The Role of Nurses in an Interdisciplinary Care Team responding to Mass Fatality Disasters: Promoting Equity and Access to Care

Abstract

<p>The majority of individuals cared for by international relief organizations responding to multi-fatality disasters are those with limited access to care; therefore, human care inequities are frequently apparent. This presentation will focus on nurses facilitating equity and access to care for survivors of mass fatality disasters through an interdisciplinary care team model. Using a reflective practice methodology, the first presenter will describe her “lived experience” as a nurse working on an interdisciplinary care team responding to catastrophic disasters. The nurse’s role in facilitating culturally sensitive care access for those most disenfranchised will be highlighted. The second presenter will describe an evaluation of prior mass fatality disaster responses including narratives from disaster relief workers, disaster leadership SWOT analysis (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats), and an online survey of 120 members of interdisciplinary post-disaster care teams. Key findings, focused on the unique role of nurses, will be presented. The final presenter will describe a systematic review process to synthesize the best evidence from the international literature on disaster response. Implications and action steps for nurses responding to future disasters will be highlighted.</p>