How do you see health policy impacting nursing practice in preparing for emergencies?
How do you see health policy impacting nursing practice in preparing for emergencies?
Introduction
As a nursing professional, you know that your patients need to be safe and secure. You also know that in times of crisis, people often seek help from their friends and family members who are nurses. This means that when there is an emergency at your hospital or clinic, it’s important for everyone involved–physicians and nurses–to know what to do in order to keep themselves and others safe. In this article we’ll explore how health policy impacts nursing practice by discussing topics such as first response (e.g., treating people with potential exposure to toxins), terrorism and bioterrorism (e.g., what should a nurse do if an individual has been exposed?), disaster planning (e.g., how can hospitals prepare for emergencies such as pandemics or earthquakes), etc…
First Response: The Nurse Responds
As a nurse, you are the first responder to a disaster. You have the power to save lives and comfort people during this time of crisis. You must be prepared for emergencies and know what steps to take if one occurs.
Patient care: The nurse is in charge of patient safety, including making sure that all patients receive proper care while they’re in an emergency situation. If a patient needs immediate attention but cannot speak because they’ve been injured or lost consciousness, it’s your job as an RN (registered nurse) or LPN (licensed practical nurse) at hand-over point A/C
Terrorism and Bioterrorism
Bioterrorism:
While the focus of this article is on preparedness, it’s worth noting that there are many ways to prepare for a bioterrorism event. The most common ways include:
Knowing what to do in the event of an outbreak, such as by knowing your personal information and having access to medical care if needed;
Having plans for when you can’t get out of your home or office due to natural disasters (for example, flooding);
Being able to recognize signs of injuries and illnesses at first sight so that they can be treated immediately without delay or unnecessary contact with others (this includes knowing how to treat wounds).
In the wake of the tragedies of September 11, 2001, it is important that nurses in all settings be familiar with guidelines and information related to disaster planning and preparation.
In the wake of the tragedies of September 11, 2001, it is important that nurses in all settings be familiar with guidelines and information related to disaster planning and preparation. These guidelines can help ensure that you are prepared for emergencies or disasters as well as terrorism. You should also be prepared for earthquakes since they are very common occurrences in many parts of the world.
In addition to being familiar with these guidelines and information related to disaster planning and preparation, you should also make sure your facility has an effective communication system in place so that everyone knows what actions need to be taken if there is an emergency situation at any time during their shift or shift rotation.
Conclusion
The nurses in our hospitals and oncology units work hard to help patients and their families after a tragedy like the ones we have experienced recently. We can all take steps toward assisting with disaster preparation, from educating ourselves about what happens during an emergency, to planning for the most likely scenarios that may come up at home or at work. It is important that everyone be prepared for future events like these so that when they occur we are able to respond quickly without causing injury or death.
