Jo Moores
Professor Goran
Integrated Experience III
09/22/2022
ePortfolio Post I: Disaster Nursing
Disasters, either natural or man-made, can be devastating and put the lives of impacted people at risk. In the perspective of healthcare professionals, various ethical and moral decisions often need to be addressed. Nurses play a vital role in determining not only what is best for them, but also what is most beneficial to their patients.
Nurses play a key role in the care of patients during disasters; circumstances are unpredictable and the trust of patients falls on the nurses. The nurse wears many hats during instances of catastrophe; they activate the disaster plan in their facilities, take care of patients, evacuate patients as needed, and facilitate transportation to other healthcare entities should care not be able to be fulfilled given the circumstances.
A nurse may find him or herself in a situation where a patient needs to be taken care of, however, the same duty applies to oneself as well. Nurses may struggle with this, as they often put others before themselves in regular circumstances. Let alone, dire circumstances. Furthermore, it is still essential to consider that no care can be provided if there is no nurse to provide said care; the self should be prioritized so that help can be given to those in need.
Jordan, thank you for sharing so thoughtfully. I appreciate your recognition of all of the potential roles a nurse could play in a disaster scenario, and your acknowledgment that nurses must take care of self in order to contribute effectively to the disaster response.