Preparing Nurses for Disaster Management, by Joanne C. Langan and Dotti C. James

PREPARING NURSES FOR DISASTER MANAGEMENT
by Joanne C. Langan, Ph.D., RN , Saint Louis University School of Nursing
and Dotti C. James, Ph.D., RN, Saint Louis University School of Nursing

Nurses are expected to provide skilled, competent care after natural and
man-made disasters. This
comprehensive resource prepares nurses, nursing students and administrators to
provide care to victims
of natural disasters, as well as disasters caused by biological, chemical or
radiological agents. It offers
vital information on disaster planning, response implementation and management
of casualties, as well
as post-disaster restoration, treatment of psychological effects of disasters and
caring for children and
vulnerable populations.

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FEATURES

- Step-by-step procedures that compile accepted response protocols for a
variety of situations
- An extensive list of CDC protocols
- Story boxes that heighten the sense of realism facilitated by stories from
trauma nurses,
physicians and nurses in the field, and survivors of natural and man-made
disasters
- Case studies included in each chapter
- Tests at the end of each chapter serve as an excellent review
- Internet resources provide relevant Media Links pertaining to disaster
preparedness and
response

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For courses in Public Health Nursing and any Disaster Preparedness course
offered on the
undergraduate and/or graduate level.

This resource addresses issues in disaster preparedness specific to nurses in a
host of practice sites.
Through a compilation of research, nurses’ personal experiences in disaster and
trauma care, firsthand
accounts from the authors and other experts in bioterrorism and disaster
preparedness, this resource
introduces students to basic disaster nursing and works to help prepare them for a
wide spectrum of
settings and situations that are relevant in today's world.

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EXCERPT

“This textbook addresses issues in disaster preparedness specific to nurses in a
variety of practice
sites. This is important for nurses who will be leaders in caring for disaster victims.
Nurses will play key
roles in disaster relief whether they work full time, part time, or at home in their
communities.

“Nurses will be expected to help victims, rescuers, family members, and friends
who are directly or
indirectly involved in mass casualty events. The public expects professional nurses
to provide skilled,
competent care after natural and man-made disasters. Therefore, nurses have the
responsibility to learn
basic disaster preparedness.

“This textbook will introduce nurses and students to basic disaster nursing. It is a
compilation of research
and nurses' personal experiences in disaster and trauma care, from the authors'
experiences and from
other experts in bioterrorism and disaster preparedness. We were part of a team
who traveled to Israel
to study with nurses and health care professionals who deal with terrorism and
disasters on a daily basis.
Many effective disaster planning and response systems are in place in other
countries. We welcome
comments from nurses in these countries and will compile this information in later
editions of Preparing
Nurses for Disaster Management. Our education is ongoing. We must prepare our
families, neighbors
and communities to respond appropriately to terrorism and disasters of all types.

“Chapter 1 presents a general overview of types of disasters; conventional and
nonconventional
terrorism, and chemical, biological, and nuclear terrorist agents. Chapters 2 and 3
contain practical
advice for planning and organizing health care agencies for disasters, including
assessing community
and organizational vulnerability, identifying agencies involved in disaster response,
and agencies and
personnel who are integral in coordinating rescue efforts. Chapter 4 explores
mental health theory and
explains how nurses promote mental health before and after disasters. Chapters 5
through 11 deal with
preparing nurses in a variety of practice settings to assist patients and victims with
diverse needs to
prepare for the trauma of disasters. The final chapter shares stories from persons
who live in the
aftermath of disasters. Selected chapters include Nursing Vignettes,
commentaries from nurses who
have experienced disasters, or respond to terrorism on a daily basis.

“This textbook will assist educators to integrate disaster preparedness within
existing curricula. The
tests, case studies, and discussion questions will identify areas needing
reinforcement or additional
education. In addition, agencies will use this book as a foundation for staff and
employee development.”

