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Published VersionCC BY-NC V4.0, Open Access
Journal article
The history of disaster nursing: from Nightingale to nursing in the 21st century
Journal of Research in Nursing, Vol.27(3), pp.257-272
2022
PMID: 35813173
Abstract
Background: Nurses have a rich history in performing their duty both domestically and internationally in response to a disaster. Comprising the largest proportion of the healthcare workforce, nurses possess a unique opportunity to inform disaster planning and management. With the ongoing threat from COVID-19 and continuing conflict, humanitarian aid needs, epidemics and natural disasters; the capacity of nurses to continue to respond in times of global need is unparalleled.
Aims: The aim of this paper is to explore the developments in the field of disaster nursing. Mapping key changes in policy, practice and outcomes.
Methods: A qualitative interpretive historical review was conducted to examine core developments in the history of disaster nursing, examining key organisations (e.g. World Health Organization, International Council of Nurses), national and international policies and historical accounts.
Results: 29 articles were analysed, and politics, strategic perspectives and nursing identity ('sense of duty' and roles) emerged from the literature. The influence of professionalisation and public health/health promotion emerged next. A total of 10 articles refer to disaster nursing specifically, of which 4 of these are reports/policy.
Conclusions: Nurses have spent centuries building the trust and legitimacy of the profession. Disaster nursing goes beyond the expectations of a registered nurse. The responsibilities of a disaster nurse encompass wider community health promotion, critical decision-making beyond the individual patient, resilience and ethical challenges. Whilst significant advancements have emerged in the last 30 years, further research, and representation of the profession at a strategic and political level could enhance the effectiveness of nurses' roles in the 4 phases of disaster response: mitigation, preparation, response and recovery.
Details
- Title
- The history of disaster nursing: from Nightingale to nursing in the 21st century
- Authors
- Kelsie Fletcher (Corresponding Author) - Bournemouth UniversityKaren Reddin (Author) - Bournemouth UniversityDesiree Tait (Author) - Bournemouth University
- Publication details
- Journal of Research in Nursing, Vol.27(3), pp.257-272
- Publisher
- Sage Publications Ltd.
- Date published
- 2022
- DOI
- 10.1177/17449871211058854
- ISSN
- 1744-988X; 1744-9871
- PMID
- 35813173
- Copyright note
- © The Author(s) 2022. This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/) which permits non-commercial use, reproduction and distribution of the work without further permission provided the original work is attributed as specified on the SAGE and Open Access page (https://us.sagepub.com/en-us/nam/open-access-at-sage).
- Organisation Unit
- School of Health - Nursing
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 991113150902621
- Output Type
- Journal article
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