Globally, nurses arguably comprise the greatest numbers of health care providers during day-to-day and disaster operations or response. Their impact during a disaster response is significant as they care for and teach victims and their families. As nurses play such a vital role in disaster response, it is important to have a platform to share their research, knowledge, and experiences with other nurses and health care providers who might respond to a disaster or mass casualty incident. It is within this context that the Nursing Special Interest Group was formally established at the 14th edition of the Congress on Disaster and Emergency Medicine in Edinburgh, Scotland from in May 2005.
Mission: The proposed mission of the Nursing SIG of WADEM is to foster collaboration among nurses involved in research, education, management, and practice in prehospital, emergency, public health, and/or disaster health care.
Vision: The Nursing SIG strives to be the organizational vehicle welcoming and representing nurses from all countries with an intent and desire to strengthen and improve the practice and knowledge of disaster nursing.
The objectives of the Nursing SIG of WADEM are to: