Emergency Preparedness: Role of Nurses in Disaster Management

This report examines the crucial role of nurses in emergency preparedness and disaster management, drawing from a literature review including the impact of the 2011 Great East Earthquake of Japan. Nurses are essential in all phases of a disaster, from pre-disaster planning and response to post-disaster recovery. During the first phase, nurses coordinate care and communication, while in the second phase, they participate in emergency operations and search and rescue. In the aftermath, nurses provide psychosocial support and mental health counseling. The report emphasizes the need for nurses to be flexible, adaptable, and effective communicators, often taking on leadership roles and collaborating with healthcare teams, local governments and community members. The report also stresses the importance of expanded educational opportunities for emergency nurses to better support affected populations and the need for mental health support for victims, as well as the importance of nurses as clinicians, leaders, and psychosocial supporters.

Running head: EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS- ROLE OF NURSE
Emergency preparedness- role of nurse
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author note

1EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS- ROLE OF NURSE
The paper by Kako et al., (2013) outlined the impact of earthquake and tsunami on east
coast of Japan and role of emergency nurses during that time. A literature review was done to
describe the role nurses during the disaster. Nurses played a crucial role in response to the
earthquakes and management of crisis during that period.
During the first phase of emergency planning, public health nurses need to facilitate and
coordinate care and communication with other members of healthcare team. As illustrated in the
paper, east coast of Japan is prone to earthquakes and prior to calamities; nurses undertook many
activities for emergency preparedness (Kako et al., 2013). A public health nurse has the
responsibility to effectively observe and assess the emergencies with flexible application to
disaster situations.
In the second phase, it is important to take up activities like emergency operations,
search and rescue and public warning systems. In the paper, the nurses worked in local hospitals,
evacuation centers and nursing areas (Kako et al., 2013). As there is shortage of resources during
disasters, nurses have to be flexible in adjusting their nursing role that is of paramount
importance. The nursing activities need to be communicated as depicted in the paper like patient
transfer with right facility at the right time. During emergencies, leadership plays an important
role in leading and coordinating nursing for patient safety. This was depicted when leadership
was important in leading Disaster Medical Assistance Team (DMAT) in collecting complex
information and in coordinating with hospitals (Kako et al., 2013). In the third phase after
disaster, nurses have to carry out activities for recovery like psychosocial support, mental health
counselling and long-term care.

2EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS- ROLE OF NURSE
After a disaster, there are mental health issues witnessed in victims (Goldmann & Galea,
2014). From the paper by Kako et al., (2013) it is evident that nurses have to undertake many
roles during a disaster like communicator, psychosocial supporter, clinician, leader and exhibit
specialized roles. Nurses also undertake coordination with joint commission, local governments
and members of healthcare team in meeting the demands of affected population and health
surveillance. Therefore, expansion of educational opportunities is important for emergency
nurses during disasters to support the affected population.

3EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS- ROLE OF NURSE
References
Goldmann, E., & Galea, S. (2014). Mental health consequences of disasters. Annual review of
public health, 35, 169-183.
Kako, M., Ranse, J., Yamamoto, A., & Arbon, P. (2014). What was the role of nurses during the
2011 Great East Earthquake of Japan? An integrative review of the Japanese
literature. Prehospital and disaster medicine, 29(3), 275-279.