Professional nurse’s role in emergency management
There are 2 parts to this assignment. In Part 1, you will explore the professional nurse’s role in emergency management, and you will evaluate the community’s level of preparedness by interviewing first responders. In Part 2, you will assess individuals’ level of preparedness for emergency situations in your chosen family or agency; you will teach individuals, families, and/or community members how to prepare for a variety of disasters common to your community; and you will help individuals and families put together an emergency go bag in the event they need to evacuate in an emergency. A go bag typically includes useful items for an emergency, such as drinking water and non-perishable foods, personal hygiene items, flashlight and extra batteries, and a first aid kit.
Part 1: The Professional Nurse’s Role in Disaster Response (Indirect Care Hours)
Healthcare workers play a significant part in disaster planning and emergency preparedness.
Analyze disaster response and emergency preparedness in the community by:
o Researching the local community emergency management plan
o Interviewing one or more first responders about whether they think the community is prepared for a disaster and why
Based on your research and interview(s), identify nursing roles and responsibilities and consider the interprofessional roles (e.g., first responders, local hospitals, county public health departments) during each phase of emergency management.
The phases of emergency management are:
o Prevention
o Preparedness and Planning
o Response
o Recovery
Create a teaching tool for the community in which you describe:
o How to plan an emergency kit or go bag
o How to practice your evacuation plan
o How members of a family or household should communicate with each other
o How to respond to natural disasters, such as a fire, flood, or earthquake
o How to respond in a mass casualty situation, such as a major car accident or active shooter incident
Summarize your findings in a 10- to 12-slide PowerPoint presentation with speaker notes in which you:
o Describe nurses’ roles in each phase of the community disaster plan.
o Describe how nurses collaborate with other professionals during each phase of the community disaster plan.
o Provide responses to your interview(s) with one or more first responders about whether they think the community is prepared for a disaster and why.
Sample Solution
Nurses, the largest group of healthcare professionals, are usually at the forefront of disasters. The multifaceted work of disaster nursing requires the intervention of skilled nursing professionals at several different stages: nurses are often needed at the initial rescue and in the immediate aftermath, providing expedient diagnoses and administering first aid to injured survivors; survivors facing more extreme injuries may need to be monitored closely for extended periods of time. Nurses may be needed in hospitals or shelters to ensure these patients receive ongoing care; finally, nurses play an important role in restoring a sense of normalcy, not just to individuals but to communities as a whole. This might mean helping to ensure that normal hospital and clinic operations can commence as quickly as possible despite damaged infrastructure.
