NR 553 Week 4 Disaster Preparedness and Response

Student Name

Chamberlain University

NR-553: Global Health

Prof. Name:

Date

Disaster Preparedness and Response

Disasters—both natural and human-made—pose significant challenges to healthcare systems, often disrupting the delivery of timely and effective care. Nurses, who represent the largest segment of the global healthcare workforce, play a pivotal role in disaster preparedness and response. According to Veenema et al. (2016), nurses should not only act as responders but also as leaders, educators, and contributors to policy development. However, the consistency of disaster preparedness among nurses varies widely across countries, including the United States, leaving notable gaps in readiness. Strengthening the involvement of nurses in disaster management is essential to enhance healthcare system resilience and ensure adequate surge capacity during emergencies.

Organization Involved in Disaster Preparedness

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is a globally recognized humanitarian organization that provides assistance during armed conflicts, natural disasters, and other crises. Established under the Geneva Conventions of 1949, the ICRC operates under international humanitarian law with a mission to protect lives, preserve human dignity, and deliver healthcare and relief services (International Committee of the Red Cross [ICRC], n.d.).

The organization works in regions severely impacted by disasters and conflicts, offering direct medical care, health education, disaster risk reduction, and humanitarian relief. The ICRC’s neutrality and independence allow it to access and assist populations in areas where other organizations may face restrictions.

Role of Nurses in Fulfilling ICRC Objectives

Nurses are indispensable to the success of the ICRC’s healthcare missions. Their responsibilities extend beyond clinical care to include leadership, education, and advocacy. Through these roles, nurses ensure both immediate and long-term recovery in affected communities.

Table 1

Roles of Nurses within the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)

Role	Description
Direct Care	Provide first aid, trauma management, and administer essential medications to victims.
Health Education	Educate communities about hygiene, disease prevention, and post-crisis self-care.
Leadership	Contribute to the development of disaster policies and local health response systems.
Capacity Building	Train local healthcare professionals in emergency response techniques and strategies.
Psychosocial Support	Help survivors recover from trauma through mental health and counseling interventions.

Through these contributions, nurses strengthen the overall healthcare response capacity and promote sustainable recovery efforts in communities affected by disasters.

Expanding Nursing Opportunities in Disaster Preparedness

In addition to their existing responsibilities, nurses can expand their participation in policy development, disaster simulations, and international collaboration initiatives. Their potential contributions include:

Engaging in disaster research to identify evidence-based practices and evaluate intervention outcomes.
Collaborating with governments and NGOs to integrate nursing perspectives into national disaster frameworks.
Designing and implementing community preparedness programs that empower citizens to respond effectively during emergencies.

By integrating nurses into decision-making and leadership roles, healthcare systems can ensure that clinical expertise informs policy formulation, resource allocation, and emergency planning.

Peer Response to Post

Hi Carole,

Thank you for emphasizing the work of the ICRC. Like you, I had primarily associated the Red Cross with national entities, and learning about its global humanitarian mission has broadened my understanding. Your discussion regarding the central role of nurses in disaster preparedness aligns closely with my own findings.

Couig et al. (2017) assessed progress on Veenema’s “Call to Action” and underscored the importance of the Society for the Advancement of Disaster Nursing (SADN). This organization has created recommendations in research, education, and practice to enhance nursing engagement in disaster preparedness. Despite such progress, the capacity of nurses to influence policy decisions at local levels remains limited. With my background in critical care, I believe there is a need for structured residencies and certifications to facilitate the transition of nurses into emergency and disaster leadership positions.

Response to Professor and Peer

Dr. Fildes and Christie,

Your insights on the insufficient visibility of nurses in disaster leadership are highly relevant. Strengthening nurse participation in this field must begin at the undergraduate level and continue throughout professional development. The American Nurses Association (ANA) (n.d.) recommends that registered nurses pursue specialized disaster preparedness training and certification to remain current with evolving knowledge and skills.

Additionally, the ANA encourages participation in volunteer networks such as the Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) or the federal Disaster Medical Assistance Teams (DMATs). These programs offer training, credentialing, and structured deployment opportunities during emergencies (Medical Reserve Corps [MRC], 2018).

In my community, I plan to collaborate with local health departments, MRC units, and non-governmental organizations to organize joint disaster drills. This collaboration would promote nursing leadership in emergency preparedness while strengthening overall community resilience.

Partial Peer Post Response

Penny,

Thank you for your service as a military nurse. The U.S. military plays a crucial role in both disaster preparedness and humanitarian operations, as illustrated by its involvement in the 2010 Haiti earthquake and Hurricane Katrina (2005) (Born et al., 2011). Military nurses act as frontline responders, combining clinical expertise with logistical coordination to manage large-scale emergencies.

As Slepski (2005) noted, emergency preparedness in nursing entails developing comprehensive knowledge, skills, and actions necessary for effective incident management. Federal initiatives, such as the Homeland Security Grant Program (HSGP), continue to support training, equipment, and coordinated response strategies (Department of Homeland Security [DHS], 2018). Nurses serving within the military healthcare system are uniquely positioned to lead these initiatives, bridging the gap between clinical care and national preparedness efforts.

References

American Nurses Association. (n.d.). Disaster preparedness. https://www.nursingworld.org/practice-policy/work-environment/health-safety/disasterpreparedness/

Born, C. T., Dean, J. C., Hayda, R. A., McSwain, N. E., Riddles, M., & Shimkus, L. (2011). The military response to the Haitian earthquake of 2010: Lessons for future humanitarian disasters. Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, 19(S1), S43–S49. https://doi.org/10.5435/00124635-201102001-00009

Couig, M. P., Gable, A., Griffin, A., Langan, J. C., Katzburg, J. R., Wolgast, K. A., & Veenema, T. G. (2017). Progress on a call to action: Nurses as leaders in disaster preparedness and response. Nursing Administration Quarterly, 41(2), 112–117. https://doi.org/10.1097/NAQ.0000000000000226

Department of Homeland Security. (2018). Homeland Security Grant Program. https://www.fema.gov/homeland-security-grant-program

International Committee of the Red Cross. (n.d.). Mandate and mission. https://www.icrc.org/en/who-we-are/mandate