The Emergency Nurses Association joined other health care organizations in a statement to combat COVID-19

SCHAUMBURG, Ill. (April 14, 2020) – On Tuesday, the Emergency Nurses Association announced it has joined other health care organizations to call on the government, private sector and all Americans to help in the fight against COVID-19.

The statement, “The Fight Against COVID-19: A Call to Action for America,” is supported by ENA, American Association of Critical-Care Nurses, American Association of Respiratory Care, American Nurses Association, American Thoracic Society, Association of periOperative Registered Nurses and Society for Critical Care Medicine, and represents more than 18 million nurses, physicians, respiratory therapists and health care workers.

“If we’re going to stop the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, everyone is going to have to join the fight,” said ENA President Mike Hastings, MSN, RN, CEN. “The government, companies and each person can make a difference as front-line health care workers continue to treat patients. We request that everyone play their part in this to help those who are facing this virus every single day.”

The statement outlines three urgent priorities including:

• The need for personal protective equipment. The critical shortage of personal protective equipment is putting the health care workforce, patients and other Americans at risk.
• The need for lifesaving equipment, medications and supplies. The deficit of lifesaving equipment, medications and supplies will be paid in American lives lost.
• The need to stop the spread. As citizens, it is our moral obligation to act now by staying at home to save lives.

“ENA, and our partners in this statement, are calling for more personal protective equipment as well as the necessary lifesaving equipment that is needed. Health care workers are putting their own health at risk to ensure our communities are safe, but we need more support,” said Hastings.

The full statement is available here.