Working at the CDC (Center for Disease Control) This is a personal story told by Susan, a retired nurse. Early in my nursing career, I accepted a job working at the CDC. The CDC is a very interesting place to work, but it can also be somewhat intimidating. If you go to the wrong area, you could be in extreme danger and end up being isolated, which I actually did see happen to someone. My job was to monitor the health of employees, which included everyone from scientists to custodial staff. Everyone that is employed at the CDC has to be alert at all times. In the event of a contamination spill, everyone is immediately put in lockdown, and it does happen. Related: All About the Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) Accidental Contamination During my time at the CDC, I primarily worked in one of three examination rooms. One day while working and performing an exam on a patient, the alarms sounded, indicating a lockdown. When this happens, all doors shut and lock automatically; including the office I was in. In this particular case, a worker that was suited up and working with the Ebola virus, accidentally walked out of his controlled area, and went in an elevator, and to the main lobby. The small vial he carried was in his hand with a pen, and he picked it up with the pen by mistake. The CDC has a very large main building; however that one small vial could evaporate and travel through the ventilation system, posing a danger to everyone. So, all rooms are locked, and ventilation temporarily shut down. On this particular day I was in an exam with a scientist from Germany, and she did not speak one word of English. Her interpreter had just stepped out of the exam room to take a call, so it was myself and the scientist locked in this exam room for 7 hours. Needless to say, I do now know some German, and she learned some English during that very long time span in an 8x8 room. All turned out ok on this occasion, the vial had not leaked at all, and the all clear was given 7 hours after the initial lockdown. The Design of the CDC At the time I worked for the CDC, there were 4 floors dedicated to the study of diseases. Interestingly, at that time most people feared the AIDS virus to a point of pulling their children from schools where an AIDS infected child attended. Each floor was considered a level, which pertained to the diseases themselves. Level 4 was the most dangerous/serious level, which is where Ebola was being studied. The AIDS virus that so many people feared was actually on the lower level 2nd floor. This was due to the level of contagion.
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