Emergency Nurse Perceptions of Individual and Facility Emergency Preparedness

IntroductionDisasters of any variety can occur at any given moment. Emergency departments are at the forefront of the response system, serving as the gateway to the most appropriate care of victims. The intent of the survey described in this article was to assess nurses' perception of their role in a disaster and their perceived susceptibility to a disaster. In addition, basic knowledge and role preparation was reviewed.MethodsA descriptive survey using survey methodology was utilized. The 56-question survey, including 16 demographic questions, was developed for the purpose of this study.ResultsThe results reflect that many emergency nurses have not taken basic actions to prepare themselves for a disaster, either personally or professionally.DiscussionThis article highlights the importance of disaster education geared to the needs of the emergency nurse.