LACC Nursing Implications of An Earthquake Discussion Responses – Description
respond to the discussion posts:
What are some of the nursing implications of this disaster?
What diseases do you need be concerned about and how would you protect yourself and others? Be specific.
1. Nursing implications during an earthquake can involve various challenges and responsibilities for nurses. In the video provided, we are able to see the severity and destruction earthquakes cause. “Earthquakes can have immediate and long-term impacts on health. Immediate health impacts include trauma-related deaths and injuries from building collapse; trauma-related deaths and injuries from the secondary effects of the earthquake, like drowning from tsunamis or burns from fires” (World Health Organization, 2023). The nursing implications during an earthquake include triage and emergency response, emotional support, first aid, and monitoring ongoing physical and mental health needs (National Library of Medicine, 2021). Earthquakes can also cause emotional trauma and distress. The ability to offer patients, families, and coworkers comfort, emotional support, and psychological first aid should be a priority for nurses. They should connect people with the proper mental health resources while actively listening to them and validating their feelings when necessary. Earthquakes cause traumatic injuries, respiratory illnesses, and more. Individuals are at risk of getting hurt during an earthquake. During an earthquake disaster, nurses must be cautious of their health. Protecting ourselves and others is vital. Wearing the correct PPE and frequent hand hygiene is essential in preventing the spread of infections, particularly when dealing with wounds, contaminated surfaces, or during patient care.
2. Hurricanes can result in not only physiological harm to communities in harms way, as a result of the forces associated with hurricanes, but also the psychological stress of preparation before and recovery after the event. High winds associated with hurricane and hurricane formation cause damage as they pave their path, putting out power lines and leaving behind debris that may be toxic. According to the National Hurricane Center (n.d.), sea levels may rise as a result of storm surge which may cause damage to buildings and roads. Nursing plays a significant role in natural disasters such as Hurricanes by educating communities on how to stay safe during these events but also by serving the community after the event has occurred. According to Cleveland Clinic (2020), nurses do so by ensuring adequate staffing levels prior to the event occurring and preparedness for the type of patients expected to arrive related to the disaster both during and post-event.
Communities devastated by hurricane are often left with limited access to vital lines lines such as electricity and access to clean water. This may result in poor hygiene, compromised sanitation, and contaminated sources of food. This leaves individuals vulnerable to a variety of common communicable infectious diseases (Liang & Messenger, 2018). According to Liang & Messenger (2018), diarrheal illnesses, such as those caused by Hepatitis A virus, cause approximately 40% of deaths in natural disasters with hydrologic disasters. In the U.S., this is especially common where flooding is experienced as a result of the disaster. Hepatitis A is transmitted through food and water that has been contaminated and is often found in areas with poor sanitary conditions (Liang & Messenger, 2018). As a result, it is no surprise that flood-associated outbreaks have been previously reported. Fortunately, Hepatitis A infection is preventable through vaccination. While vaccines may be widely available to some communities, it is not always accessible to all. Other interventions for protection against diarrheal illnesses include hand hygiene, use of appropriate PPE, and following standard, contact, droplet, and airborne precautions where applicable.
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