Virginia C. Ducusin is a nurse who works in the emergency department at UP PGH. Her document discusses the roles and responsibilities of nurses during disasters and emergencies. It defines key terms like disasters, emergencies, and disaster nursing. It also outlines the four phases of emergency management: preparation, mitigation, response, and recovery. Finally, it discusses the International Council of Nurses' efforts to support nurses' roles in disaster preparedness, response, and recovery.

1. Virginia C. Ducusin, RN
Nurse VI
UP PGH – Department of Emergency Medicine

3. are natural and man-made events that
dramatically affect life and property to
catastrophic proportions (Howard & Steinman,
2010)
refer to any threatening or occurring event
of such magnitude and force as to dislocate
people, separate family members, damage or
destroy homes, and injure or kill (American Red
Cross, 2006).

4. a serious disruption of the functioning of a
community or a society causing widespread
human, material, economic or environmental
losses which exceed the ability of the affected
community or society to cope using its own
resources (WHO, 2012)
a type of emergency that, because of its
complexity, scope, or duration, threatens the
hospital’s capabilities and requires outside
assistance to sustain patient care, safety, or
security functions (Anderson, 2012).

16. According to the World Disaster Report 2007 ,
the incidences and people afflicted during
disasters have been continuously increasing.
There was a 60% increase of reported
disasters, a rise in the number of reported
deaths from 600,000 to over 1.2 million,
and a leap of 17% in the number of people
affected by disasters over the last decade (1997-
2006).

17. Developing nations are particularly
vulnerable to the effects of disasters plus the
presence of factors such as climate change,
increased building in areas prone to disaster,
unplanned urban growth, loss of natural
barriers, lack of warning systems and lack of
systems to move populations to safe areas –
which all contribute to an increased risk
during these events (Klyman, Kouppari, &
Mukheir, 2007).

19. Volunteer nurses who provide and distribute
relief goods; and support medical missions

20. Nurses involved with private or public health
care facilities and organizations

21. Public health nurses involved in providing
health care services in evacuation centers

23. Confusion over
roles and
responsibilities, poor
communication, lack of
planning, suboptimal
training, and a lack of
hospital integration into
community disaster
planning are some
previously identified
major problem areas (Kaji
& Lewis, 2006).

24. Nurses were eager to
offer assistance but many
lacked proper
training in
communicating with
disaster management
teams and in specific
skills that are helpful
when dealing with victims
and their families
(Veenema, 2006).

25. Nurses state that they
feel disaster plans
are made by leaders or
managers without
input from the
nurses who will actually
be working and taking
care of patients during
and after the disaster
(Stangeland, 2010).

26. Although nurses comprise
the largest group of
healthcare professionals,
our inability to effectively
handle an attack has
proven to be a hindrance.
There is an
underutilization of
the nursing
workforce during
disasters and other
emergencies (Veenema,
2006).

28. Nurses, as team members, can play a
strategic role cooperating with health and
social disciplines, government bodies,
community groups, and non-governmental
agencies, including humanitarian organisations
(United Nations, 1994).
On-site
Coordinator
Triage Officer
Care Provider
Counsellor
First Responder
Educator

29. The key to disaster
preparedness is
understanding the four
phases of emergency
management and the
principles of disaster triage
(Peterman, 2012).

30. Preparation
Mitigation
Response
Recovery

31. defined as planning to
respond in the event
of an emergency or
disaster and
encompasses having a
backup operational plan
and trained personnel,
and identifying backup
supplies and service
providers (Peterman,
2012)
phase that is critical to
the delivery of
effective responses to
the short, medium, and
long-term health needs of
a disaster-stricken
population. It is also
important for sustainable
and continued
development
(International Council of
Nurses, 2006).

32. Risk assessment of the facility or community
Development of a disaster plan including
evacuation plan or a surge capacity plan for
hospitals
Ensuring adequate equipment and human
resources
Integration and collaboration with other sectors
Disseminating and consulting the plan with
other members of the team
Exercising, testing and evaluating the plan (e.g.
drills and simulation exercises)

35. involves those activities that reduce or eliminate
risk following a disaster (Peterman, 2012)
seeks to minimize the effects of a potential
disaster specifically reduce loss of life and productivity
and prevent or minimize the risks present (Brown,
Hickling, & Frahm, 2010)
Nurses must know how to take steps to reduce risk
of illness or infection, and identify special
groups of patients who are uniquely vulnerable such
as very young, elderly, and immunosuppressed persons
(Peterman, 2012).

36. After a flood,
administering tetanus
vaccinations if 5 years
or more have elapsed
since a victim's last
tetanus shot may be
considered since
floodwaters may be
contaminated.

37. refers to providing assistance to victims of the event,
activating alert phase procedures, monitoring potential
hazardous situations, and controlling damage (Peterman, 2012)
Some of its activities include:
situation and needs assessment
prioritization of care and management in the field and
health facility during emergencies
facilitating coordination and communication
supervision of logistics and supplies
provision psychosocial support to patients and staff
providing safety and security among patients and
personnel

40. involves restoring operations to a pre-
emergency condition, addressing staff needs, and
restocking inventories of supplies and equipment
(Peterman, 2012)
Involves the rehabilitation and development of the
community and/or health facility after the impact of the
disaster or when the place is stable
Involves activities that are not limited to addressing
the health care needs but also the safety, economic
and long-term needs of the people affected by the
calamity

45. Disaster nursing is a
priority for the ICN. In
recent years, the group
has been mobilizing
resources to support
nurses’ role(s) in
disaster preparedness,
response and recovery
(Kingma, 2008)

46. Meets with nursing leaders from
the Western Pacific and Southeast
Asian regions for updates on
emergency and disaster nursing
Provides continuing education
seminars and workshop
Shares with member countries
resources such as competencies,
courses and other resource
materials

47. Addition of core
competencies and
skills of nurses on
emergency and
disaster preparedness.
Developing and
training educators to
include disaster
management in
classroom teaching.

48. Conducts training and
skills development
needed to respond to
emergencies and
disasters
Assists and recommends
volunteers for activities
such as relief operations
and medical-dental
missions

49. Assigns nurses who
become regional and
local coordinators to
respond in disasters or
other emergencies
Includes nurses in the
risk reduction and
planning at the
national level via the
NDRRMC