Understanding the willingness of emergency nurses to respond to a health care disaster

Researchers: Paul Arbon, Jamie Ranse, Lynette Cusack

Disaster response is an emergency nursing responsibility. However responding to disasters is becoming more hazardous as terrorism, pandemics and chemical industrial accidents challenge the safety of nurse responders and their families. International experience has shown that nurses can become victims of disasters and that fear of contaminating family and friends may prevent nurses from attending work or returning home during a disaster response.

This research contributes to disaster planning by providing insight into the factors that affect the willingness of Australian emergency nurses to respond to disasters. This research will facilitate disaster planning and policy development at national and health agency levels that better supports the personal needs of emergency nurses during disaster response.

Disaster response in aged‐care facilities

Researcher: Lynette Cusack

A literature review on disaster management in the aged care sector and an analysis of the emerging key issues was undertaken. This led to a report summarizing the key issues for managers of aged care services to consider in their planning for hazards and potential disastrous events. From this report a number of collaborative strategies were identified. One of these was the provision of basic training for aged care service administrators and staff about the process of undertaking disaster management contingency planning. A workshop on this topic was developed and supported by Aged & Community Services SA & NT, Resthaven Inc. and the SA Health Director of Emergency Management.