happens if i come in today wearing a mask and they said its possible termination if i do that the nurse said dr patricia stone a columbia school of nursing professor who researches infection prevention and control in nursing homes said the vulnerabilities facing nursing care aides is just as real as with first responders emergency room doctors and hospital nurses in part she said that is because the work involves close contact with residents more as health officials feared coronavirus outbreak invading nursing homes all of health care is physical it really is its intimate stone said one challenge voiced by several nursing home employees who spoke with abc news was the fear that getting sick would take not only a physical toll but also a financial one a view of the pleasant view nursing home march 30 2020 in mount airy md over the weekend maryland gov larry hogan announced that at least 66 people hav show more drew angerergetty images gretchen gordon a qualified medication administrator at applewood place assisted living in colorado said when she had a cough last month her supervisor told her to take an entire week off of work she understood the reasoning but that did not make it any easier now all the bills are coming up due because its going to be the first and its rough she said it was really really hard nursing home companies interviewed by abc news have acknowledged struggling to maintain supplies a widespread issue confronting health care facilities nationwide at the seiu labor union event in california on wednesday industry officials workers labor leaders and state politicians asked for federal agencies to do more to protect those in nursing facilities our residents constitute the most atrisk group with regard to this outbreak in most cases they are elderly and suffering from preexisting conditions many of which are respiratory in nature said crystal solorzano ceo of renew health group we need to know our employees and residents are being kept safe and that is not the case right now what to know about coronavirus how it started and how to protect yourself coronavirus explained what to do if you have symptoms coronavirus symptoms tracking the spread in the us and worldwide coronavirus map