The Minnesota Board of Nursing and the Department of Health want to provide you with an update on Ebola and personal protective equipment (PPE).

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has updated their Guidance on Personal Protective Equipment To Be Used By Healthcare Workers During Management of Patients with Ebola Virus Disease in U.S. Hospitals, Including Procedures for Putting On (Donning) and Removing (Doffing) see, www.cdc.gov/vhf/ebola/hcp/procedures-for-ppe.html

Key points from the update include:

• No skin exposed while working in PPE
• Training and practicing use of the PPE by staff is critical
• Workers must be supervised by a trained monitor when donning and doffing PPE

• American Association of Critical Care Nurses Ebola virus disease resources:http://www.aacn.org/wd/volunteers/content/ebola-virus-resources.content?menu=aboutus
• American Nurses Association Ebola information and resources:http:nursingworld.org/MainMenuCategories/WorkplaceSafety/Healthy-Work-Environment/DPR/Ebola-Information.html
• American Medical Association Ebola Resource Center:http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/physician-resources/public-health/ebola-resource-center.page
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Fact sheet:http://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2014/fs1014-ebola-investigation-fact-sheet.html
• World Health Organization: http://www.WHO.int/en/