Database of Health Workforce Innovations
707
Roles for the WOC Nurse in a Disaster
After coping with the initial aftermath of Katrina, EJGH was faced with 400 team members who lost everything, and another 1200 staff members whose homes sustained major damage. Seven hundred employees left or did not return and had to be replaced by over 600 new staff members.
Staff member workloads increased to compensate for the openings in all departments, and wages were adjusted for all jobs in order to compete for the limited number of employees in the region.
Although it is important to emphasize the need for essential staff to have evacuation plans for their families, you must realize that many times essential personnel will not report to duty without their families. Therefore, I recommend providing childcare, elder care for aging dependents, and pet care. Supply your staff with a “provisions sheet” including pillows, blankets, toiletries, medications, and other essentials needed to sustain themselves for 7 to 10 days. People need downtime and a place to rest. There are more people seeking rest than sleep. Leadership should assist staff and dependents with sleeping arrangements and schedules.
Staff needs also must incorporate personal hygiene. Your disaster preparedness plan must incorporate considerations as to where staff will bathe after days of being on duty, and provisions for washing and drying their clothes. The facility must stock adequate personal hygiene items for staff as well as patients and dependents. The staff will need emotional and spiritual support before, during, and after a disaster. I also recommend limiting duty time to 4 to 6 hours.
Although it is important to emphasize the need for essential staff to have evacuation plans for their families, you must realize that many times essential personnel will not report to duty without their families. Therefore, I recommend providing childcare, elder care for aging dependents, and pet care. Supply your staff with a “provisions sheet” including pillows, blankets, toiletries, medications, and other essentials needed to sustain themselves for 7 to 10 days. People need downtime and a place to rest. There are more people seeking rest than sleep. Leadership should assist staff and dependents with sleeping arrangements and schedules.
Staff needs also must incorporate personal hygiene. Your disaster preparedness plan must incorporate considerations as to where staff will bathe after days of being on duty, and provisions for washing and drying their clothes. The facility must stock adequate personal hygiene items for staff as well as patients and dependents. The staff will need emotional and spiritual support before, during, and after a disaster. I also recommend limiting duty time to 4 to 6 hours.
- Cross-sector staff deployments
- Provision of child care services for front-line workers
- Mental health services
- Housing for front-line workers
- Home support for front-line workers
- Other
- Community Health Workers
- Dental Providers
- Family Caregivers
- Medical Imaging Workers
- Medical Laboratory Technologists
- Mental Health Workers
- Midwives
- Military Health Workers
- Non-traditional Health Workers
- Nurse Practitioners*
- Nurse Specialists*
- Nurses - Licensed Practical
- Nurses - Registered
- Occupational Therapists
- Paramedics
- Personal Support Workers
- Pharmacy Workers
- Physical Therapists
- Physicians - Emergency
- Physicians - Intensive Care
- Physicians - Primary/Family
- Physicians - Specialists
- Public Health Workers
- Respiratory Therapists
- Social Workers
- Speech/Language Pathologists
- Students
- Volunteers
- Other Health Care Workers
Katrina generated a storm surge estimated to be 25–40 feet on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. As a result, entire communities were destroyed within hours. Because of the destruction caused by Katrina and the resulting levee breaks, the staff at East Jefferson General Hospital (EJGH) sheltered and fed 240 patients, 450 staff, 30 physicians, 60 special needs patients, over 900 dependents, 40 children in childcare, and 160 National Guardsmen. We also provided shelter and care for local firemen, EMS staff, as well as local, state, and federal law enforcement officers, and a variety of domesticated animals including dogs, cats, birds, and a pet ferret.
- Community Health Services
- Hospitals
- Public Health
- Other
Anecdotal or Hyporthetical Solution
Cullen B. (2008). Roles for the WOC nurse in a disaster. Journal of wound, ostomy, and continence nursing : official publication of The Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurses Society, 35(3), 282–286.
Bernadette Cullen, RN, MSN, CWON, CNAABC
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Acute & Post Acute Services, East Jefferson General Hospital
United States
USA