(P2-55) The Role of Nursing in International Disasters: Lessons Learned

Abstract

A disaster may result from a serious or sudden catastrophic event that has the potential for massive loss of infrastructure and significant mortality and morbidity. Disasters may be caused by natural or man-made events. With either type, the forces of the event overwhelm the first responders and health organizations in the stricken community and outside assistance is required. Developing countries have the highest burden with limited available resources. Today's complex disasters have increased the need for mobile medical/surgical response teams to provide disaster care. The United States (US) Government created the International Medical Surgical Response Teams (IMSuRT), which, on short notice, deploy a multidisciplinary team of doctors, nurses, and other health professionals to disasters around the world. IMSuRT has a rapidly deployable, fully equipped field hospital. Historically, Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) in Boston, Massachusetts, US, has played a significant role in responding to humanitarian efforts both within the US and internationally. The MGH nurses play key roles in several response teams, including IMSuRT. Disaster nursing has many unique challenges. Nurses practice daily under controlled situations and become expert in one specialty; however, in the disaster setting this is not possible. Disaster nursing requires a fundamental change in the care of patients. During disasters, nurses work in areas that are not their primary specialty. Disaster nurses must be prepared in the essentials of disaster response- this requires planning, preparation, and training with multiple simulation drills focusing on patient scenarios, equipment utilization, teamwork, triage, decontamination, and scene safety. We must be creative, adaptable, and flexible to the needs of the disaster. Most importantly, cultural sensitivity, and communication are important factors in the delivery of disaster care.