EMERGENCY AND DISASTER NURSING
Lecturer: Prof. Romeo A. Marquez Jr., RN, MANc Reference Book: Disaster Nursing – Udan
NUR 450 Principles of Emergency and Disaster Nursing Lecture Notes.
PRINCIPLES OF EMERGENCY AND DISASTER NURSING
DISASTER
Any occurrence that causes damage, ecological disruption, loss of human life, deterioration
of health and health services on a scale, sufficient to warrant an extraordinary response from
outside the affected community or area (WHO).
Occurrence that causes human suffering and creates human needs that victims cannot
alleviate without assistance (American Red Cross)
Serious destruction of the functioning of the community or a society (United Nations)
MAIN FEATURES OF DISASTER:
o Unpredictability
o Unfamiliarity
o Speed
o Urgency
o Uncertainty
WHEN IS AN EVENT A DISASTER?
NDCC Memo Order No. 4, (March 4, 1998)
1. At least 20% of the population are affected and in need of emergency assistance or
whose dwelling units have been destroyed.
2. A great number or at least 40% of the means of livelihood such as bancas, fishing boats,
vehicles and the like are destroyed.
3. Major roads and bridges are destroyed and impassable for at least a week, thus disrupting
the flow of transport and commerce.
4. Widespread destruction of fishponds, crops, poultry and livestock, and other agricultural
products
5. Epidemics – worldwide affected with a certain disease.
TYPES OF DISASTER
NATURAL DISASTER – effect of natural hazard
MAN-MADE DISASTER – caused by people/humans
1. Biological (epidemic, insect infestation,
1. Technological - malfunction of a man-
animal stampede)
made structure or "human error"
2. Geophysical (earthquake, volcano, dry
(dam failures, transport failure, fire)
mass movement)
2. Industrial - caused by chemical,
3. Hydrological (flood, wet mass movement)
mechanical, civil, electrical
4. Meteorological (storm, cyclone, local
3. Warfare (war, terrorism)
storm)
5. Climatological (extreme temperature,
drought, wildfire)
PHASES OF DISASTER
PRE-IMPACT PHASE
o Initial phase of disaster
o Prior to actual occurrence
o Warning is given at the sign of the first possible danger to a
community. EXAMPLE: Meteorological disasters can be predicted
ROLE OF DISASTER NURSE:
1. Assist in preparing shelters and emergency aid stations
2. Establishing contact with other emergency service group
,1|Page
, IMPACT PHASE
o Disaster actually happens
o Enduring hardship or injury
o May last several minutes of for days or weeks
o Emergency operation center is established and put in operation (center of
communication for health needs)
ROLE OF DISASTER NURSE:
1. Care for direct victims (prioritization of nursing care)
2. Health promotion especially to vulnerable members of the community (children and elderly)
3. Responsible for psychological support to victims in the shelter
POST-IMPACT PHASE
o Beginning of recovery
o Return of normal community order and functioning
o May last a lifetime
EXAMPLE: Victims of atomic bomb in Hiroshima
FOUR (4) STAGES OF EMOTIONAL RESPONSE
1. DENIAL - victims may deny the magnitude of the problem (may appear unconcerned)
2. STRONG EMOTIONAL RESPONSE - victim is aware of the problem but
regards it as overwhelming and unbearable
3. ACCEPTANCE - victim begins to accept the problem and focuses on how to solve them
4. RECOVERY - victims feel they are back to normal
DISASTER NURSING
Adaptation of professional nursing knowledge, skills and attitude in recognizing and
meeting the nursing, health and emotional needs of disaster victims.
Holistic approach
GOALS: The overall goal is to achieve the best possible level of health for the people
and the community involved in the disaster.
1. Meet immediate basic survival needs
2. Identify the potential for a secondary disaster
3. Appraise both risks and resources in the environment
4. Correct inequalities in access to healthcare or appropriate resources
5. Empower survivors to participate in and advocate for their own health and well-being
6. Respect cultural, lingual, and religious diversity in individuals and families and to apply
this principle in all health promotion activities
7. Promote highest achievable quality of life for survivors
PRINCIPLES OF DISASTER NURSING
ICN FRAMEWORK OF DISASTER NURSING COMPETENCIES version 2 (2019)
Level I – Any nurse who has completed a program of basic, generalized nursing
education and is authorized to practice by the regulatory agency of his/her country.
e.g., Student nurses
Level II – Any nurse who has achieved the Level I competencies and is/aspires to be a
designated disaster responder within an institution, organization or system.
e.g.,
o Supervising or head nurse
o Nurse designated for leadership within an organization's emergency plan
o Preparedness/response nurse educator
2|Page
Lecturer: Prof. Romeo A. Marquez Jr., RN, MANc Reference Book: Disaster Nursing – Udan
NUR 450 Principles of Emergency and Disaster Nursing Lecture Notes.
