Anyone working in any medical context should be required to wear a #Mask whenever they are in the workplace.
"Until when?” you say?
Until they retire.
Just like spay painters, welders, stone kitchen fitters, medical folks need to wear their PPE whenever they are on the job.
For ever.
Brought to you by the sheer horror of watching nurses cheering at not having to wear masks around patients, as mask-mandates are lifted.
@metaning
Even painters, welders, fitters, etc., get to remove their masks when they aren't actively doing work that could harm them.
Masks worn while a communicable disease is going around?
Absolutely.
Masks worn for 12 hours a day every working day until retirement just because someone is living in fear of the possibility of an outbreak?
Be reasonable.
@ColleenLudgate I think everyone should be masked at all times while interacting with other people in enclosed spaces.
However, medical practitioners are unique in that they can require their patients to remove their masks as a part of treating them.
This isn’t rocket science. Medical settings are concentration points for sick people, and vulnerable people. Medical practitioners have an ethical obligation to do no harm to their patients. Exposing them to airborne pathogens is unethical.
@metaning Do you ever leave your house?
You are exposed everywhere - not just in a hospital.
They do mask up when a patient is at risk, and that means gloves, gown, etc., all of which is unnecessary when a patient is vital.
Broken leg? Oh, better make sure they don't catch a cold!
@ColleenLudgate I do, and I wear a mask whenever I go into a space where there are other people.
Colleen, I can see you’re just trying to pick a fight - you’re grasping for straw men about broken legs when the principle is remarkably simple; a practitioner and a patient should not be in a mutually unmasked space. Since patients’ masks are often removed for procedures, this means practitioners must remain masked.
Failing to wear a mask is unethical.
@metaning I'm not looking to pick a fight at all. I'm saying that you can't use your own fears as a means of controlling others.
Grasping for straws? You did that when you brought in the fact that painters and welders wear PPE. Completely different circumstances.
Forcing people to do anything against their will when there is no immediate need for such is also unethical.
Agree to disagree...or don't - I'm not continuing this conversation.
If you're providing care, that person is vulnerable. Full stop. Even in your broken leg example, that kids body needs to use energy to heal. Getting sick will slow and complicate the healing process and by nature healing an injury leaves you more.vulnerable to illness
The residents in my care are usually healthy. I still mask. Why? They're geriatric. They're in a position where they need care, which leaves them.more vulnerable. Getting sick.could kill them.
You're right, you can take your ppe off when there's no risk to anyone. That is common sense. So, at the desk charting alone? Knock yourself out. Taking a shit? No mask needed there. Like you said. Common sense. Maybe you should try it
@ColleenLudgate @metaning you weren't in the conversation, you were just arguing to argue.
Enjoy your fourth round of covid sweetie.
“Broken leg? Oh, better make sure they don't catch a cold!”
Perhaps you might re-read that and ask what sort of sociopath might make such a statement.
Matt Godden
Colleen
Ember? 
Darwin Woodka
mmalc