REVIEW: PUBLIC HEALTH NURSES’ ROLES AND COMPETENCIES IN DISASTER MANAGEMENT
ABSTRACT: Currently, the
incidence of disasters the biggest catastrophes that threaten people’s livelihoods,
health, and even lives has been increasing around the world. This situation
provides the challenge for health care professionals, particularly public
health nurses (PHNs), to be actively involved in disaster management.
Purpose: The purposes of this study are to review PHNs’ roles and
competencies in disaster management in facing with natural disaster.
Method: A relevant literature searched from databases: PubMed, CINAHL,
the Cochrane and ProQuest Medical Library, and Science Direct were conducted.
Key words used to retrieve included role and competency of PHNs or community
nurses in disaster, disaster management, and disaster nursing. Searching was
limited in English language, full text, and the year of publication starting
from 2000.
Results: Twenty-eight related studies were intensively reviewed. Several
roles for PHNs in disaster management were identified. PHNs hold major roles in
providing health management and assistance throughout the community and public
healthcare system during all disaster phases including preparedness, response,
and recovery phase. Moreover, determining PHNs’ involvement in disaster
management requires certain competencies to assure their contribution in
disaster events. In addition, training and education, and the experience with
disaster event can influence the PHNs’ competency in responding to disaster
occurrences.
Conclusion: Literatures showed that PHNs play roles as one of the
valuable resources and are actively involved in disaster management. PHNs’
roles and competencies in disaster management is necessary because they are
well-recognized and trusted in the community and frequently work closely with
the disadvantaged and vulnerable group who often affected by disasters.
Author: Ardia Putra, Wongchan
Petpichetchian
Journal Code: jpkeperawatangg110003
