[Disaster response: essential competence for nurses]

Abstract

Disaster nursing is an essential competence for nurses today. Nurses must enhance their emergency treatment abilities and internalize evacuation and disaster-related concepts (time, resource, situation, and person) in order to deliver physical, psychological, social and spiritual holistic care to disaster victims and their families across the disaster stage continuum (i.e., before, impact, and after). Core disaster nursing competence include: knowledge, evacuation skills and physical, psychological and social trauma impact interventions targeting victims. Ethical and cultural sensitivities must be considered, and nurses must be familiar with response procedures as well as master communication and negotiation skills in order to consolidate group cooperation. The current challenge for nurses is to reconsider their role and function, focusing on disaster preparedness and preparedness drills in order to serve as an immediate and effective resource and manager both in the immediate aftermath of a disaster and the following recovery / health promotion period. Recognition and preparedness of disaster nursing related concepts are crucial because nurses must be recognized for the essential role they play in global society.