Current Events. Disaster Preparedness and Response: Article Analysis

Disaster Preparedness and Response: Article Analysis
Name
Institution
Disaster Preparedness and Response: Article Analysis
Article
Veenema, T. G., Griffin, A., Gable, A. R., MacIntyre, L., Simons, R. N., Couig, M. P., ... & Larson, E. (2016). Nurses as leaders in disaster preparedness and response—a call to action. Journal of Nursing Scholarship, 48(2), 187-200.
Importance of The Article
The rate of disaster incidences over the past few decades poses a great risk to the general public health. They range from natural disasters, acts of terrorism and emerging infectious diseases that have challenged the operations and effectiveness of local health departments in disaster preparedness and response. The article recognizes the importance of the nursing profession in disaster management, and therefore, focuses on developing and expanding nurses' preparedness and response to disasters. The article aims to create a disaster nursing profession in the future. It, thus, contributes to the theme of disaster management by identifying barriers and facilitators of achieving disaster nursing and providing several recommendations to actualize the vision of disaster nursing.
Summary of Key Facts
The study involved semi-structured oral interviews that sought to develop key themes about the validity of the nursing profession in disaster management. The concepts were refined during a conference organized in December 2014 by the Veterans Emergency Management Evaluation Center. The workshop had 70 participants from diverse fields including nurses, emergency managers, and other professionals in public health. All gathered information was analyzed to develop various themes that are important in visualizing the effective preparedness and response of nurses to disasters. Also, the themes were to provide a guideline in developing nursing practices, education, policies, and further studies that support the agenda.
The thematic analysis of the various concepts led to the development of a strategy that will facilitate a special national nursing unit whose priority would be a timely and effective response to disasters and other public-related emergencies. The unit will be trained and equipped with high-end skills, knowledge, and resources to facilitate their duties. The nurses will;
* Have basic knowledge, skills, and abilities in disaster management
* Offer direct or indirect support towards disasters and emergency responses
* Campaign for or promote disaster preparedness in society, organizations, families, and other social groups
* Dedicate their professionalism by contributing to events, activities, or organizations related to disaster preparedness and response, regardless of their professional affiliations.
The panelist identified several barriers and facilitators that are important when planning, developing and organizing disaster nursing. They grouped the challenges into three categories; individual, organizational, and environmental or systematic factors.
Based on the proposed duties...