The Disaster Of A Disaster Worker

Every year, there are approximately 150,000 deaths and 200 million people affected by natural disasters and humanitarian crises (Thomas, 2003). Natural disasters alone, which include various occurrences, cause substantial disruptions such as the temporary displacement of more than five million people. According to the Fritz institute, statistics show that uprooted people from humanitarian crises such as civil conflict and war is greater, with an average of 13 million refugees and 20 million internally displaced people each year. As the biggest worldwide participants in the relief effort in the global community, disaster relief organizations are the forerunners of the help supplied to people affected by catastrophic events.

During an emergency, large quantities of multifaceted information should be gathered, examined, interpreted and handled to control incident factors. Information is required for accurate determination of patient numbers and distribution, the range of illness and injuries, recommendation for treatment and evaluation, and post-impact conditions of the medical assets and public health.

Time is obviously a critical factor when seeking medical attention. Emergency room nurses triage incoming patients based on the severity of their illness or injury. While an ER is required to attend to all patients, many find themselves waiting a very long time as other individuals

Flash forward to the 21st century. Medical care and evacuation after natural or man-made disasters haven't been as effective as they could be because of the lack of medical personnel, equipment and hospital-grade supplies

This model integrates various assessment and triage protocols with three primary crisis-oriented intervention strategies: the seven-stage crisis intervention model, psychological debriefing, and trauma support services (Roberts, 2005). With this method, there are three different strategies; the seven-stage crisis intervention model, psychological debriefing, and trauma support services. Breaking down the ACT model is as follows; A is for assessment/appraisal of immediate medical needs, threats to public safety and property damage (Roberts, 2005). C is connecting to support groups, the delivery of disaster relief and social services, and critical incident stress debriefing (Mitchell and Everly’s CISD model) implemented (Roberts,2005). The T is for traumatic stress reactions, sequelae, and post-traumatic stress disorders (PTSDs) (Roberts, 2005).

The reason for the research is to see what challenges the nurses encounter, their preparation before disaster. Daniel B.J 2014, stated that productive and safe delivery of critical care in time of disaster is very complicated and requires careful planning, taking into consideration a basic plan that encompasses all disaster types is essential. Healthcare system should

Triage is a necessity in the medical field which opens the door to expedited care for individuals who need immediate interventions, as compared to those who can wait. When a patient enters an emergency department a triage nurse will complete a quick assessment of the patient to assess the level of acuity of care that the patient will most likely require. Triage is practiced in five staggered levels in the majority of hospitals in the United States today (AECP, 2010). The first level or level one is the resuscitation level, which signifies

Its aim is to risk stratify patient presentations and prioritize them accordingly as a way of allocation limited resources, such as staff and physical space based on their clinical need (5). Patients are usually triaged within 10-15 minutes, into 5 levels with 1 being the highest acuity. Level 1 and 2 patients are given highest priority and are often assigned an ED bed for resuscitation or stabilization. Level 4 and 5 patients are less acute cases and are seen in designated locations. Level 3 are the trickiest ones as though their vitals are stable their conditions could potentially progress to a serious problem requiring emergency intervention. These patients are not provided a bed, nor are directed to designated locations and end up being assigned to ED waiting room. They are similar to triage level 1 and 2 patients in relation to length of stay, admission rates and number of tests and procedures order, hence are prone to longer waits and higher risk of delayed care. It is recommended that ED management strategies should focus on processes to better evaluate triage level 3 patients

This current problem correlates with other issues within the emergency department. A study was performed by the Institute of Medicine (IOM) demonstrating the six components of the evaluations of the quality of one’s care; Safety, effectiveness, patient centered care, efficiency, time, and equitability (Strang, Crotts, Johnson, Hartling, Guttman, 2015). The scope of my project involves training, education and changing the way our department interacts with arriving patients and the triaging process. The lack of specific tasks and communication in the triage area also lives. A dearth in communication has been directly linked to delays in patient care, medication errors, and lack of accountability (Sayah, Rogers, Devarajan, Kingsley-Rocker, Lobon, 2014). With the use of appropriate quick triage, communication, and transfer of patients one can implement targeted goals in triage (Craig et at., 2016).

1. Share your own definition of disaster and your thoughts on your role in an emergency or disaster (Both professional and personal).

A disaster, man-made or natural, is defined as any type of incidence that causes destruction, death, or damage that impacts the capability of the community to respond to using accessible resources (Nies & McEwen, 2015). For this week’s discussion post, I will describe the role and responsibilities of the nurse in relation to a disaster. I will also explain how my community is prepared to deal with a natural disaster, including protocols or guidelines that are in place.

Citizens of the United States face catastrophic disaster such as hurricane, tornadoes, hazmat spills and flooding. Emergency management situations varies. Managers have to put into consideration the type of disasters or the response of citizens. A great example, the hurricane in Tuscaloosa, AL required large amounts of medical and debris assistance from teams to help return the destructed site back to prior condition. National Disaster Medical Systems would be one of the first to respond if there is a tragic event like in Tuscaloosa, AL. Threw research, I hope to cover the history, objectives, goals, and support towards National Disaster Medical System.

Several existing problems precipitated the creation of the triage system implemented by Kathryn Angell in an effort to deliver improved medical care. The main problem was a lack of coordination in service delivery. This lack of coordination caused excessive wait times on the order of anywhere from 23 to 40 minutes to see a nurse, 40 to 50 minutes to see a doctor, and as long as 55 minutes to get a prescription filled. The practice of all nurses being involved initially in seeing all patients caused duplication of efforts, including repeating questions and examinations, and resulted in procedural bottlenecks. Additionally, there were inconsistent levels of service and extreme variation in treatment because of the different experience

A current issue today that impacts the society's citizens, health care and the profession of nursing is the health care system's response to large disasters. Earthquakes, floods, and hurricanes are large natural disasters that occur worldwide. Acts of terrorism are another form of disaster that our society has suffered from, however these are man-made disasters. Disasters affect families, children, schools, businesses, health care professionals, and also the health care system. In the instance that a disaster should occur, the health care system must be fully prepared; this includes having a clear and effective plan and collaborating with organizations in that area beforehand. A disaster prepared plan can allow the health care professionals to provide adequate care and support to the public. This particular issue is interesting because many people are not aware of the planning and the details that must be considered in disaster preparedness and response plans. All individuals particularly in the health care profession, such as nurses, must be well-educated about this topic to better the health care system’s response to large disasters.

For many years the population suffers with unpreparedness during an emergency. Disasters occur all around the world and health care executives need to guarantee that their organization develops an all-hazards emergency plan relevant to the type of organization and their location. Also, regulation and implementation of an effective plan that provides the best outcome during a disaster is essential to the population. Hospitals and healthcare facilities are responsible to provide patient care and are expected to be prepared for any emergency that may happen. Nurses are essential responders to a