Abstract

The majority of individuals cared for by international relief organizations responding to multi-fatality disasters are those with limited access to care; therefore, human care inequities are frequently apparent. This presentation will focus on nurses facilitating equity and access to care for survivors of mass fatality disasters through an interdisciplinary care team model. Using a reflective practice methodology, the first presenter will describe her "lived experience" as a nurse working on an interdisciplinary care team responding to catastrophic disasters. The nurse's role in facilitating culturally sensitive care access for those most disenfranchised will be highlighted. The second presenter will describe an evaluation of prior mass fatality disaster responses including narratives from disaster relief workers, disaster leadership SWOT analysis (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats), and an online survey of 120 members of interdisciplinary post-disaster care teams. Key findings, focused on the unique role of nurses, will be presented. The final presenter will describe a systematic review process to synthesize the best evidence from the international literature on disaster response. Implications and action steps for nurses responding to future disasters will be highlighted.

Author Details

Susan B. Hassmiller, PhD, RN, FAAN; Lavonne M. Adams, PhD, RN, CCRN, Eta Zeta Chapter; Susan Mace Weeks, DNP, RN, CNS, LMFT, FAAN, Beta Alpha Chapter

Sigma Membership

Epsilon Zeta

Type

Presentation

Format Type

Text-based Document

Study Design/Type

Other

Research Approach

Mixed/Multi Method Research

Keywords:

Disaster Planning Organization and Administration, Interdisciplinary Team, Program Evaluation, Patient Care

Conference Name

ICN Congress

Conference Host

International Council of Nurses

Conference Location

Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Conference Year

2013

Rights Holder

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All permission requests should be directed accordingly and not to the Sigma Repository.

All submitting authors or publishers have affirmed that when using material in their work where they do not own copyright, they have obtained permission of the copyright holder prior to submission and the rights holder has been acknowledged as necessary.

Review Type

Peer-review: Single Blind

Acquisition

Self-submission

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The role of nurses in an interdisciplinary care team responding to mass fatality disasters: Promoting equity and access to care

Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

The majority of individuals cared for by international relief organizations responding to multi-fatality disasters are those with limited access to care; therefore, human care inequities are frequently apparent. This presentation will focus on nurses facilitating equity and access to care for survivors of mass fatality disasters through an interdisciplinary care team model. Using a reflective practice methodology, the first presenter will describe her "lived experience" as a nurse working on an interdisciplinary care team responding to catastrophic disasters. The nurse's role in facilitating culturally sensitive care access for those most disenfranchised will be highlighted. The second presenter will describe an evaluation of prior mass fatality disaster responses including narratives from disaster relief workers, disaster leadership SWOT analysis (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats), and an online survey of 120 members of interdisciplinary post-disaster care teams. Key findings, focused on the unique role of nurses, will be presented. The final presenter will describe a systematic review process to synthesize the best evidence from the international literature on disaster response. Implications and action steps for nurses responding to future disasters will be highlighted.