Database of Health Workforce Innovations
706
Triage following a natural disaster: a Haitian experience
Because of the significant physical damage, loss of equipment and personnel, and lack of security, no systems were in place around Hospital de l'Universite d'Etat d'Haiti (HUEH).
An emergency response team from Stanford Hospital was sought for immediate deployment to Haiti. International Medical Corps emergency logistics teams arrived 22 hours after the quake. The International Medical Corps' first medical team arrived 72 hours after the quake. Team Stanford, arrived at Port-au-Prince 5 days after the quake, provided care to victims.
Triage in the United States is assigned to “seasoned” nurses. Triage in a third-world disaster is done by everyone and anyone able to recognize victims in need of help.
While nurses were providing much-needed care, we also were teaching our physician colleagues nursing skills such as mixing antibiotics, differentiating between primary and secondary tubing, and recognizing the names of wound care supplies, such as Telfa.
Physicians experienced in disaster relief medicine provided nurses with instruction on how to do procedures we had only previously seen performed. Nurses performed nerve blocks, hematoma blocks, reductions and splinting without x-rays, needle decompressions, thoracentesis, paracentesis, and even procedural sedation without having access to oxygen, suction, or advanced airway supplies.
Triage in the United States is assigned to “seasoned” nurses. Triage in a third-world disaster is done by everyone and anyone able to recognize victims in need of help.
While nurses were providing much-needed care, we also were teaching our physician colleagues nursing skills such as mixing antibiotics, differentiating between primary and secondary tubing, and recognizing the names of wound care supplies, such as Telfa.
Physicians experienced in disaster relief medicine provided nurses with instruction on how to do procedures we had only previously seen performed. Nurses performed nerve blocks, hematoma blocks, reductions and splinting without x-rays, needle decompressions, thoracentesis, paracentesis, and even procedural sedation without having access to oxygen, suction, or advanced airway supplies.
- Other
- Rapid upskilling/reskilling existing and available workers (eg. laid off)
- Task shifting/delegation
- New roles
- Expanded roles
- Nurse Practitioners*
- Nurse Specialists*
- Nurses - Licensed Practical
- Nurses - Registered
- Physicians - Emergency
- Physicians - Intensive Care
- Physicians - Primary/Family
- Physicians - Specialists
On January 12, 2010, Haiti was rocked by a 7.0 magnitude earthquake.
- Critical Care
- Emergency Medical Services
- Other
In the United States, we are constantly reminded of the boundaries of our scopes of practice and the concept of liability throughout our daily work lives. In disaster relief nursing, scope of practice takes on a new meaning—the needs of the injured overwh
Research Intervention - outcome data available
Camacho-McAdoo G. (2010). Triage following a natural disaster: a Haitian experience. Journal of emergency nursing, 36(4), 385–387.
Gabriela Camacho-McAdoo
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Emergency Department, Stanford Hospital & Clinics
United States
USA