Registered nurses' experience as disaster preparedness coordinators during a major incident: A qualitative study

Area of Science:

• Nursing
• Disaster Management
• Healthcare Administration

Background:

• Effective disaster preparedness is crucial for healthcare facilities.
• Hospital incident command groups (HICGs) play a vital role in managing major incidents.
• Registered nurses (RNs) often serve as disaster preparedness coordinators within HICGs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the experiences of registered nurses serving as disaster preparedness coordinators within HICGs.
• To understand the factors influencing RNs' performance during major incidents.
• To identify challenges and strategies related to disaster preparedness coordination.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative descriptive study utilizing semi-structured interviews and a focus group discussion.
• Participants included RNs with experience in both simulated and real-life major incidents.
• Verbatim interview transcripts were analyzed using content analysis, adhering to the COREQ checklist.

Main Results:

• The main category identified was: Expectations, previous experience, and uncertainty affect HICG response during a Major Incident.
• Key themes included gaining situational awareness, transitioning to management roles, and taking actions amidst uncertainty.
• RNs' prior experiences and perceived uncertainties significantly impacted their coordination efforts.

Conclusions:

• RN disaster preparedness coordinators' experiences are shaped by a complex interplay of expectations, prior knowledge, and situational uncertainty.
• Understanding these factors is essential for improving HICG effectiveness during major incidents.
• Further research should focus on developing targeted training and support for RNs in disaster preparedness roles.