornell Gardens and Hurlbut did not respond to requests for comment about the claim of improper practices in the facility.

Nurses outline risks of exposure at Hornell Gardens

Cole said she made an announcement to Hornell Gardens administration asking for more PPE and that safe protocols be followed, but said at the end of her shift Tuesday, no changes regarding PPE were made.

Cole said masks and isolation gowns were not available when staff was interacting with patients.

"They were being locked up," she said.

She said she was denied a COVID-19 test, and because she is not exhibiting symptoms, she can still work with patients.

Cole, who is also an EMT, also said Hornell Gardens staff is not consistently monitored for temperatures at the beginning of their shifts, which would follow guidelines issued by the New York State Department of Health.

Leach, also a nurse at Hornell Gardens, said that when she reported to work Monday, employees were told they would have to share gowns and and goggles because of a shortage. She said she wrote a letter to the director of nursing stating she would refuse to share the equipment.

Leach said she was called Tuesday before her shift and said she would not wear used or contaminated supplies, and she was "offered a voluntary termination."

Cole said the PPE gowns must be removed in a way so a health care worker does not contaminate themselves. She said gowns are bunched up partially inside out on handrails outside patient doors, some dropping to the floor, ripped and soiled.

Since the positive result was confirmed, Cole said administration has "refused to assure employees have proper PPE," and "forced workers to share amongst themselves."

Cole said she is filing a complaint with the National Labor Relations Board and OSHA.