Safety and Security
Assuring that nurses, their colleagues, and patients do not add to the burden of response by unsafe practices.
Pandemics and disasters create potential safety and security risks for nurses. Disaster response may take place in rural or resource-limited conditions. The threats of violence and infectious disease, and the potential for secondary emergency events, pose additional risks.
Academic Articles and Books
Safety and Security of Hospitals During Natural Disasters: Challenges of Disaster managers – International Journal of Safety and Security Engineering (2017)
https://doi.org/10.2495/SAFE-V7-N2-234-246
- This article explores challenges that hospital disaster managers face during natural disasters. While not specific to nursing, it provides useful context for nurses working in the disaster space.
Defining Systems Expertise: Effective Simulation at the Organizational Level—Implications for Patient Safety, Disaster Surge Capacity, and Facilitating the Systems Interface – Academic Emergency Medicine (2008)
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1553-2712.2008.00209.x
- Examines the use of simulation training and identifies key research questions to improve the understanding of how simulation impacts patient safety, disaster surge capacity, and intersystem and interagency communication.
Predictors of Patients Safety Competency Among Emergency Nurses in Iran: a Cross-Sectional Correlation Study – BMC Health Services Research (2022)
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-022-07962-y
- Reports the findings of a survey given to nurses in Iran in an effort to gauge levels of patient safety competency.
The Patient Safety Practices of Emergency Medical Teams in Disaster Zones: A Systematic Analysis – BMJ Global Health (2019)
https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjgh-2019-001889
- Assesses the strengths and weaknesses of emergency medical teams’ patient safety practices in disaster zones, offering opportunities for improvement.
Guidance and Training Documents
National Disasters and Severe Weather: Safety Information for Health Care Professionals – US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) (2017)
https://www.cdc.gov/disasters/hurricanes/hcp.html
- Lists resources designed to inform healthcare practitioners who are assisting in a disaster response, covering aspects of medical care, health risks, and mental health support.
Making Health Facilities Safe in Emergencies and Disasters – WHO (2015)
https://www.who.int/activities/making-health-facilities-safe-in-emergencies-and-disasters
- Provides recommendations on how to make health facilities safe in emergencies and disasters, with many global applications.
Webinars, Podcasts, and Other New Media
Quality and Safety Resources – Emergency Nurses Association
https://www.ena.org/quality-and-safety
- Collection of evidence-based emergency nursing resources focused on helping nurses deliver safe practice and care.
