Nurses play an important role in disaster management by preparing communities and responding to disasters. In preparation, nurses educate vulnerable populations, recruit volunteers, and advocate for community safety. During response, nurses triage patients, provide feedback to managers, and conduct ongoing surveillance. In recovery, nurses help with cleanup efforts, provide health education, identify environmental hazards, and offer psychological support to address health issues intensified by the prolonged effects of disasters.

1. ROLE OF A NURSE IN
DISASTER
MANAGEMENT
Only for Educational purpose

2. DEFINITION
Disaster is a catastrophic occurrence that
invariably has profound implications on public
health. It is a destructive event that results in
need for wide range of emergency resources.

3. ROLE OF A NURSE
A} IN DISASTER PREPAREDNESS
 TO FACILITATE PREPARATION WITH COMMUNITY :
To facilitate preparation the nurse provides educational programs and material regarding
disasters specific to area and awares about the disaster plan.
 TO PROVIDE UPDATED RECORD OF VULNERABILITY POPULATION WITHIN COMMUNITY :
The no should be involved in educating these population about what impact the disaster
can have on them by giving example of sufferers from disaster.
 NURSE LEADS OF PREPAREDNESS EFFORT :
Nurse can help recruit others within the organization that will help when a response is
required.

4. Cont..
 COMMUNITY ADVOCATE :
The nurse should always seek to keep a safe environment. The nurse must assess
and report environmental hazards of the community.
 DISASTER NURSE IS INVOLVED IN COMMUNITY ORGANISATIONS AS A ORGANISER :
Nurse can be involved in organizations such as American red Cross ambulance
corps, etc.

5. B } IN DISASTER RESPONSE
• ONCE RESCUE WORKERS BEGIN TO ARRIVE AT THE SCENE :
immediate plans for triage should begin - HIGHER PRIORITY
- SECOND PRIORITY
- LAST PRIORITY
• NURSE WORKING AS A MEMBER OF ASSESSMENT TEAM :
The nurse has the responsibility of giving accurate feedback two managers to facilitate rapid rescue and recovery.
• TO BE INVOLVED IN ONGOING SURVEILLANCE :
the nurse uses the following methods to gather information – interview, observation, physical examination, health
and illness screening, surveys, records, etc.

6. C} IN DISASTER RECOVERY
• SUCCESSFUL RECOVERY PREPARATION :
Community clean up efforts can incur a host of Physical and psychological problems. For example physical
stress of moving heavy objects can cause back pain, severe fatigue. So nurse needs to be flexible enough in
recovery preparation.
• HEALTH TEACHING :
Nurse must remain vigilant in teaching proper hygiene and making sure immunization records are
up to date.
• REMAIN ALERT FOR ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH HAZARDS :
Nurse must also remain alert for environmental health hazards during recovery phase. Home
visiting may lead the nurse to uncover situations such as lack of water supply or lack of electricity.
• PSYCHOLOGICAL SUPPORT :
Acute and chronic illness can be intensified by prolonged effects of disaster.