DISASTER NURSING AND
EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS
ICN Disaster Framework of Nursing
Competencies 2009
“Nurses, as the largest group of committed health
personnel, often working in difficult situations with
limited resources, play vital roles when disasters
strike, serving as first responders, triage officers
and care providers, coordinators of care and
services, providers of information or education,
and counsellors. However, health systems and
health care delivery in disaster situations are only
successful when nurses have the fundamental
disaster competencies or abilities to rapidly and
effectively respond.
The International Council of Nurses and the
World Health Organization, in support of Member
States and nurses, recognize the urgent need for
acceleration of efforts to build capacities of
nurses at all levels to safeguard populations, limit
injuries and deaths, and maintain health system
functioning and community well-being, in the
midst of continued health threats and disasters.”
(ICN & WHO)
CORE COMPETENCIES
The Steering Committee
identified three levels of nurses needing
competency in disaster nursing at
increasing levels of complexity. Bear in
mind that for any level or any one
competency, the nurse begins as a
novice, should move toward proficiency
as defined by national or institutional
standards, and may become an expert.
Expertise within any one level does not
confer automatic ability to perform
competencies at a higher level. The three levels
of nurses defined for use in Version 2.0
FROM NOVICE TO EXPERT
Nurses develop skills and an understanding of
patient care over time from a combination of a
strong educational foundation and personal
experiences. - Patricia Benner (1995)
• • Novice
• • Advance Beginner
• • Competent
• • Proficient
• • Expert
APPLICATION OF THE COMPETENCIES
Effective nursing practice during any disaster
requires clinical competency and the
application of utilitarian principles (doing the
greatest good for the greatest number with the
least amount of harm).
Jeremy Bentham (1748-1832)
He was concerned with social and legal reform
and he wanted to develop an ethical theory
which established whether something was good
or bad according to its benefit for the majority of
people. He called this the principle of utility.
UTILITY = the usefulness of the results of
actions.
DUTY TO ACT
A legal duty requiring a party to take necessary
action to prevent harm to another person or to
the general public.
Impetus for the Development of the
Framework of Disaster Nursing
Competencies
“Nurses with their technical skills and
knowledge of epidemiology, physiology,
pharmacology, cultural-familial structures, and
psychosocial issues can assist in disaster
preparedness programmes, as well as during
disasters. Nurses, as team members, can play
a strategic role cooperating with health and
social disciplines, government bodies,
community groups, and non-governmental
agencies, including humanitarian
organizations.” - ICN (2006)
ADAPTATION
“The goal of nursing is] the promotion of
adaptation for individuals and groups in each of
the four adaptive modes, thus contributing to
health, quality of life, and dying with dignity.” -
Sr. Callista Roy (1970)
Disaster Nursing
Disaster nursing is the adaptation of
professional nursing knowledge, skills, and
attitude in recognizing and meeting the physical
and emotional needs of disaster victims.
Competence
• knowledge, understanding and judgment;
• a range of skills─cognitive, technical or
psychomotor and interpersonal; and
• a range of personal attributes and attitudes”
• “a level of performance demonstrating the
effective application of knowledge, skill and
judgment” - ICN (1997)
Competencies
• Nurses must be able to work internationally, in
a variety of settings with nurses and health care
providers from all parts of the world. To assure
a global nursing workforce ready to respond in
the event of a disaster, competencies are
essential.
NEED FOR COMPETENCIES
• facilitate deployment of nurses globally;
• create consistency in the care given;
• facilitate communication;
