JEFFERSON COUNTY, Texas — Jefferson County Judge Jeff Branick is calling on area nurses who are not currently working full time to help during the coronavirus pandemic.
Branick posted on Facebook Saturday that he is looking for nurses to help in the Southeast Texas call screening center or "at our drive through testing site". Branick did not say when or where a drive-thru testing site would be opening in Southeast Texas.
Volunteers can call the Jefferson County Emergency Operations Center at (409) 835-8757.
The screening center hotline experienced problems on Friday, its first day being operational for residents to call for questions about testing.
Branick told 12News that the call center only had three nurses answering questions. Some of the nurses who were assigned to the call center said there is a question during the screening process that they did not feel qualified to answer based on their nurses license.
Branick wouldn't elaborate on what that question ways.
Branick says county lawyers are working with the state licensing board for nurses to resolve the issue.
The combined health hotline created for Jefferson, Orange, Hardin, Jasper and Newton Counties went live at 8 a.m. Friday. The call center took more than 80 calls on Friday with most coming from Jefferson County.
If you or anyone you know is experiencing fever, cough, and shortness of breath, or if you feel you may have been exposed to coronavirus, officials recommend calling the medical screening hotline number (409) 550-2536.
Gov. Greg Abbott has waived several regulations to help meet Texas’ growing need for nurses as the state responds to the COVID-19 virus. The governor’s actions will expand Texas’ active nursing workforce by doing the following:
- Allowing temporary permit extensions to practice for graduate nurses and graduate vocational nurses who have yet to take the licensing exam.
- Allowing students in their final year of nursing school to meet their clinical objectives by exceeding the 50 percent limit on simulated experiences.
- Allowing nurses with inactive licenses or retired nurses to reactivate their licenses.
"In the coming weeks and months, Texas will continue to see a growing need for medical professionals to help us respond to these unique and challenging times," said Governor Abbott. "With these actions, Texas is taking an important step to meet that need. Nurses are essential to our ability to test for this virus, provide care for COVID-19 patients, and to continue providing other essential health care services. Suspending these regulations will allow us to bring additional skilled nurses into the workforce to assist with our efforts and enhance our COVID-19 response."
Human coronaviruses are usually spread through...
- The air by coughing or sneezing
- Close personal contact, such as touching or shaking hands
- Touching an object or surface with the virus on it, then touching your mouth, nose or eyes before washing your hands.
Help stop the spread of coronavirus
- Stay home when you are sick.
- Eat and sleep separately from your family members
- Use different utensils and dishes
- Cover your cough or sneeze with your arm, not your hand.
- If you use a tissue, throw it in the trash
Lower your risk
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.
- If you are 60 or over and have an underlying health condition such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes or respiratory illnesses like asthma or COPD, the World Health Organization advises you to try to avoid crowds or places where you might interact with people who are sick.