Integrating emergency preparedness and response into undergraduate nursing curricula

Overview

Mounting an immediate and effective response to disasters and emergencies requires an agile workforce with diverse specialized skills. The World health report 2006 highlights the need to designate training institutions and programmes where these skills are generated and updated. Preparation training for emergencies should be made available to health personnel (especially physicians, nurses, midwives, public health practitioners, security officers and social workers) working in different healthcare delivery institutions, ministries of health, local governments and the military. Such training includes but is not limited to the necessary mix of scientific knowledge, technical skills, attitudes, behaviour, field know-how, familiarity with standard operating procedures and support platforms.