I still contend that there are loads of portable home ventilators sitting on shelves in nearly every community in the US that are probably not in that 100,000 figure. But I would have to agree- there aren't 750,000 of anything sitting out there if that is the number we're working with.

Regardless, for planning purposes, when the supplies run out, you would hope the call would go out for home vents, Bipap's, and any other device that has been used for this purpose however arcane and untested. That was my reason for including my thoughts on the alternatives. Same with bagging- it was, I recall, 4 people over 12 hours, and yes, very difficult. But the patient lived, and none of the four were of any medical discipline, all family members.

I may be wrong, but I would also submit that home care nursing is a different critter, and just like you wouldn't send a med surg nurse to a psych ward, you wouldn't send a home care or nursing home nurse to a hospital, or an acute care nurse to the home. Different skill sets and training. Another reason why the lesser disciplines have continually taken on a larger role in all settings, besides insurer mandates and the obvious shortage. But I may be splitting hairs here.

When nurses complete their CEU's to maintain their licenses, I think it's safe to say that they would probably lean towards continuing education specific to their discipline? So perhaps they should be encouraged to take CEU's specific to these scenarios?

That's not to say they wouldn't answer the call if asked, just wonder if there would be the bang for the buck, so to speak. Certainly anyone with training would be better than nothing at all. However, they have a patient load that would now be without licensed caregivers if they all reported to acute care.

In a large percentage of home care cases, there are family members that are the primary caregivers, because our insurance industry doesn't pay for around the clock care, so I am of the mindset that there are more lay caregivers out there than ever before. Especially since people are living longer.

Yikes, 750,000- it's staggering, eh? My original post seems kinda naive in retrospect.