Willingness to respond in a disaster: a pediatric nurse practitioner national survey

Abstract

Objective: The objective of this study was to examine factors associated with pediatric nurse practitioners (PNPs) reporting to work in the event of a disaster.

Methods: An anonymous national survey of PNPs was conducted. Several domains were explored, including demographics, personal preparedness plans, disaster training, prior disaster experience, and likelihood of responding in the event of a disaster. A logistic regression analysis was conducted to determine which factors were associated with the respondent's likelihood of responding in the event of a disaster.

Results: Factors associated with increased likelihood of responding included gender (being a male PNP), military experience, and disaster training. The most significant factor associated with an increased likelihood of responding to work during a disaster was having a specified role in the workplace disaster plan. PNPs with a specified role were three times more likely to respond than were those without a specified role.

Conclusions: PNPs are health care workers with advanced skill sets. This untapped resource is available to provide care for a vulnerable population: our children. Disaster planners should explore the possibility of utilizing these highly skilled health care workers in their disaster plans.