Preparing nurses for future disasters - the Sichuan experience

Abstract

Catastrophic disasters occur infrequently. Large numbers of health professionals are required to respond and many will have neither the experience nor training to provide effective care. Nurses are often the first on the scene and the first to instigate care to those in need. The aftermath of such disasters provides an opportunity for reflection. Responders are reminded of the pain and suffering they witnessed and, in many cases, experienced. There is also the opportunity to learn from these experiences with the potential to enhance our ability to respond to similar events in the future.This article describes the development and subsequent pilot testing of a short training program developed and delivered to 50 senior nurses who were involved in the earthquake in the Sichuan Province, China, in May 2008. The experiences and knowledge gained following the Sichuan earthquake, and shared by all during the course, have been used to inform current training programmes in emergency and disaster preparedness for nurses. These courses are now being delivered in China and other countries. Key issues that will be explored in the paper include; course design, content and delivery, and consideration of the well being of participants who have been responders in the recent disaster. The lessons learned from this course will add to the growing literature on the preparation of nurses for emergency or disaster situations which is essential to ensure quality care for future disaster victims. © 2011 College of Emergency Nursing Australasia Ltd.