PRINCIPLES OF EMERGENCY AND DISASTER NURSING
DISASTER
Any occurrence that causes damage, ecological disruption, loss of human life, deterioration
of health and health services on a scale, sufficient to warrant an extraordinary response from
outside the affected community or area (WHO).
Occurrence that causes human suffering and creates human needs that victims cannot
alleviate without assistance (American Red Cross)
Serious destruction of the functioning of the community or a society (United Nations)
MAIN FEATURES OF DISASTER:
o Unpredictability
o Unfamiliarity
o Speed
o Urgency
o Uncertainty
WHEN IS AN EVENT A DISASTER?
NDCC Memo Order No. 4, (March 4, 1998)
1. At least 20% of the population are affected and in need of emergency assistance or
whose dwelling units have been destroyed.
2. A great number or at least 40% of the means of livelihood such as bancas, fishing boats,
vehicles and the like are destroyed.
3. Major roads and bridges are destroyed and impassable for at least a week, thus disrupting
the flow of transport and commerce.
4. Widespread destruction of fishponds, crops, poultry and livestock, and other agricultural
products
5. Epidemics – worldwide affected with a certain disease.
TYPES OF DISASTER
NATURAL DISASTER – effect of natural hazard
MAN-MADE DISASTER – caused by people/humans
1. Biological (epidemic, insect infestation,
1. Technological - malfunction of a man-
animal stampede)
made structure or "human error"
2. Geophysical (earthquake, volcano, dry
(dam failures, transport failure, fire)
mass movement)
2. Industrial - caused by chemical,
3. Hydrological (flood, wet mass movement)
mechanical, civil, electrical
4. Meteorological (storm, cyclone, local
3. Warfare (war, terrorism)
storm)
5. Climatological (extreme temperature,
drought, wildfire)
PHASES OF DISASTER
PRE-IMPACT PHASE
o Initial phase of disaster
o Prior to actual occurrence
o Warning is given at the sign of the first possible danger to a
community. EXAMPLE: Meteorological disasters can be predicted
ROLE OF DISASTER NURSE:
1. Assist in preparing shelters and emergency aid stations
2. Establishing contact with other emergency service group
,1|Page
, IMPACT PHASE
o Disaster actually happens
o Enduring hardship or injury
o May last several minutes of for days or weeks
o Emergency operation center is established and put in operation (center of
communication for health needs)
ROLE OF DISASTER NURSE:
1. Care for direct victims (prioritization of nursing care)
2. Health promotion especially to vulnerable members of the community (children and elderly)
3. Responsible for psychological support to victims in the shelter
POST-IMPACT PHASE
o Beginning of recovery
o Return of normal community order and functioning
o May last a lifetime
EXAMPLE: Victims of atomic bomb in Hiroshima
FOUR (4) STAGES OF EMOTIONAL RESPONSE
1. DENIAL - victims may deny the magnitude of the problem (may appear unconcerned)
2. STRONG EMOTIONAL RESPONSE - victim is aware of the problem but
regards it as overwhelming and unbearable
3. ACCEPTANCE - victim begins to accept the problem and focuses on how to solve them
4. RECOVERY - victims feel they are back to normal
DISASTER NURSING
Adaptation of professional nursing knowledge, skills and attitude in recognizing and
meeting the nursing, health and emotional needs of disaster victims.
Holistic approach
GOALS: The overall goal is to achieve the best possible level of health for the people
and the community involved in the disaster.
1. Meet immediate basic survival needs
2. Identify the potential for a secondary disaster
3. Appraise both risks and resources in the environment
4. Correct inequalities in access to healthcare or appropriate resources
5. Empower survivors to participate in and advocate for their own health and well-being
6. Respect cultural, lingual, and religious diversity in individuals and families and to apply
this principle in all health promotion activities
7. Promote highest achievable quality of life for survivors
PRINCIPLES OF DISASTER NURSING
ICN FRAMEWORK OF DISASTER NURSING COMPETENCIES version 2 (2019)
Level I – Any nurse who has completed a program of basic, generalized nursing
education and is authorized to practice by the regulatory agency of his/her country.
e.g., Student nurses
Level II – Any nurse who has achieved the Level I competencies and is/aspires to be a
designated disaster responder within an institution, organization or system.
e.g.,
o Supervising or head nurse
o Nurse designated for leadership within an organization's emergency plan
o Preparedness/response nurse educator
2|Page
