Progress in Disaster Planning and Preparedness Since 2001, Coursework Example

Introduction

A successful strategy for disaster preparedness requires a community to develop specific plans based upon the needs of local residents. The role of public health nurses in this process is to coordinate the response effort and to prepare a plan that will be executed in the event of an emergency without additional complications. This process requires all family members to have their own disaster plans in place and to be proactive in advancing an agenda that will support a successful set of outcomes in the event that a real disaster takes place. In the event of a disaster, an evacuation would be necessary and would be conducted as calmly and as rationally as possible in order to prevent further complications. A family must be able to execute its designated disaster plan as calmly as possible and determine the best possible approaches to improving the situation through the actions that are taken.

Analysis

There is a sense of duty by nurses during disasters to provide the best possible resources and guidance to support the circumstances in a calm and rational manner (Kane-Urrabazo, 2007). Families without a disaster plan in place may benefit from the knowledge and expertise of professional nurses with years of experience in this area, as it may provide a basis for examining the choices that a family has in responding to a disaster (Kagan, 2011). Nurses have a moral duty to help others in the wake of a disaster; however, this role does not begin at that stage (Kagan, 2011). Rather, they must actively participate in developing action plans in the event of a disaster so that a family has the steps in place to follow and to reach safety (Kagan, 2011). In this context, time is of the essence; therefore, evacuation should not be significantly delayed under any circumstances, such as searching for mementoes and other artifacts. The disaster plan must follow a step-by-step approach so that family members are able to reach safety without any significant delays. This practice will also support nurse involvement and advocacy in supporting the disaster response effort as best as possible (Kagan, 2011).

When executing a disaster preparedness strategy, it is important to effectively communicate at all stages among family members so that they are on the same page regarding the events that have taken place (Powell, Hanfling, & Gostin, 2012). The success of a specific strategy is contingent upon the different steps and whether or not they are practical, reasonable, and timely. Lessons learned from prior disasters may play an important role in this process because they provide a framework for addressing the problem in a practical manner that is reasonable and without significant expectations and possible disappointment (Powell et.al, 2012). Deciding how to evacuate must be prepared in advance so that all persons know their role in the process and so it runs as smoothly as possible (Powell et.al, 2012). By taking a lesson from prior disasters, it is possible to improve the response effort and to expand the coordinated process in order to reduce the risks of failure (Powell et.al, 2012).

Bringing all persons to safety is of the utmost importance, and in some situations, pet rescues must also be conducted. Therefore, these efforts require a strategic plan in which all persons are assigned a specific role during the disaster, including the handling of pets. Children must also be evacuated in accordance with the designated plan so that they are brought to safety as quickly as possible. There must also be a plan in place that capitalizes on lessons learned from other disasters, such as the September 11 attacks, whereby community-based strategies must be available to support a coordinated response to the tasks at hand (Inglesby, 2011). This process requires an evaluation of the nature and severity of the disaster and how to best overcome the situation through a coordinated effort from all family members and community members (Inglesby, 2011). There are considerable issues related to the practice of achieving adequacy in patient care so that there are significant opportunities to improve upon prior events and to protect all persons from unnecessary risk or harm (Inglesby, 2011).

The coordinated disaster strategy must be well communicated to all family members and must provide a framework for improving upon existing strategies to support a practical response effort. These tools must also be effective in advancing the objectives of the process and in bringing all persons and pets to safety as necessary. Through an appointed leader, it is important to assign roles to each family member and to ensure that all steps are taken as described. This process will also ensure that the strategy is efficient and appropriate for the family to follow. Through this practice, it is important to demonstrate that the family is able to effectively communicate with each other regarding the need for a coordinated response, while also considering the other factors that play into this process, including unexpected events that may create additional challenges for the family during the disaster.

Conclusion

Families who face disaster should be prepared for these events through a coordinated disaster effort and focus. This process will appoint a leader to direct the response effort and designate roles to each family member to follow. It is expected that when evacuations are necessary, all persons will be evacuated accordingly and will maintain a sense of calm, in spite of the circumstances. This practice will also demonstrate that the family is able to effectively communicate regarding the response strategy and also work with nurses in the public health setting as necessary in order to develop or improve upon the chosen strategy. This will encourage the family to consider many different possibilities in the wake of a disaster that will have lasting complications.

References

Inglesby, T. V. (2011). Progress in disaster planning and preparedness since 2011 JAMA,306(12), 1372-1373.

Kagan, P.N. (2011). Catastrophe and response: expanding the notion of self to mobilize nurses’ attention to policy and activism. Nursing Science Quarterly, 24(1), 71-78.

Kane-Urrabazo, C. (2007). Duty in a time of disaster: a concept analysis. Nursing Forum 42(2): 56-64.

Powell, T., Hanfling, D., & Gostin, L. O. (2012). Emergency preparedness and public health: the lessons of Hurricane Sandy. JAMA, 308(24), 2569-2570.