Question

The nurse has attended a staff training program about nursing roles during disasters. Which of the following statements by the nurse indicates the need for further training?

"Nurses may be responsible for activating notification systems to call in nurses who are not scheduled to work."

"General staff nurses should be assigned to perform triage for incoming clients to determine level of severity of injuries."

"Critical care nurses should be prepared to determine clients who are stable enough for transfer to ensure adequate beds for critically ill clients."

"Administrative nurses may have roles reassigned to provide care for stable clients on the unit."

Answer 1

The statement about general staff nurses performing triage during a disaster needs further training. Triage in emergency situations should be performed by personnel with specific training to quickly assess and prioritize patient care based on injury severity.

Step-by-step explanation:

The statement by the nurse that indicates a need for further training is: "General staff nurses should be assigned to perform triage for incoming clients to determine the level of severity of injuries." In disaster situations, triage is a highly specialized function that requires specific training to make quick and crucial decisions about the priority of patients' treatments based on the severity of their condition. The individuals responsible for triage, often experienced emergency or military medical personnel, must identify which patients require immediate attention, which can wait, and which are beyond help.

Other roles such as activating notification systems, critical care nurses assessing patient stability for transfers, and administrative nurses providing care are generally accepted and expected within their scope of training and disaster response protocols. However, positions involving the triage process or other specialized tasks should only be filled by those with the necessary expertise and training. Training for these roles will likely cover decision-making, teamwork, and efficiency – qualities essential for the management of medical emergencies and disasters.

Continued education and practice are important for maintaining and enhancing nurses' skills in these emergency settings, where their contributions can significantly impact survival rates and overall disaster management.