Nursing Students' Perceptions About Disaster Nursing

An exploration of perceptions of disaster nursing and disaster preparedness among Australian nursing undergraduates

“…This is consistent with the literature, with several authors reporting similar findings (Duong, 2009;Fung, Lai, & Loke, 2009;Hammad, Arbon, & Gebbie, 2011;Jennings-Sanders, Frisch, & Wing, 2005). The contextual definitions held by these undergraduates influenced the way that they then conceptualized disaster nursing, disaster preparedness and the roles that they might undertake in a disaster response.…”

“…There is evidence in the literature that registered nurses hold similar notions of the roles and responsibilities of disaster nurses to those held by participants in this research (Al Khalaileh, Bond, & Alasad, 2012;American Nurses Association, 2008;Arbon, Bobrowski, Zeit, Hooper, Williams, & Thitchener, 2006;Fung, Loke, & Lai, 2008;Ireland, Ea, Kontzamanis, & Michel, 2006;JenningsSanders et al, 2005;Nasrabadi, Naji, Mirzabeigi, & Dadbakhs, 2007;Slepski, 2007;Tichy, Bond, Beckstrand, & Heise, 2009;Tillman, 2011;Usher, 2010;Yang, Xiao, Cheng, Zhu, & Arbon, 2010). Conversely, the literature reporting on nursing undergraduates found that few respondents identified clinical roles for disaster nurses, a finding at odds with those of this study (Jennings-Sanders et al, 2005).…”

“…The term disaster nursing is imprecisely defined within the literature (Jennings- Sanders et al, 2005). Just as there is no single, universally accepted definition of disaster, there is no single accepted definition of disaster nursing.…”

“…'the systematic and flexible utilisation of knowledge and skills specific to disaster-related nursing and the promotion of a wide range of activities to minimise the health hazards and life-threatening damage caused by disasters in collaboration with other fields' (Japan Society of Disaster Nurses, 2004, cited in Jennings- Sanders et al, 2005). Whereas Powers (2010) defines disaster nursing in terms of a goal:…”

Enhancing disaster preparedness of specialty nurses on a national scale

“…However, it is cautioned that nurses willingness to come to work during a disaster, depends on a combination of both personal and work related factors . It is however, recommended that education is provided to all student nurses within their degree programme (Jennings-Sanders, Frisch and Wing, 2005), however, interdisciplinary education is desirable as it promotes team work (Duarte & Haynes, 2006). Education may be delivered in a number of ways including different modes of simulation which can be tailored to suit the availability of resources and desired educational outcomes (Pattillo, 2006).…”