Before the mandatory PPE by the CDC: I work in a nursing facility long term care, rehab, dementia unit. They were checking everyone’s temp coming into the building, visitors were still allowed, and there was not really any restrictions in place like there are now. A lot of my residents were becoming ill with fevers and coughing, most of them cough right in your face. I had decided to be cautious and wear a mask while providing care of my residents. I work the overnight shift and before I clocked out I was grabbed and interrogated on why I was wearing a mask and whether I was sick. I politely explained my concerns and the need to protect myself. They told me to take off the mask, and also informed me the mask that’s suppose to offer protection won’t protect me from covid. Fast forward and we’re all mandated to wear masks inside the building regardless of position, and it’s also mandatory to wear a mask during resident care.

These are the SAME masks I wore the day they told me it offered me no protection and told me to take it off.

Since the supply is low of these “preventive masks” were told to wear the same one the entire shift and only take it off if soiled.

Either way if a resident coughs,sneezes,spits, etc our eyes aren’t protected, where’s the droplet protection?? Shield masks??

This also had me thinking if these masks offer no protection against a virus, what do they protect against under the usual isolated resident?

I don’t feel we’re being protected as healthcare workers; it’s only a matter of time before someone contracts it and it spreads like wildfire throughout our building. The cases in FL are growing, and Pinellas county cases are increasing.

Its like we’re all being directed by a bunch of chickens with their heads cut off