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Role of Nurses Is Emergency Preparedness
Role of Nurses Is Emergency Preparedness
well educated to respond to the physical, mental, Nurses serve a vital role in maximizing the health
nutritional, and other health care needs of women and health care experiences of pregnant women,
and infants during disasters. Nurses should also new mothers, and infants. This role extends to
make a plan for themselves and their families in addressing the needs of women and infants in
the event of an emergency. disasters. Nurses are well situated to reassure
women and their families that healthy babies have
been delivered in disaster situations (Badakhsh,
Background Harville, & Banerjee, 2010).
“All hazards preparedness” is a term that came
to be used following Hurricane Katrina in 2005. It Nurses often facilitate communication and coor-
suggests the need to have a deliberate plan for re- dinate care among members of the health care
sponding to a variety of types of emergencies and team, patients, and their families during a disas-
disasters (natural, accidental, or deliberate). Multi- ter. Clear communication is an essential element
ple bodies, including state and local governments, of disaster planning and response. This includes
health care facilities, and businesses have devel- formal and informal communication (verbal and
oped plans for potential crises. The process of written) and electronic and paper documentation.
planning is a continuous cycle that involves plan-
ning, organizing, equipping, training, exercising, Nurses and other health care providers should
evaluating, and making plan revisions (Federal collaborate with officials involved at all levels of
Emergency Management Agency [FEMA], 2010). disaster preparedness. They should also work to
educate women and families about how to plan for
Despite the ongoing work of many institutions and stay safe during disasters. Figure 1 summa-
to develop all hazards plans, considerations for rizes considerations for pregnant and postpartum
pregnant and postpartum women and infants are women and officials at all stages of disaster plan-
often not addressed or given minimal, separate at- ning and response.
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Figure 1. Critical considerations for pregnant and postpartum women and officials during disasters.
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The Role of the Nurse in Emergency Preparedness
r sofDisasterResponse/AdaptingStandardsofCare.aspx
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Issues with special implications in disasters Badakhsh, R., Harville, E., & Banerjee, B. (2010). The childbearing ex-
(e.g., infectious disease and violence against perience during a natural disaster. Journal of Obstetric, Gyne-
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women in shelters),
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cologic, & Neonatal Nursing, 39, 489–497. doi:10.1111/j.1552-
Triage and appropriate care of perina- 6909.2010.01160.x
tal/neonatal populations in disasters, Hamilton, B. E., Sutton, P. D., Mathews, T. J., Martin, J. A., & Ventura, S.
r Altered basic life sustaining requirements for J. (2009). The effect of Hurricane Katrina: Births in the U.S. gulf
coast region, before and after the storm. National Vital Statistics
the pregnant woman and her fetus (e.g., ad-
Reports, 58(2), 1–29. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/
equate rest/sleep, clean water, hygiene, nu- data/nvsr/nvsr58/nvsr58_02.pdf
trition, and safe bathroom facilities),
r The psychological burden for women and
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Vital Statistics
System. (2011). Birth data. Atlanta, GA: Author. Retrieved from
children in disasters, especially issues re- http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/births.htm
lated to separation from their significant oth- Federal Emergency Management Agency. (2010). Preparedness.
Washington, DC: Author. Retrieved from http://www.fema.gov/
ers,
r Long-term mental health needs,
prepared/index.shtm
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