The role of nursing in a mas casualty event - Research Paper Example

Acts of terrorism, disease outbreaks and natural and man-made disasters can occur anywhere at any time. Some of the disasters for which for which we must be prepared are avian influenza outbreaks, violent storms, bombing, floods, fires and transport accidents. Whatever may be the form of such casualties, in case there is always a need for nurses various services to comply with the crucial needs of such an event. In Zwirn et. al., The International Nursing Coalition for Mass Casualty Education has expressed that every nurse, on graduation from an entry levels, must have knowledge and abilities to respond to emergencies of various forms, and also that if you or your staff are unaware of any such knowledge, then you must work to acquire any such, before you are asked to respond to any emergencies.

(Zwirn, et. al., 2006) In short, it is intended that nurses, without the aid to usual medical support, must be able to react in a mass casualty or emergency, affecting a larger group in unusual circumstances. At Columbia University, excellent instructive programs have been developed including the Mailman School of Public Health National Center for Disaster Preparedness and also at the Saint Louis University School of Public Health the Institute for Biosecurity and in last but not the least the certification at the Vanderbilt University School of Nursing called the Mass Casualty Education (Nursing Emergency Preparedness Education Coalition, 2007).

Disaster EducationAll sorts of medical and ethical and social trainings must include the preparedness activities. As stated by Veenema (2003) a number of useful materials can be found at the Federal Emergency Management Agency's website (FEMA), information provided at this website includes disaster fact sheets and special material is available for parents, health professionals and teachers also to guide them as to how to speak to minors about terrorism and casualties. This material is also useful in preparing you and your family to prepare for such incidents.

These materials particularly discuss the measures necessary after the very crucial seventy two hours of the emergency, particularly when the possibility of state aid and local help is low. (Veenema, 2003)As volunteers and nurses it is essential that we must know that how available resources at the event of a calamity can be made use of efficiently. To counter such emergencies, it necessary that we must be aware of our society's susceptibilities and also realize the calamity plans and other practical societal activities for instance mock drills.

Such experiences are highly useful if we are the first responders in any event, and what if the available persons are the only trained disaster-trained personnel, and how ones behavior would vary if we are to permanently offer our services as caregivers. (Congressional Testimony, 2006)Recognizing Potential ThreatsUsually nurses are the first trained professionals, to which people approach in the event of some form of casualty. Although most of us haven't experienced disorders that may be regarded as bioterror weapons, it is essential t