INCREASING DISASTER PREPAREDNESS IN EMERGENCY NURSES: A QUALITY IMPROVEMENT INITIATIVE

Introduction: Emergency nurses are on the frontlines of disaster response. Current research reveals low to moderate levels of disaster preparedness in this population and suggests education as an effective means of increasing preparedness. The purpose of this study was to measure, explore, and increase the preparedness levels among emergency nurses at an acute care community hospital in Southern California. Methods: This was a single group pre/posttest of an educational intervention. The adapted Emergency Preparedness Information Questionnaire was administered to all emergency nurses at the practice site to assess disaster preparedness levels before and after a 6-month education intervention. The intervention was novel because the education was delivered through existing communication channels of daily shift huddles, regular e-mails, designated whiteboard, and staff meeting presentations. Descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, and paired t tests were used to analyze the data. Results: Moderate levels of disaster preparedness were reported. The number of years worked in the emergency department had the strongest correlation with perceived preparedness levels, followed by prior disaster education/ training. A 16.9-point (23.5%) increase between the respondents' mean pre- and post-Emergency Preparedness Information Questionnaire scores (t((33)) = -10.27, P <= 0.001) was observed. Discussion: These results suggest that a tailored ED-specific disaster preparedness curriculum, delivered through established clinical communication channels, can effectively increase preparedness levels among nurses with little additional cost. The integration of concise, relevant disaster information can be implemented in any department interested in developing a more confident and prepared workforce.