Patient Education
Nurses play an integral role in slowing the spread of COVID-19 by educating the community. Here is information you can share with your patients and their family members to help them understand how to flatten the curve.
Simple Measures Can Slow the Spread of COVID-19
Get vaccinated and boostered if you are medically eligible
Wear a facemask in areas with a high Covid-19 Community Level, or if you or a close contact are at high risk for severe illness
Wash your hands
Stay home when you feel unwell, and get tested right away if you suspect Covid-19
If you test positive, contact a health professional to determine if you may be eligible for treatment
What to do if you have COVID-19 or suspect exposure
COVID-19 is highly contagious and spreads via respiratory droplets expelled from coughs , sneezes or while talking. Droplets from coughs and sneezes can land in the nose or mouth of those in close contact with someone who is infected. These droplets also land on nearby surfaces which can spread COVID-19 to other individuals who touch an infected surface and then touch their face, eyes, nose, or mouth.
If you have a patient with COVID-19 or is suspected of having COVID-19 the CDC provides the following guidance to help prevent COVID-19 from spreading between people in homes and communities:
- Remember to test soon and treat early! If you test positive for COVID-19 and have one or more health conditions that increase your risk of becoming very sick, treatment may be available. Contact a health professional right away after a positive test to determine if you may be eligible, even if your symptoms are mild right now. Don’t delay, treatment must be started within the first few days to be effective.
- Depending on where you live, there may be a COVID-19 Test-To-Treat location near you.
- STAY HOME except to get medical care. Do not use public transportation , taxis, or ride share services if sick.
- Call first before visiting your health care provider. Notify them of your symptoms and the need for evaluation for COVID-19. Follow the instructions provided by your health care team.
- Follow the CDC Guidelines for Quarantine and Isolation if you have been exposed, suspect exposure, or are awaiting COVID-19 test results.
- Separate yourself from other people in your home. Isolate yourself to a single room; utilize a separate bathroom.
- Wear a facemask. Family members providing care should wear a facemask when in the same room, even family members who are fully vaccinated. Experts recommend you upgrade your mask to a high filtration respirator if you want optimal protection.
- Use your elbow to cover your coughs and sneezes or cough and sneeze in a tissue and dispose in a lined trash can. Wash your hands with soap and water afterwards.
- Wash your hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
- Avoid sharing household items such as eating utensils, clean sheets with hot water and detergent.
- Surfaces within the home must be disinfected frequently.
- Monitor your symptoms, follow instructions for when to seek emergency medical care if warranted.
- Once recovered, get vaccinated if medically eligible.
What to do if you are not sick with COVID-19, but need to see your medical provider
- Utilize your clinician’s telemedicine/ telehealth services if available.
- Call ahead on the day of your appointment for instructions prior to arrival.
- Wear a mask covering the nose and mouth. Experts recommend you upgrade your mask to a high filtration respirator if you want optimal protection.
- Do not touch your face, eyes, nose, or mouth.
- Practice physical distancing while waiting or standing in common areas.
- Bring your own pen to utilize to complete paperwork.
- Wash your hands after leaving the office. Use hand sanitizer if there is not access to a sink. Wash your hands with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds upon returning home.
What to do if you suspect you may have Long-COVID-19, or Post-Acute Sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC)
Post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC), commonly referred to as Long COVID, is a condition marked by persistent COVID-19 symptoms (or the onset of new symptoms) following recovery from acute COVID-19. It may appear as new, continuing, or recurring respiratory, neurological, psychological, and cardiac problems occurring four or more weeks after an initial infection. PASC can affect anyone, even those who had asymptomatic or mild COVID-19 infection. If you suspect you have PASC, or Long-COVID:
- Contact your healthcare provider for an evaluation.
- Discover helpful tips from the CDC on Caring for People with Post-COVID Conditions.
- Find more information on the CDC webpage on Long COVID or Post-COVID Conditions.
- Participate in research through NIH RECOVER: Researching COVID to Enhance Recovery.
- See the answers to other questions about Long-COVID in the ANA FAQs.
- Remember, the best way to prevent PASC, or Long-COVID is to avoid a COVID infection.
Information for the general public
- Get vaccinated, and get a booster. If you haven’t been vaccinated yet, find a site here.
- STAY AT HOME if you are unwell or sick. Remember to test soon and treat early! If you test positive for COVID-19 and have one or more health conditions that increase your risk of becoming very sick, treatment may be available.
- Depending on where you live, there may be a COVID-19 Test-To-Treat location near you.
- Contact a health professional right away after a positive test to determine if you may be eligible, even if your symptoms are mild right now. Don’t delay, treatment must be started within the first few days to be effective.
- When making decisions about prevention strategies and behaviors, you should consider the COVID-19 Community Level in the county where you live, work, or visit, and make decisions based on whether you, or a close contact are at high risk for severe disease.
- If you are wearing a mask, experts recommend you upgrade your mask to a high filtration respirator if you want optimal protection.
- Help prevent infection by not touching your face, eyes, nose, or mouth.
- Frequently wash your hands. If away from home, use a hand sanitizer. Upon returning home, wash your hands for at least 20 seconds with warm water and soap. Always wash your hands before eating and after using the restroom.
- Learn more about vaccination and the answers to frequently asked questions about COVID-19 vaccines here.
- See also: Your COVID-19 Toolkit – find information on masks, treatments, vaccines, and testing in your community.