Disaster situations

Along with the constant threat posed by fire, there are also chemical disaster situations that can occur due to human error in system operation and/or a malfunction... 

Second, disaster situations represent real and potential threats to data integrity. Evidence of appropriate preventive action and recovery strategies must be presented, generally in the form of a disaster recovery plan with an annual practice drill. The disaster recovery plan is usually organized aroimd likely problems (flood from broken pipes, fire, electrical failure, etc.) and includes appropriate notifications, substitute activities, and recovery actions. The disaster recovery plan generally interacts with system backup, recovery, and archive SOPs. 

Process evaluation and routine ambient air-monitoring studies indicate that, from a standpoint of significant air emissions, a facility may be divided into two general areas nonproduction and production. Except for a potential disaster situation (tornado, hurricane, etc.), virtually no significant emissions are generated outside of the production processing area. A discussion of the two basic facility areas is presented below ... 

This chapter explores the issues and challenges related to defining the role of nurses in a disaster situation. Disaster nursing leadership mandates that nurses have a sound knowledge base in critical management areas, as well as in health policy and public health. The chapter presents suggestions for educational needs, research initiatives to further the science of disaster nursing, and political advocacy issues. Nurses must capitalize on... 

Sometime later, you decided to investigate that question further. Does stress during a disaster affect the level of care given by a provider You set out immediately to plan your study and decided that the best method would be a medical chart review, focusing on instances where the patients did not require disaster-specific interventions but instead needed what was essentially primary care, only during a disaster situation. The medical records of these patients would be assessed to determine the quality of care that they received. Some specific questions that you intended to look at include ... 

Assessment—Assess the safety issues for clients, other volunteers, and self in any disaster situation. 

Early on in the AIDS epidemic when the risks and mechanisms for transmission were unknown, some physicians and nurses were reluctant or refused to care for patients with AIDS (Bormann Kelly, 1999 Levine, 1991). One practical solution was to rely on volunteers who would care for patients with AIDS. Now that the mechanism of transmission is known and the risk of contagion from occupational exposure is extremely small the immediate issue seems to have resolved. Relying on volunteers may provide an immediate solution in a disaster situation, but it does not resolve the greater dilemma of limits to nurses professional obligations to care for patients. 

During an internal disaster situation, staff need to be sure that the environment of care remains safe and essential services are provided to all patients. The physical plant, utilities, staffing, supplies, and equipment must remain available and functional. 

Historically, public health and nursing are the two primary disciplines concerned with the science and art of promoting health, preventing disease, and prolonging life through the organized efforts of society. In disaster situations, the use of organized efforts to eliminate hazards and restore the environment and its inhabitants to their optimal level of health becomes important. 

In disaster situations, there may not be enough water available to meet the physiological needs of the affected population, and sources of potable water must be found. A satisfactory supply must be made available to every individual. Rainwater, surface water, and groundwater are sources of water. Rainwater is sporadic and generally unreliable as a water source. Surface water is found in lakes, ponds, streams, and rivers, and is... 

Federal grants to increase widespread knowledge of initial burn evaluation and treatment through ABLS and the expansion of ABA s National Burn Repository program to better ascertain resource needs in disaster situations and the most effective triage and care components... 

Encourage incorporation into the hospital-specific disaster plan of ABA-recommended triage plan for burn casualty mass disaster situations and provide outpatient care for nonintubated patients with burns covering <20% TBSA also, address issues of communication with families, psychological support needs, and media control. 

Children presenting to the emergency department needing decontamination require special consideration. When dealing with children in a disaster situation, nurses must not only work to identify, triage, and... 

Use an ethical and nationally approved framework to support decision making and prioritizing needed in disaster situations. 

Identify reactions to fear, panic, and stress that victims, families, and responders may exhibit during a disaster situation. 

Determine the value of both qualitative and quantitative methods to the conduct of research in disaster situations. 

The conduct of research in disaster situations presents many challenges from a scientific point of view—in addition to those of a legal and ethical nature. However, research related to all aspects of disasters and mass casualty events is critical to mitigate the degree of injury and damage and prevention of repeated mistakes in... 

Since the purpose of the nursing research agenda is to improve quality of care received in a disaster situation, an appropriate framework for a nursing research... 

Nurse researchers have much to learn both from the work done historically and more recently by nurses, as well as from interdisciplinary researchers in disaster medicine. Although both highlight the approach and value of retrospective research, by defining the target population as those impacted by the disaster situation, more research can be accomplished with potential for a greater impact in phases of prevention, preparedness, response, and recovery. From a systems evaluation perspective, it is also critical that nurses be at the forefront in developing the science and planning to be appropriately used in disaster situations. This can start with an active involvement in the process to evaluate the lessons learned from recent disasters such as the terrorist acts of 9/11 and Hurricane Katrina. 

Since 9/11, Americans feel an increased vulnerability to terrorism or exposure to acts of war, including the use of biological and chemical agents. As evident here, previous, and current, research conducted by military nurses lends an initial understanding of nursing practice in austere environments, primarily during wartime. To date, however, there has been less research into biochemical defense for both the provider and the patient under these conditions. More research is needed so that nurses and other health care providers can provide quality care for patients, families, and communities in disaster situations. 

What is the purpose and value of nursing research in disaster situations ... 

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