Emergency Preparedness: Nursing Report on Disaster Response Strategies

This report presents a nursing perspective on disaster response and emergency preparedness, using the 2016 Kaikoura earthquake in New Zealand as a case study. It highlights the critical roles of nurses in evacuating vulnerable populations, coordinating care, and facilitating communication within healthcare teams and with patients and their families. The report references the American Nurses Association (ANA) and the Association of Women's Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses (AWHONN) guidelines, emphasizing the importance of preparedness, patient care, protection, privacy, and trust. It also describes a real-world application of emergency response plans at the Dickens Emergency Response Center, including the distribution of essential supplies. The report underscores the significance of effective planning and communication in managing the impact of natural disasters, ensuring patient safety and well-being during crises.

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Nursing
Student’s Name
Date of Submission

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On 14th November 2016, a natural disaster in the form of an earthquake occurred at
Kaikoura in New Zealand. This natural disaster took place approximately two minutes past
midnight following the development of raptures in several fault lines. It is reported that there
were two deaths, while damage to property was massive. For instance, most roads were closed
following the breakdown of various bridges in Kaikoura. Many people vacated their houses for
the fear of a tsunami risk. Several helicopters were used to provide aid to the victims while
others were used to evacuate people who were severely affected. However, it is important to note
that the evacuation process was still not efficient, it was slightly slow. Most tourists, some of
those with complex medical problems were part of the victims.
From this natural disaster, there are two proposed planning processes that are of great
importance in similar situations. First and foremost, according to AWHON POSITION
STATEMENT, 2012, the nurses have a critical role during emergency preparedness such as
evacuating expectant mothers, infants and new mothers, who in most cases are the biggest
victims. Moreover, for the ANA, the nurses offer proper coordination.
The second strategy is that nurses in most cases are tasked with facilitating
communication and coordinating provision of care among members of the health care team,
patients, and their families. This is because communication, both verbal and written is of great
importance in the process of making plans before and during a disaster. The ANA indicates that
the most important values of a nurse in disaster preparedness includes provision of care,
protection, privacy, personal liberty, solidarity and trust to the victims (ANA, 2008).
Emergency plan
At the moment, I have been placed at Dickens Emergency Response Center County level,
whereby there are proper plans to combat any natural disaster. These plans include the provision
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of basic commodities like drugs and food aid. A leadership and distribution chain has been
formed from the top management to the managers at the villages level for ease of drugs
distribution to the disaster victims.
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References
AWHON POSITION STATEMENT, (2012), The Role of the Nurse in Emergency Preparedness.
Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic, & Neonatal Nursing, 41: 322–324.
doi:10.1111/j.1552-6909.2011.01338.x
American Nurses Association. (2008). Adapting standards of care under extreme conditions:
Guidance for professionals during disasters, pandemics, and other extreme emergencies.
Silver Spring, MD: Author. Retrieved from http://nursingworld.org/Main Menu
Categories/Healthcare and Policy Issues/DPR/The Law Ethics of Disaster
Response/AdaptingStandardsofCare.aspx
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