The Washington State Nurses Association is calling on hospitals in Yakima and throughout the state to take urgent action on four key priority issues to ensure the safety of health care workers, patients and the public against Ebola.

The association's assistant director, Heather Stephens-Selby, says nurses want increased training of health care workers, adequate protection of health care workers, practice and drilling on care for a potential Ebola patient, and adoption and dissemination of CDC-recommended guidelines and protocols.

A recent survey of nurses across the state found 86 percent did not feel prepared to manage a patient with Ebola. Only 28 percent of respondents reported that their facility did have a plan in place for a potential Ebola patient.

Nearly 1,000 nurses participated in the survey, conducted Oct. 10-18. Respondents included nurses from more than 56 hospitals and numerous community settings including hospice, mental health, public health, school nurses and more.

More From News Talk KIT