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CONTENTS

Foreword
Preface
Acknowledgments
Contributing Authors and Reviewers
About the Authors
Introduction

1 Disasters: A Basic Overview, by Joanne C. Langan
2 Planning for Disasters, by Joanne C. Langan and Julie Benbenishty
3 Organization and Implementation of the Disaster Responsem by Dotti C.
James
4 Promoting Mental Health: Predisaster and Postdisaster, by Dorcas E.
McLaughlin, Ruth B.
Murray, and Julie Benbenishty
5 Preparing Nursing Administrators, Faculty, and Students for Disasters, by
Joanne C. Langan,
Vered Kater, and Ayala Aharoni
6 Preparing Staff and Inactive Registered Nurses to Manage Casualties, by
Dotti C. James,
Joanne C. Langan, Helen Sandkuhl, and Julie Benbenishty
7 Management and Preparation for Battlefield Casualties, by Michelle R.
Mandy
8 Preparing Community Health Nurses and Nurses in Ambulatory Health
Care Facilities, by
Dotti C. James
9 Considerations for Vulnerable Populations, by Joanne C. Langan and Dotti
C. James
10 Preparing Nurses to Plan and Care for Children During Disaster Situations,
by Nina K.
Westhus, Diana Fendya, and Vered Kater
11 The Role of the Infection Control Nurse in Disaster Preparedness, by Terri
Rebmann
12 Disaster as the Personal Experience, by Joanne c. Langan and Vered
Kater

Appendix A Agencies and Acronyms
Appendix B Test Your Knowledge Answers
Appendix C Decontamination Forms and Volunteer Log

Index

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ABOUT THE AUTHORS

DOTTI C. JAMES, PhD, RN is an Associate Professor at Saint Louis University
School of Nursing. She
traveled as part of a team to the Henrietta Szold Hadassah Hebrew University
School of Nursing and the
Hadassah Medical Centers in Israel to learn about preparing health care providers
to manage mass
casualty events. She has spoken at area colleges, hospitals, skilled-care facilities,
and professional and
first responder organizations about various aspects of preparing for and responding
to terrorism. She is
currently a faculty member in the Disaster Preparedness Online Certificate
Program for Nurses, covering
topics such as organization of the disaster response, management of casualties,
and considerations for
vulnerable populations. Dr. James coordinates the online and onsite Perinatal
Nursing Graduate
Specialty. Her research interests include developing an evidence base for
intrapartal nursing
interventions, the effectiveness of educational strategies and techniques, and
nursing attitudes and
awareness about victims of violence. She has received awards for Excellence in
Classroom Teaching
from Saint Louis University and the Emerson Electric Company. Dr. James has
served in leadership
roles in local, regional, and national professional organizations, and is a
contributing author to three texts.

JOANNE C. LANGAN, PhD, RN is an Assistant Professor at Saint Louis
University School of Nursing.
She received a BS in Education from Quincy University and a BSN from the
University of Southern
Mississippi. Dr. Langan earned MSN and PhD degrees in Nursing Administration
and a Nursing
Education Certificate from George Mason University. While a faculty member at
GMU, she was the
Co-Project Director for the Washington Regional Academic and Community
Consortium and the Project
Director of the Partnerships for Quality Education. At Saint Louis University, Dr.
Langan is the
coordinator of the traditional students' Public Health Nursing course. Research and
areas of interest
include Faculty Practice and nursing student learning, the Nursing Shortage,
Community Partnerships in
Graduate Medical and Nursing Education, and Disaster Preparedness. She is a
contributing author for
two Community-Based Nursing Practice books. She was a member of a team who
received intensive
education at the Henrietta Szold Hadassah Hebrew University School of Nursing
and the Hadassah
Medical Centers in Israel and is developing modules and curriculum as a faculty
member of a
Bioterrorism/Disaster Preparedness Certificate Program. Dr. Langan is a
consultant/member of the
Emergency Preparedness Team at St. Joseph Hospital of Kirkwood.

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2005, 272 pages. Order #DR798.
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