BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN NURSING:

NCMO 410: DISASTER NURSING

COURSE MODULE COURSE UNIT WEEK
1 1 1
INTRODUCTION TO DISASTER NURSING

 Read course and unit objectives

 Read study guide prior to class attendance
 Read required learning resources; refer to unit
terminologies for jargons
 Proactively participate in classroom discussions
 Participate in weekly discussion board (Canvas)
 Answer and submit course unit tasks on time

Personal Laptop/mobile device

Internet connection/device
Reading materials
Paper and Pen for writing

Given a scenario involving clients experiencing disasters; at the end of the course unit (CM), learners
will be able to:
COGNITIVE:
1.Discuss disasters based on types, stages and characteristics’
2. Explain the impact of a disaster on health of the community.
AFFECTIVE:
1.Inculcate the importance of utilizing the nursing process in the management of events including:
mass casualty incidents, natural and environmental disasters, bioterrorism, and chemical or radiation
exposure.
PSYCHOMOTOR:
1. Apply principles of Disaster Planning
2. Design emergency health planning necessary for disaster preparedness.
3. Utilize the nursing process in the management of events including: mass casualty incidents,
natural and environmental disasters, bioterrorism, and chemical or radiation exposure.
.
.
Note:
1. Listen attentively during class discussions.
2. Demonstrate tact and respect when challenging other people’s opinions and ideas.
3. Accept comments and reactions of classmates on one’s opinions openly and graciously.
4. Participate actively during class discussions.
5. Confidently express personal opinion and thoughts in front of the class.

DISASTER-
• Any destructive events that disrupts the normal functioning of a community.
• Ecologic disruptions or emergencies of a severity and magnitude that result
in deaths, injuries, illness and property damage that cannot be effectively
managed using routine procedures or resources that require outside
assistance. (Landesman et al. (2001); Al-Madhari and Zeller (1997)

WHO defines Disaster as "any occurrence that causes damage, ecological disruption, loss of
human life, deterioration of health and health services, on a scale sufficient to warrant an
extraordinary response from outside the affected community or area."

DISASTER NURSING
Disaster nursing can be defined as “the adaptation of professional nursing knowledge, skills and
attitude in recognizing and meeting the nursing, health and emotional needs of disaster victims.”
(https://rajnursing.blogspot.com/2017/09/disaster-nursing.html)

CONTENT TOPIC:
1. Definition of disaster(s) and disaster nursing
2. Disaster nursing continuum
3. Classification of disasters and their unique characteristics
a. Natural
b. Man-made
4. Phases and principles of disaster planning and management
INTRODUCTION:
It is no accident that 90% of disasters worldwide are in developing countries. Poverty and
population pressures are forcing a great number of people to live in Harm’s way - flood plains,
earthquake prone areas and unstable slopes and hills. Their extraordinary vulnerability is
perhaps the single most important cause of disaster casualties”
- Kofi Annan , former UN Sec Gen
Concepts of Disaster
D – disruption of function of a large number of people
I – impact involves human, material, monetary and ecological losses
S – sudden devastating and unexpected event
A – affect different levels of society: household level, community level and provincial level
S – safe keeping measures is the utmost concern
T – total damages to life, limb and property is appalling
E – exceed the capacity of a neighborhood or the general public to manage by means of
its own resources
R – recovery takes months or years

MAJOR EFFECTS OF DISASTER

1.Premature death
2. Impaired quality of life
3. Altered Health status
4. Damage to properties

KEY COMPONENTS OF DISASTER PREPAREDNESS

1. Definition and classification system for disasters (onset, duration, effect, and reactive
period.
2. Disaster epidemiology and measures of health consequences.
3. Essentials of Disaster Management Planning.
4. Nursing Care During Disasters.
DISASTER ACCDG TO: * Landesman et al. (2001); Al-Madhari and Zeller (1997)
1. Ecologic Disruptions, or Emergencies Varying Severity and Magnitude
2. Results in Illness, Deaths, Injuries, and Property Damage
3. Cannot be managed by routine procedures.
4. Requires Extraordinary Efforts beyond what is needed to respond to every day.

TYPES OF DISASTER:
A. NATURAL
1. Tornado
2. Wildfire
3. Flood
4. Earthquake
5. Volcano eruption
6. Drought etc.
 B. MAN MADE DISASTER

Three Broad Categories:

1. Complex Emergencies
Suffering and devastation caused by war, civil strife, and other political conflicts.

2. Technologic Disasters
Direct and adverse effect of major industrial accidents, unplanned release of nuclear
energy, fires or explosions from hazardous materials

3. Disasters that Occur in Human Settlements

Results of combination of forces like famine, drought, epidemics, and political unrest.

