Nurses Taking on Readiness Measures (N-TORM): A nurse-facilitated household emergency preparedness intervention feasibility study.

Aim: This research evaluated the effect of a nurse-facilitated intervention on elderly or medically frail community members' level of household emergency preparedness as measured in knowledge, actions taken, and supplies gathered. These community members had access and functional needs that must be accommodated during disasters to mitigate their increased risk of injury, illness, and death because of the disaster. With adequate preparedness, it is plausible these community members may survive the aftermath of a disaster without needing assistance from disaster responders.

Vaccine hesitancy and hesitant adoption among nursing students in Texas.

Background: As the state facing the second-largest nursing workforce shortage in the U.S. and low vaccination rates among residents early in the pandemic, Texas provided a unique opportunity to examine vaccine hesitancy and hesitant adoption among nursing students in an environment where state-level executive orders prohibited mandatory vaccinations.

Validation and Revision of the Household Emergency Preparedness Instrument (HEPI) by a Pilot Study in the City University of New York.

Objective: The aim of this study was to pilot test the Household Emergency Preparedness Instrument (HEPI) with a diverse sample, allowing for assessment of reliability and validity of the instrument. The HEPI is an international, all-hazards questionnaire created to measure disaster preparedness of households, which results in data that can be used to enhance health promotion/disease prevention for individuals and promote resilience for communities.

Methods: A cross-sectional study of faculty, staff, and students ( = 284) was completed to perform factor analysis to establish the HEPI's construct validity and compare preparedness across groups.

Household Emergency Preparedness Instrument Development: A Delphi Study.

Objective: The main objective of this research was to generate a consensus on the conceptual definition of household emergency preparedness from experts representing multiple disciplines and countries, in order to facilitate the development of an all-hazards, comprehensive, valid, and reliable instrument.

Methods: Questions were generated via 3 methods: literature search, using existing instruments, and expert panels using the Delphi technique.

Results: Panelists (n = 154) representing 36 countries came to a consensus that household emergency preparedness is defined as the completion of several preparedness actions and assembling a kit that can be transported in an evacuation.

Prepared to Respond? Exploring Personal Disaster Preparedness and Nursing Staff Response to Disasters.

Objectives: This pilot study explored personal disaster preparedness of nursing staff and their ability and willingness to respond following a disaster.

Methods: All nurses from a single hospital were invited to participate; 91 completed an online survey asking them to rate their ability and willingness to report to work following the disaster scenarios and to indicate whether they had pursued various preparedness activities. Data were analyzed by descriptive and inferential statistics using Minitab 17 Statistical Software.

"This is not a drill": Activation of a student-led influenza vaccination point of dispensing.

Objective: To describe activation of a Point of dispensing (POD) in response to an influenza outbreak, highlighting the use of a student-led model.

Participants: Faculty, staff, and students of Harris College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Texas Christian University (TCU), as well as those located in its primary building.

Methods: In response to an August 2017 influenza outbreak, a vaccination clinic was conducted for a target population through POD activation.

Planning for partnerships: Maximizing surge capacity resources through service learning.

Infectious disease outbreaks and natural or human-caused disasters can strain the community's surge capacity through sudden demand on healthcare activities. Collaborative partnerships between communities and schools of nursing have the potential to maximize resource availability to meet community needs following a disaster. This article explores how communities can work with schools of nursing to enhance surge capacity through systems thinking, integrated planning, and cooperative efforts.

"Skip the infection, get the injection": a case study in emergency preparedness education.

The frequency of natural and manmade disasters along with increasing potential for public health emergencies emphasizes the need for emergency preparedness education. Because nurses are the largest group of health professionals to meet the needs of those affected by disasters and public health emergencies, schools of nursing need to prepare graduates who are knowledgeable about disaster and public health emergency management. The use of core competencies may be a means to ensure consistent application of best practices in disaster health care.

Who will show up? Estimating ability and willingness of essential hospital personnel to report to work in response to a disaster.

Disaster planning in the healthcare setting requires consideration of surge capacity, specifically the community's ability to provide care for a rapid increase in numbers of patients having varied conditions. Adequate staffing is a key component of surge capacity. If fewer than anticipated healthcare personnel report to work in response to a disaster, safety and sustainability of the care provided may be jeopardized.

Mental health needs of disaster volunteers: a plea for awareness.

Topic: Meeting the mental health needs of disaster response volunteers. Voluntary disaster response organizations deployed volunteers across the country following Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

Purpose: Disaster response volunteers may experience mental health needs, particularly following extended or multiple deployments.