Role of the Nurses in the Site of the Haiti Earthquake

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Table of Contents

Introduction
The Role of the Nurses in the Site of Earthquake
Conclusion
Reference List

Introduction

The 7.0 magnitude earthquake that faced Haiti in 2010 was a major blow to nurses and other healthcare professionals. Various credible sources indicated that the natural disaster affected about 3.5 million people who required immediate medical and counseling services besides food, water, and shelter. This essay provides a detailed analysis of various primary, secondary, and tertiary nursing interventions that were related to the disaster.

The Role of the Nurses in the Site of Earthquake

Primary Interventions

The need for primary prevention in the Haiti earthquake was paramount to the protection of the people against injuries and various diseases. For example, the nurses were charged with the prevention of communicable, airborne, and vector-borne diseases (Waring & Brown, 2005). The post-disaster strategies that were laid to prevent such occurrences included the provision of emergency medical care, shelters, proper site planning, clean water and sanitation, safe food, vector control, and education for the victims and humanitarian workers (Waring & Brown, 2005).

Secondary Intervention

The secondary intervention at the site was conducted to ensure the reduction of various effects of the diseases and injuries on the victims. The procedure for conducting the secondary interventions involved immediate detection and treatment of the injuries and diseases to halt their progress, implementing strategies for preventing the re-occurrence of the injuries. The secondary interventions also entailed the initiation of programs that helped the victims recover their original health statuses besides reducing long-term problems. For example, most nurses were involved in the regular examination of patients, provision of proper diet, modification of work for the injured people who wished to resume work, and administration of the appropriate drug dosages among others (Barzilay et al., 2013).

Tertiary Intervention

The primary aim of the tertiary intervention conducted by the health practitioners was to reduce the effect of the diseases and injuries that occurred because of the Haiti earthquake. For example, various programs were initiated to manage stroke, depression, permanent injuries, stress, and post-traumatic disorders among others. The nurses developed support groups to help the victims share their strategies with a view of coping with the situations that prevailed. There were also vocational programs to ensure that workers who were moderately affected either retained or found new jobs upon recovery (Raviola, Eustache, Oswald, & Belkin, 2012).

Phases of the Disaster

The first phase of the intervention involves rescuing the victims by offering them life maintenance services. Both the secondary and tertiary phases fall under the relief and recovery levels. They are used to putting the situation under control by ensuring that the victims pick various strategies to restore their lives back to normal (Raviola et al., 2012).

Various agencies to facilitate the interventions

Various individuals and agencies that helped in ensuring the implementation of the interventions included non-governmental organizations such as the World Health Organization (WHO), Red Cross, St. John’s Ambulance, the United Nations, donors, and well-wishers among others (Raviola et al., 2012).

Conclusion

The essay has explored the role of the nurses in the aftermath of the Haiti earthquake in 2010. The establishment of primary, secondary, and tertiary care interventions is critical in the event of natural disasters. The nurses are required to work with various agencies in ensuring that they minimize further loss of lives. As a result, a multidisciplinary approach should be proficiently implemented to prevent the occurrence of illnesses in an attempt to promote healthy recovery.

Reference List

Barzilay, E., Schaad, N., Magloire, R., Mung, K., Boncy, J., Dahourou, G.,…Tappero, J. (2013). Cholera surveillance during the Haiti epidemic: the first 2 years. New England Journal of Medicine, 368(7), 599-609.

Raviola, G., Eustache, E., Oswald, C., & Belkin, G. (2012). Mental health response in Haiti in the aftermath of the 2010 earthquake: a case study for building long-term solutions. Harvard review of psychiatry, 20(1), 68-77.

Waring, S., & Brown, B. (2005). The threat of communicable diseases following natural disasters: a public health response. Disaster Management & Response, 3(2), 41-47.

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