DISASTER CLASSIFICATION:

Other categories:
Onset, Impact, Duration

a. Rapid-onset events – short durations but with a sudden impact (e.g. earthquakes
and tornadoes).
b. Sudden Impact (e.g. hurricanes and volcanic eruptions).
c. Rapid-onset with unanticipated and prolonged impact (e.g. bioterrorism attack).
d. Creeping disasters (e.g. droughts and famines)
Other categories:
1.Internal Disasters- Caused by disruption of normal hospital function due to injuries or
deaths of hospital personnel or damage to health care facility.
2.External Disasters- Exhaustion of health care/ hospital resources due to large volume of
patients with varying types of injuries being admitted.

PHASES OF A DISASTER

There are three phases of disaster.

1. Pre-Impact Phase
2. Impact Phase
3. Post – Impact Phase
1. PRE-IMPACT PHASE

It is the initial phase of disaster, prior to the actual occurrence. A warning is given at the sign of
the first possible danger to a community with the aid of weather networks and satellite many
meteorological disasters can be predicted.

The earliest possible warning is crucial in preventing loss of life and minimizing damage. This is
the period when the emergency preparedness plan is put into effect emergency centers are
opened by the local civil, detention authority. Communication is a very important factor during
this phase; disaster personnel will call on amateur radio operators, radio and television stations.

The role of the nurse during this warning phase is to assist in preparing shelters and emergency
aid stations and establishing contact with other emergency service group.

2. IMPACT PHASE

The impact phase occurs when the disaster actually happens. It is a time of enduring hardship
or injury end of trying to survive.

The impact phase may last for several minutes (e.g. after an earthquake, plane crash or
explosion.) or for days or weeks (eg in a flood, famine or epidemic).

The impact phase continues until the threat of further destruction has passed and emergency
plan is in effect. This is the time when the emergency operation center is established and put in
operation. It serves as the center for communication and other government agencies of health
tears care healthcare providers to staff shelters. Every shelter has a nurse as a member of
disaster action team. The nurse is responsible for psychological support to victims in the shelter.

3. POST – IMPACT PHASE

Recovery begins during the emergency phase and ends with the return of normal community
order and functioning. For persons in the impact area this phase may last a lifetime (e.g. - victims
of the atomic bomb of Hiroshima).
The victims of disaster in go through four stages of emotional response.
1. Denial - during the stage the victims may deny the magnitude of the problem or have not fully
registered. The victims may appear usually unconcerned.
2. Strong Emotional Response - in the second stage, the person is aware of the problem but
regards it as overwhelming and unbearable. Common reaction during this stage is trembling,
tightening of muscles, speaking with the difficulty, weeping heightened, sensitivity, restlessness
sadness, anger and passivity. The victim may want to retell or relieve the disaster experience
over and over.
3.Acceptance - During the third stage, the victim begins to accept the problems caused by the
disaster and makes a concentrated effect to solve them. It is important for victims to take specific
action to help themselves and their families.
4.Recovery - The fourth stage represent a recovery from the crisis reaction. Victims feel that
they are back to normal. A sense of well-being is restored. Victims develop the realistic memory
of the experience.
Disaster Continuum
Also known as Emergency management cycle
Provides guide on the time line of a disaster. Consist of three phases:
1. Pre-impact- 0-24 HOURS
2. Impact- 24-72 HOURS
3. Post Impact- more than 72 HOURS

DISASTER EPIDEMIOLOGY
Characteristics Epidemiology Disaster Epidemiology
Measures •Health-related •Adverse health effects of
determinants disasters
•Distribution of states •Contributory factors to the
or events effects of disaster
•Need of disaster-affected
populations
Application • Disease surveillance •Match available resources
and control to the needs of disaster
affected population
•Prevent further adverse
effects
•Evaluate program
effectiveness

Health-Related Effects of Disaster

Premature Deaths, Illness, and Injuries Exceeds capacity of local health care system

Destruction of local health care infrastructure Disables the health care unit to respond to
emergencies

Environmental Imbalances Increased risk of communicable diseases

Environmental hazards

Affects psychological, emotional and social well- Disrupts the adaptation and normal coping
being of the population
Shortage of food and Water Severe nutritional deficiencies
Large Population Movement (Refugee) Health consequences of crowded living condition

Philippines Disaster Management Reference Handbook | March 2018

Emergency Events Database (EM-DAT). Centre for Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters,
World Health Organization, 2010
https://rajnursing.blogspot.com/2017/09/disaster-nursing.html

Philippines Disaster Management Reference Handbook | March 2018

National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Plan (NDRRMP) 2011‐2028
Emergency Events Database (EM-DAT). Centre for Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters,
World Health Organization, 2010
https://rajnursing.blogspot.com/2017/09/disaster-nursing.html

Assignment Overview
1. Obtain a copy of the NDRRM Plan 2011-2028. Read and understand. Take note of the salient
points of the phases of disaster planning in the Philippine setting’
2. Individual Assignment: Upload a Video Clip of disaster

Guidelines
1. Discuss your thoughts about the video clip. Explain the impact of a disaster on the health of
the community and describe your role as a nurse during this event.
2. Your assignment submission should be 100-250 words in length. It should contain proper
grammar, be free of spelling errors, and reflect critical thinking.