Reference: Danna, D., Bernard, M., Schaubhut, R., & Mathews, P. (2010). Experiences of Nurse Leaders Surviving Hurricane Katrina, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA. Nursing & Health Sciences, Vol. 12, Issue 1, pg 9 -13.
Theme:
Nurses are in leadership positions before, during, and after any disaster. Nurses during Hurricane Katrina showed bravery and compassion when treating hurricane victims.
Summary:
Michael Newland
· Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans and surrounding areas in late August 2005.
· It was declared the worst natural disaster in our Nation’s history.
· When preparing for the incoming hurricane hospital staff members were told to bring enough food and water for themselves and family members for 3 days. This was not enough because they were forced to stay in the hospital for longer than that.
· During the hurricane nurses worked together to provide emergency care to increasing amounts of wounded. They were forced to treat patients in many unconventional areas like parking garages and stairwells.
· Housing in hospitals during the disaster was problematic. Nursing directors coordinated the process of registration and placement of staff, family, physicians, and visitors into sleeping areas.
· The hurricane knocked out communication between hospitals and other outside agencies. This left it up to nurses to try to coordinate any evacuation efforts.
· The city’s emergency preparedness command center was overwhelmed with evacuation requests. Many hospitals were forced to use their own resources for evacuation efforts. Many staff members had to get on roof tops to try and flag down emergency helicopters and boats for evacuation.
· Many nurses found themselves in the role of both caretaker and victim. They had to provide treatment for victims as well as try to remain calm and provide leadership at the same time during the chaos of Katrina.
· Nursing leaders assumed many roles and functions including organization and coordination, creativity, spontaneity and flexibility, patient advocacy and assertiveness, teamwork, camaraderie, and support for staff members and each other.
Application to the lesson topic:
Leadership during a disaster can take many forms it doesn’t just have to be a high ranking figure like the Governor of the State or the President. Leadership during a disaster is essential. Without leadership things can and will go from bad to worse in a heartbeat. The nurses and doctors during Hurricane Katrina did a phenomenal job of not only providing treatment for victims but leadership as well. Without them there would have been even more casualties because there would have been too much chaos.
Application to emergency services:
Natural disasters are extremely chaotic. Emergency services personnel must remain calm and show poise during these disasters. Providing treatment can be extremely difficult during these times. It is up to the emergency services to provide care and treatment during this extreme pressure. Without emergency services there would be little hope of recovering from disasters like Hurricane Katrina.
