Health care unions, including the Registered Nurses Union, have finalized a joint statement regarding the use of Personal Protective Equipment with government and the regional health authorities.
The RNU says the statement provides clarity about the use of PPE. The parties also agree that a point-of-care risk assessment should be performed before every patient interaction to determine what PPE a health care worker will need.
You can read the join statement in its entirety here.
It means that a health care worker can determine, based on their professional and clinical judgement, whether an N95 respirator is required, and that it not be “unreasonably denied” by an employer.
The agreement includes mandatory use of an N95 respirator or approved equivalent or better in areas where airborne droplets are possible. That includes emergency rooms, operating rooms, and intensive care units.
