Nurses Revolt Over Ebola Precautions

Nurses across the nation are in revolt, calling on President Obama to take action on proper protocols for protecting health care workers from Ebola. INSIDE EDITION reports from Dallas.

Nurses are in revolt over lax safety precautions in the war on Ebola.

Now, a nurse at Texas Presbyterian Hospital, where the first Ebola patient was treated, is speaking out about what she says were, "Woefully inadequate procedures in preventing the spread of the Ebola virus."

Nurse Briana Aguirre said, "I just don't think that any facility in this country is prepared for that, at this time."

Briana Aguirre, says she worked with fellow nurse Nina Pham who was stricken with Ebola, along with nurse Amber Vincent.  She was so upset she decided to go on national TV to tell Matt Lauer of the Today Show that her neck was left exposed by the protective gear she was given to wear.

"It didn't fit. I just couldn't believe it, you know. And the second week of the Ebola crisis at my hospital, the only gear they were offering us at that time, and up until that time, is gear that is allowing our necks to be uncovered.” she said.

Now the nation's largest nurses union is asking Obama to, "Mandate national standards and protocols that all hospitals must follow."

Dr. Travis Stork, host of the TV show The Doctors told INSIDE EDITION, "Nurses are front line. Nurses are the first ones there. You can understand why nurses are scared, two of their peers have caught Ebola. And I can understand why they are afraid to go to work and I think they do need to start becoming more proactive, like hopefully they are. So I get exactly where the nurses are at."

Hear More From Dr. Stork

Deborah Burger, co-president of National Nurses United told INSIDE EDITION, "Nurses are in grave risk of being exposed to Ebola because they do not have the proper education, training, and supplies to protect themselves and provide safe care to their patients."

The uproar over the government's handling of the Ebola crisis is mushrooming.

Bill O'Reilly said, "Now, the federal government looks stupid. It underreacted to the Ebola threat. It still isn't imposing a travel band from West Africa."

Guidelines on dealing with Ebola patients have now been beefed up.

The protective gear the CDC initially recommended was; a simple gown, gloves, facemask, and goggles. It's a Level 1 suit.

Now, they suggest going to Level 2 with a hood covering the neck, two layers of gloves, and fluid-resistant booties.

Some hospitals are now going to Level 3. Bio Recovery Corp., which specializes in hazadarous materials cleanup, showed us the suits. The gear looks more like a space suit than a nurse would wear. The hood is sealed, the seams are taped up, and the nurse wears a respirator to filter air. The material cannot rip.