NEW YORK (WCBS 880) – Nurses at Jacobi Medical Center in the Bronx held a protest Saturday morning, saying they don’t have nearly enough masks, gloves and gowns amid the coronavirus outbreak.
The nurses stood in protest six feet apart outside the entrance to Jacob’s emergency room. They said they appreciate everyone’s kind words, but what they really need is more protective gear.
“I never thought this would be my first year of nursing that I would have to be this scared to come to work every day,” a nurse, who have her name as Tony, said.
Tony said nurses are being forced to use N95 masks for an entire week. Normally the masks are thrown out after seeing each patient.
Tony said she came in on Friday, only to be told there were no masks in her size.
“That really upsets me. I was like, ‘I hope you don’t want me to go into tiny rooms to give medication,’” she said. “If I can’t do that, who’s going to do it?”
In a statement, hospital officials said the nurses have all the supplies that are needed, but at the same time, they’re conserving what they have because of a nationwide shortage.