Disasters create havoc within the community, leading to property destruction, deterioration of medical services, health problems, and death. The community has adopted particular strategies aimed at averting the disaster menace and promote safety. During disasters, nurses act as the frontline workforce in response to catastrophes (Pourvakhshoori et al. 2017). They have the adequate knowledge and skills to respond to vulnerable individuals, including those injured. However, disasters can occur as natural or human-made catastrophes, and they can have a major impact on society. Because natural and human-made catastrophes are unpredictable and unexpected, it is vital to discuss nurses' role in response to disasters, including disaster characteristics and management styles.
The Coronavirus Disaster
The coronavirus disease epidemic is an ongoing global disaster that continues to ravage most economic powerhouses worldwide. The coronavirus disease is a natural disaster affecting humans' health, leading to economic shutdowns and poor development in the community (Ali & Alharbi, 2020). The coronavirus disaster characteristics include its mysterious appearance, its spreading mechanism, and its effects on an individual's health and social life (Ali & Alharbi, 2020). Scientists are trying to unravel the source of the coronavirus. Most people believe that the coronavirus disaster began when people consumed bats and snakes in Wuhan, China. However, this notion or belief is uncertain as researchers continue to work to unravel the hidden mystery. The coronavirus disaster spreads rapidly, and it seems to have no boundaries. The disease is highly contagious and spreads when sneeze or cough droplets from a positive individual are suspended in the air (Ali & Alharbi, 2020). It manifests as pneumonia affecting the lungs, which leads to breathing problems (Ali & Alharbi, 2020). The patient eventually perishes when the lungs collapse after filling with excess body fluids. Because the coronavirus disaster spreads like wildfire, government and health agencies require people to isolate themselves and avoid close contact with others. This has led to lockdowns that have disrupted businesses and the economy in general.
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Management Styles
Whether natural or human-made disasters, society needs to implement appropriate management styles to avert the menace. The main goal of disaster management styles in Covid-19 is to curb the disease's spread within the community. Disaster management encompasses various principles: disaster mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery (Alfred et al. 2015). In mitigation, healthcare agencies work with government authorities to minimize the disaster's effects (Alfred et al. 2015). In the coronavirus disaster case, public education is vital to disseminate information about safety and prevention measures to curb the spread. Based on preparedness, relevant authorities plan a response to the disaster. This includes training medical practitioners to interact with patients and perform emergency exercises when a positive case is identified (Alfred et al. 2015). In the response stage, relevant authorities apply strategies to minimize the disaster. This includes imposing lockdowns and restrictions to promote a change of behavior during the disaster. Finally, in the recovery stage, authorities work to normalize the community as it had been before the disaster (Alfred et al. 2015). This includes improving medical care and promoting social welfare. Most nations are currently applying these management styles to curb the spread of the coronavirus disaster.
Roles and Responsibilities of Nurses in Disaster
Nurses need to have confidence, value human life and take full responsibility in providing care and treatment during disasters. The coronavirus epidemic has shown the importance of nurses and other medical practitioners. Nurses provide emergency care services to covid-19 patients. These emergency care services include assessing patients, diagnosis, interventions, and evaluations (Deitrick et al. 2020). Based on nursing assessments, nurses examine the travel history of patients and perform physical examinations. This includes examinations of covid-19 symptoms like fever, cough, fatigue, sore throat, and nausea (Deitrick et al. 2020). Nurses assist in diagnosis by examining fever, breathing problems, and the patient's knowledge concerning covid-19. Nurses engage in care plans aimed at reducing the effects of coronavirus disease. This involves reducing fever, assessing breathing patterns, and preventing the patient from interacting with the community (Deitrick et al. 2020). Nurses perform covid-19 interventions by analyzing the signs and symptoms on patients, curbing transmission, and monitoring oxygen exchange in patients (Deitrick et al. 2020). Nurses also ensure patients' isolation, information dissemination, and enforce hygiene to prevent the virus's spread.
The coronavirus epidemic as a natural disaster has negatively impacted the community, leading to disruption of healthcare facilities and the economy. The management styles involved in disaster management include mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery. The globe is currently applying these management styles to curb the spread of the coronavirus epidemic. Nurses continue to play a vital role in the management of the disease by providing emergency care services. Therefore, nations should intensify the fight against the coronavirus epidemic by deploying more nurses and medical practitioners to assist in the treatment and patient care.
References
Alfred, D., Chilton, J., Connor, D., Deal, B., Fountain, R., Hensarling, J., & Klotz, L. (2015). Preparing for disasters: Education and management strategies explored. Nurse education in practice, 15(1), 82-89.
Ali, I., & Alharbi, O. M. (2020). COVID-19: Disease, management, treatment, and social impact. Science of the Total Environment, 728, 138861.
Deitrick, K., Adams, J., & Davis, J. (2020). Emergency Nursing Care of Patients with Novel Coronavirus Disease 2019. Journal of Emergency Nursing, 46(6), 748-759.
Pourvakhshoori, N., Norouzi, K., Ahmadi, F., Hosseini, M., & Khankeh, H. (2017). Nursing in disasters: A review of existing models. International emergency nursing, 31, 58-63.
