Question

How can nurses incorporate disaster preparedness into their future nursing careers?

Answer 1

The term “disaster” denotes a low-probability but high-impact event that causes a large number of individuals to become ill or injured.  Disasters are defined by an event or situation that overwhelms the capacity of a community to respond due to the magnitude of loss such as economic, environmental, loss of life, property, or infrastructure.

Disasters can be natural, such as earthquakes, floods, and disease outbreaks; or they can be man-made, such as transportation incidents, terrorist bombings, and biological or chemical attacks Each type of threat presents different challenges to the nurses and healthcare fascility.

Disaster preparedness can help the nurse in future career in following ways

• Being a disaster trained nurse, each moment should be prepared to meet a disaster challenge. The type of disaster and the severity will define the response level to the events.
• Knowing the cause, type and location of the disaster will help determine the appropriate response and managing disaster.
• Participating disaster management drill helps to handle real situations effectively.
• Education in disaster management Life-saving skills such as CPR, first aid, and Advanced Trauma Life Support are critical classes for emergency nurses helps to gain confidence and manage situations rapidly.
• Triage training in disaster management helps to identify the client situation (resuscitation, emergent, urgent ,less urgent or non urgent) helps to provide care as per priority.
• Familiarity with facility disaster plan helps to act quickly.
• Clear knowledge about the type of disaster and approximate number of casuality involved; helps to prepare emergency equipment, emergency response team and use proper personnel protective equipment.
• Knowledge of personal protective equipment gloves, gowns, masks ect helps to avoid infection for us and others.
• Teamwork is crucial to meet the needs of those involved in a disaster incident.
• Communication is a top priority. Learning proper communication skill and technique by sending a clear, direct message and listening to the response is a process that can save lives, including your own in a real situation. It helps to work as a part of team to deliver high quality care in future situations.
• Helps to call in emergency numbers or activate emergency response system.
• Life-saving training such as CPR,ACLS, ITLS or other advanced training for critical helps to use in care of injured patient.
• Disaster management training helps to master in leadership. At the time of disaster helps to know the exact role and swith according to the situations as leader or others.
• Always will be prepared to give emotional support to patients who may not be able to process what has happened.
• Disaster preparedness helps to deliver quality of care rapidly by avoiding panic situations, doubt, etc