1. Identify a local, national, or global crisis that has occurred in the past 10 years.
2. What are key strategies to address your specified crisis (search and reference disaster management strategies used by WHO, CDC, State Department of Health, and/or Public Health Emergency Preparedness Agency (national, state, or local community).
3. For your specified crisis, describe applicable health and safety hazards of disasters and public health emergencies.
4. Emergency preparedness brings up rights of the individual versus the good of all (ethics/social justice). Identify and discuss an issue from the course resources that illustrate this potential conflict related to your specified crisis.
5. As nurses you will be on the front line in emergency preparedness. Describe moral/ethical issues that may arise for you personally/professionally related to responding to crises? Refer to course content.
The COVID-19 pandemic is a global crisis that has occurred in the past 10 years. It is caused by a novel coronavirus that was first identified in Wuhan, China in December 2019. The virus has spread rapidly around the world, infecting millions of people and causing hundreds of thousands of deaths.
The COVID-19 pandemic has had a devastating impact on the global economy and society. It has led to widespread business closures, job losses, and travel restrictions. The pandemic has also put a strain on healthcare systems around the world.
Key strategies to address the COVID-19 pandemic:
The following are some key strategies to address the COVID-19 pandemic:
Health and safety hazards of disasters and public health emergencies:
The following are some of the health and safety hazards of disasters and public health emergencies:
Ethical/social justice issues related to emergency preparedness:
One ethical/social justice issue related to emergency preparedness is the potential conflict between the rights of the individual and the good of all. For example, during a pandemic, public health officials may order businesses to close and people to stay at home. These measures may infringe on individual rights, such as the right to work and the right to freedom of movement. However, public health officials argue that these measures are necessary to protect the health and safety of the public.
Another ethical/social justice issue related to emergency preparedness is the disproportionate impact of disasters and public health emergencies on marginalized populations. For example, people who are poor, homeless, or undocumented are more likely to be affected by these events. This is because they may have less access to resources and support.
Moral/ethical issues for nurses responding to crises:
Nurses who respond to crises face a number of moral/ethical issues. For example, nurses may have to make difficult decisions about who to treat first, especially if resources are limited. Nurses may also have to deal with patients who are dying or who have serious injuries.
Another moral/ethical issue for nurses responding to crises is the potential for exposure to infectious diseases and other hazards. Nurses may also have to work long hours under stressful conditions.
Course content related to ethical/social justice issues in emergency preparedness:
The following course content is related to ethical/social justice issues in emergency preparedness:
Conclusion
The COVID-19 pandemic is a global crisis that has had a devastating impact on the economy and society. There are a number of key strategies to address the pandemic, including public health measures, testing and tracing, and vaccination. Disasters and public health emergencies can pose a number of health and safety hazards, such as infectious diseases, injuries, and mental health problems. One ethical/social justice issue related to emergency preparedness is the potential conflict between the rights of the individual and the good of all. Another ethical/social justice issue is the disproportionate impact of disasters and public health emergencies on marginalized populations. Nurses who respond to crises face a number of moral/ethical issues, such as making difficult decisions about who to treat first and dealing with patients who are dying or seriously injured. Nurses may also be exposed to infectious diseases and other hazards, and they may have to work long hours under stressful conditions.