Question

Utilizing Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, discuss the concerns of a public health nurse immediately following a large scale natural disaster. Discuss at least four main concerns regarding physiological needs, and two concerns each for safety, love/belonging, esteem, and self-actualization needs.

Answer 1

Ans: The concern of a public health nurse immediately following a large-scale natural disaster is that they should prepare for the women's health and neonatal nurses should be well educated to respond to the physical, mental, nutritional, and other health care needs of women and infants during disasters. Nurses should also make a plan for themselves and their families in the event of an emergency.

The main concerns are:

a) Basic or physiological needs: directly related with the existence and survival of human beings, such as: food, water, clothing, sex and hygiene;

b) Safety needs: needs related to individual protection against danger and threats, such as: health, work, insurance, social insurance and social order;

c) Needs for love and/or social: are related with life in society, covering the needs for contact, friendship, respect, love, leisure and participation, referring to the need for people’s affect, such as friends, girlfriend, wife and children;

d) Needs for esteem: related with self-satisfaction, such as: independence, appreciation, dignity, acknowledgment, subjective equality, respect and opportunities, referring to a stable self-assessment, as well as a high level of self-esteem, leading to feelings of self-confidence, value, strength, ability, sufficiency and utility for the world;