COVID-19 Testing Mandate

This assignment evaluates the COVID-19 Testing Mandate.

In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, state Governors took significant steps to protect residents, including the most vulnerable populations, nursing home residents. In Oklahoma, Governor Kevin Stitt issued a policy that required any “staffer” entering a nursing home to produce a negative COVID-19 test result.

Place yourself in the role of a nursing home administrator in this situation, and respond to the following:

What are the gaps in this policy?

There are a few potential gaps in this policy. One is that it does not require all staff members to be tested regularly, only those who are entering the nursing home. This means that staff members who have been inside the nursing home and may have been exposed to the virus could still spread it to residents, even if they test negative for the virus.

Another potential gap is that this policy does not require visitors to the nursing home to be tested. Visitors could potentially bring the virus into the nursing home, exposing residents and staff alike.

Finally, this policy does not address what happens if a staff member tests positive for the virus. It is possible that this person could continue working and spreading the virus, or that they would need to be quarantined and replaced, disrupting the nursing home staffing.

Does scientific evidence support this approach? Why or why not?

The scientific evidence does not fully support this approach. While it is true that testing can help to identify people who are infected with the virus, it is not a perfect solution. There are cases where people can be infected with the virus but test negative. Additionally, there is a delay between when someone is infected and when they will test positive, so someone could spread the virus before they know they have it.

Because this is mandated by the state, your facility must comply. Briefly explain how you will ensure compliance while maintaining the integrity of evidence-based practice.

The first step is to ensure that all staff members are aware of the mandate and the requirements for compliance. Staff members should be made aware of the importance of testing and the potential consequences of not complying with the mandate. They should also be given information on how to get tested and where to go if they have any questions or concerns.

Next, it is important to make sure that visitors to the nursing home are aware of the mandate as well. Visitors should be informed that they may be asked to produce a negative COVID-19 test result before being allowed into the facility. They should also be given information on how to get tested and where to go if they have any questions or concerns.

Finally, it is important to have a plan in place for what to do if a staff member tests positive for the virus. This plan should include steps for how to isolate the infected staff member and how to clean and disinfect the areas they were in. It should also include a plan for how to communicate this information to other staff members and residents.