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You are a nurse manager in charge of developing a disaster plan for your unit. As the manager, you will need to include the influential agencies, stakeholders and the roles of the nurses in disasters.
First Post
Identify the influential agencies and stakeholders you would include in your plan. Describe the roles of the nurses in disaster planning and actual disasters. How would you ensure the nurses on the unit understand their roles in the disaster plan?
Scenario: You are the PHN working at your local public health department in the nursing division. It is the middle of summer, and you have been receiving telephone calls asking about “the flu season” since the vaccine wasn’t accurate in predicting the strains of influenza that affected your community last year, and many people contracted the virus. Business and community leaders are concerned because they don’t want a repeat performance of last year. You have been asked to develop some solutions to community concerns. Select two of the following scenarios and respond to the questions that are posed in each.
Scenario 1: Imagine that initial pandemic flu cases have been identified in your jurisdiction. Some people are home sick, and others are staying home fearful that they may become infected with the flu. What advice would you give to local business owners to prepare for this event? Name two actions that business owners can take to keep their businesses open.
Scenario 1, Part B. As incidents of influenza continue to rise, local business owners are worried about loss of revenue if several large planned conventions are forced to cancel due to the flu. What advice can you give these business owners? Should all events be cancelled?
Scenario 2: Disease rates are rising, and estimates are that as many as 20% of the population are ill with confirmed influenza. Several businesses have closed and services have been suspended. What advice would you give to local law enforcement officials so they can continue to serve the needs of the people? Describe two actions that law enforcement workers can take to remain on the job. How will the gaps in personnel created by those who are ill be covered by those who are still well? What advice will you give?
Scenario 3: Disease rates are remaining at 20% of the population, and many schools have closed due to teacher absence. Since parents still have to work if they are not sick with the flu, what advice can you give day care providers? What two ideas can you share with them so they can stay open and able to care for the children of working parents? Should all school sporting events be cancelled? What information should parents be given? Should announcements be given daily?
Scenario 4: The numbers of influenza victims has reached 25% of the population. Many of the large grocery stores in your community are short-staffed due to employee sick calls. Shelves are bare since many of the workers are home with the flu, and even if the storeowner could stock the shelves, cashiers are home sick, too. In-store pharmacists are struggling to keep their pharmacies open to serve the public. Consumables like bread and milk are in short supply since many delivery drivers are home sick. What two actions can you recommend to these storeowners so that your community doesn’t suffer?
Scenario 5: With 25% of the total population sick with influenza, your hospital is short of staff at a time of very high census. While many of the administrative positions are unaffected by illness, at least 40% of the nurses have called in sick or are at home caring for very sick children. Name two recommendations that you can give your hospital administration to keep their services available for the community.
Scenario 6: The community is turning to the Health Department for assistance because reported incidents of influenza have risen from 5% of the population to 10% of the population in a matter of days. What is your first response to this situation? What steps will you take? Where will you start?
• O’Neill, C, & O’Neill, M. (2012). How to step up in the face of disaster [Video]. TED conferences. https://www.ted.com/talks/caitria_and_morgan_o_neill_how_to_step_up_in_the_face_of_disasterLinks to an external site.
Note: The approximate length of this media piece is 9 minutes.
This Ted Talk describes the actions of two sisters who step up as leaders during a tornado disaster in their community.
Post your response to two sets of scenario-specific questions as well as the following:
• Which agencies are available to lead and assist in the disaster response?
• What resources are available in your community?
• How might resources be used most efficiently?
• Are there any gaps that may pose a problem?
• Identify potential strengths and weaknesses in the community.
Explore the nurse’s role in disaster planning, preparedness, response, and recovery. You will develop a teaching tool to be used in the community that teaches community members how to be prepared for a variety of disasters common to your state.
Part 1: Disaster Response
Public health officials can play a huge part in disaster planning and emergency preparedness. In this part of the assignment, analyze disaster response and emergency preparedness.
Identify nursing roles and responsibilities during each phase of disaster management. Consider:
Planning
Preparedness
Response
Recovery
Summarize your findings regarding roles and responsibilities.
Evaluate your community or state’s plan for preparedness and disaster management. Summarize your findings.
