Mental health nurses play an important role in disasters by providing psychological first aid and counseling to survivors and responders, helping them manage stress and trauma. However, education and training may not adequately prepare nurses for the realities of disaster work. This presentation discusses examples of disasters and the mental health challenges they created, as well as questions around how nurses can best assist and what their roles should be during and after crisis events.

1. ROLE OF
MENTAL HEALTH NURSES
IN DISASTERS
Jamie Ranse www.jamieranse.com
Assistant Professor twitter.com/jamieranse
University of Canberra youtube.com/jamieranse
linkedin.com/in/jamieranse
http://lifelineenergy.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/jap-11.jpg

3. INTERNATIONAL

4. NATIONAL

5. HEALTH-AFFECTED DISASTER?

6. EDUCATION-PRACTICE
MISMATCH

7. Australian participation: on-shore
CYCLONE TRACY = DAYS
#CHCH #EQNZ = MINS

8. WILL YOU ASSIST?

9. WHAT WILL YOUR
ROLE BE?

10. Christchurch Earthquake
• Loss of business
• Loss of infrastructure

11. Fukushima
• Fear of radiation exposure

12. 9/11 World Trade Centre
• Responders v non-responders
• PTSD v post traumatic growth
• To debrief or not?
• Victims v survivors

13. Pandemic
• Isolation
• Workplace preparedness
• Willingness

14. Enterprise agreement
THANKS FOR
VOLUNTEERING

15. Hillsborough

16. ROLE OF
MENTAL HEALTH NURSES
IN DISASTERS
Jamie Ranse www.jamieranse.com
Assistant Professor twitter.com/jamieranse
University of Canberra youtube.com/jamieranse
linkedin.com/in/jamieranse
http://lifelineenergy.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/jap-11.jpg