The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation has published an issue brief on the roles nurses can play during a disaster and how hospitals can provide additional training and resources to better prepare nurses for infectious disease outbreaks, terrorist events and natural disasters.
Nurses and nurse leaders can save lives during disasters by triaging patients, delivering first aid, connecting families to community resources, coordinating response efforts and engaging public health officials.
"Nurses are ready, willing and well positioned to respond to these events, yet often they feel underprepared or lack the authority or resources to handle such crises," according to RWJF. "Nurses receive minimal disaster-focused instruction as part of their formal education, and employers sometimes fail to put crisis policies in place or to engage staff in regular disaster drills."
The RWJF issue brief can help hospitals prepare nurses for disasters and improve patient safety.
To access the tool, click here.
Note: View our database providing more than 150 reports that link to free, downloadable and adaptable tools for use in surgery centers, hospitals and other organizations by clicking here.
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