Create a teaching tool for your family or the community. Include the following:
How to plan an emergency kit, or “go bag”
How to do regular drills of your evacuation plan
How you will communicate with each other in the family
How to respond to natural disasters such as a fire, flood, or earthquake
How to respond in a mass casualty situation such as a major car accident or active shooter incident
Include at least 1 peer-reviewed and 2 evidence-based references and an APA-formatted reference page.
Format your assignment as a 1-page handout.
Part 2: Disaster Planning, Preparedness, and Response
Research disaster planning, preparedness, and response in your community.
Develop 10 interview questions for use with first responders about local community disaster planning, preparedness, and response to use in community interviews. Include questions about how responders work with the community.
Interview workers and leaders at the following community locations in person or online from:
Local fire station
Local emergency room
Local police station
Explore the nurse’s role in disaster planning, preparedness, response, and recovery. You will develop a teaching tool to be used in the community that teaches community members how to be prepared for a variety of disasters common to your state.
Part 1: Disaster Response
Public health officials can play a huge part in disaster planning and emergency preparedness. In this part of the assignment, analyze disaster response and emergency preparedness.
Identify nursing roles and responsibilities during each phase of disaster management. Consider:
Planning
Preparedness
Response
Recovery
Summarize your findings regarding roles and responsibilities.
Evaluate your community or state’s plan for preparedness and disaster management. Summarize your findings.
Create a teaching tool for your family or the community. Include the following:
How to plan an emergency kit, or “go bag”
How to do regular drills of your evacuation plan
How you will communicate with each other in the family
How to respond to natural disasters such as a fire, flood, or earthquake
How to respond in a mass casualty situation such as a major car accident or active shooter incident
Include at least 1 peer-reviewed and 2 evidence-based references and an APA-formatted reference page.
Format your assignment as a 1-page handout.
Part 2: Disaster Planning, Preparedness, and Response
Research disaster planning, preparedness, and response in your community.
Develop 10 interview questions for use with first responders about local community disaster planning, preparedness, and response to use in community interviews. Include questions about how responders work with the community.
Interview workers and leaders at the following community locations in person or online from:
Local fire station
Local emergency room
Local police station
Explore the nurse’s role in disaster planning, preparedness, response, and recovery. You will develop a teaching tool to be used in the community that teaches community members how to be prepared for a variety of disasters common to your state.
Part 1: Disaster Response
Public health officials can play a huge part in disaster planning and emergency preparedness. In this part of the assignment, analyze disaster response and emergency preparedness.
Identify nursing roles and responsibilities during each phase of disaster management. Consider:
Planning
Preparedness
Response
Recovery
Summarize your findings regarding roles and responsibilities.
Evaluate your community or state’s plan for preparedness and disaster management. Summarize your findings.
Create a teaching tool for your family or the community. Include the following:
How to plan an emergency kit, or “go bag”
How to do regular drills of your evacuation plan
How you will communicate with each other in the family
How to respond to natural disasters such as a fire, flood, or earthquake
How to respond in a mass casualty situation such as a major car accident or active shooter incident
Include at least 1 peer-reviewed and 2 evidence-based references and an APA-formatted reference page.
Format your assignment as a 1-page handout.
Part 2: Disaster Planning, Preparedness, and Response
Research disaster planning, preparedness, and response in your community.
Develop 10 interview questions for use with first responders about local community disaster planning, preparedness, and response to use in community interviews. Include questions about how responders work with the community.
Interview workers and leaders at the following community locations in person or online from:
Local fire station
Local emergency room
Local police station
Explore the nurse’s role in disaster planning, preparedness, response, and recovery. You will develop a teaching tool to be used in the community that teaches community members how to be prepared for a variety of disasters common to your state.
Part 1: Disaster Response
Public health officials can play a huge part in disaster planning and emergency preparedness.
Analyze disaster response and emergency preparedness:
Identify nursing roles and responsibilities during each phase of disaster management. Consider:
Planning
Preparedness
Response
Recovery
Summarize your findings for submission.
Evaluate your community or state’s plan for preparedness and disaster management. Summarize your findings.
Create a teaching tool for your family or the community. Include the following:
How to plan an emergency kit, or “go bag”
How to do regular drills of your evacuation plan
How you will communicate with each other in the family
How to respond to natural disasters such as a fire, flood, or earthquake
How to respond in a mass casualty situation such as a major car accident or active shooter incident