What Are the Roles of the Nurse As a Manager in Disaster Preparedness?

A disaster is a cataclysmic incident that commonly leads to immense damage and devastation. Whether the cause of the event is natural, or man-made, the outcomes can be shocking. These disasters often overwhelm the local first responders, health organizations, and government operations. Preparedness is one of the major components of disaster response. A nurse may play several roles during a disaster.

Preserving Open Lines of Communication

• Communication allows staff to gather the information necessary to perform well. Communication difficulties are normal during disasters. Loss of electrical power and overcrowding may cause telephone-dependent systems to fail. Messages not heard can cause confusion and panic. The nurse as manager has to consider how to internally and externally implement and distribute accurate information to the proper individuals. Further, he must ensure constant communication with Department of Health medical director, head nurse, incident command center and Centers for Disease Control contacts.

Ensuring Quality Patient Care

• In times of disaster, confusion reigns and people need to work together as a team to achieve the same objective. The nurse as manager coordinates departmental efforts such as patient flow and bed counts. He interacts with the system to ensure the provision of quality care to disaster victims. This includes tracking patients carefully in the organization so that relatives and friends can be apprised of their condition and location.

Providing Current Education

• All nursing staff members should be aware of their role in the disaster plan and receive adequate training. In some cases, only those nurses in the organization perceived as critical care or emergency experts are trained. All medical and allied staff should receive instruction as first responders because in the case of large-scale destruction, there will be an increased need for the services of all types of employees. Further, nurses are often in a position to teach not only staff, but also the community about disaster preparedness.

Influencing Policy and Financial Decisions

• Disaster preparedness costs money. Nurses as managers have a part in determining costs, managing allocation, and advocating for expenses within a policy framework. Ways to influence the distribution of monies include participating in the state hospital associations and testifying before state legislatures so that policy makers are clear about the impact of decisions.

Providing Security for Staff, Patients, and Families

• In any given disaster situation the nurse as manager has to evaluate security issues for self, victims, and the first responder team. She needs to create entrance and exit standards for staff, patients, and visitors and implement lock-down procedures. She also should insure the security department is ready to maintain crowd and traffic control and avoid unauthorized access to the facility. Any disaster preparedness plan should include standards for dealing with the media.