Nursing
Nursing
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.
Watch the Recent Nursing SIG Presentations!
Webinar Date: 27 March 2025
Are We Ready? Nursing Preparedness for Natural Disaster Health Implications
In this presentation, Nyree Parker highlights the intersection of nursing and the frequency and severity of disasters. No day goes by without the news feeds mentioning some countries worldwide experiencing mass flooding, bushfires, heat waves, or earthquakes. Are nurses prepared for this? Are nurses recognizing this now, and how are we preparing for this in the future? Records on climate change are breaking monthly and yearly in most countries. The human race is entering unknown territory regarding the impacts on human health. Today’s nursing is much more than just recycling and reducing waste. The profession is competing on multiple fronts.
Around the world, nursing demand is outstripping supply, with increased technologies in some countries and a lack thereof in others, supply chain disruptions, and economic constraints. The global pandemic taught us many lessons, but have we changed our scope of practice? Education is the key, but it is not keeping up with the pace of the impacts of climate change disasters on health.
Disasters are increasing; there is little time to recover, reflect, or implement health promotion or improvement strategies. This paradigm needs to shift. Reactive nursing has to morph into a state of preparedness and a readiness culture that acknowledges warning signs, adheres to awareness alerts, monitors weather predictions, and liaises with community preparedness.
Webinar Date: 18 April 2024
Impact of the Maui Wildfires and Perspectives on Emergency Preparedness from Hawaii’s Indigenous Pacific People – Dr. Gary Glauberman
In this presentation, Dr. Gary Glauberman describes the 2023 Maui Wildfires, examining how natural and manmade factors converged during the tragedy and caused extremely challenging situations for residents and emergency responders.
There is a specific focus on the impact of the fires on Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander, and Filipino (Indigenous Pacific People [IPP]) residents in Hawaii, groups considered socially vulnerable to health emergencies. Insights from research examining emergency preparedness perspectives among IPP is also shared.
Nursing SIG Leadership
Nurul'Ain Ahayalimudin, PhD, RN, CEN, OHN
Committee Member (Research)
Department of Critical Care Nursing, Kulliyyah of Nursing
International Islamic University Malaysia
International Islamic University Malaysia
Gary Glauberman, PhD, RN, PHNA-BC, NHDP-BC
Committee Member (Research)
Department of Nursing & Advanced Population Health Nursing Program
University of Hawaii at Manoa
University of Hawaii at Manoa
James Iacino, RN
Committee Member (Membership)
SDIS 83
Fire Brigade, Var, France
Fire Brigade, Var, France
Emmanuel Rohrbacher, RN, MBA
Committee Member (Membership)
Local Committee Chair, WADEM 2027 - Paris
Mission & Vision
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.
Objectives
The objectives of the Nursing SIG of WADEM are to:
- Define nursing issues for public health care and disaster health care;
- Exchange scientific and professional information relevant to the practice of disaster nursing;
- Encourage collaborative efforts enhancing and expanding the field of nursing disaster research;
- Encourage collaboration with other nursing organizations;
- Inform and advise WADEM of matters related to disaster nursing.
