Emergencies, disasters, and catastrophic events: the role of rehabilitation nurses in preparedness, response, and recovery.

Rehabilitation nurses play an integral role in helping patients and communities plan for, respond to, and recover from disasters. This article provides an overview of various types of disasters, the terminology used by planners and responders, and the structure that governs the delivery of services, resources, and patient care. Information about specialized training in disaster response and volunteer opportunities through national and state humanitarian relief programs are provided. Although each nursing specialty lends expertise to emergency and disaster situations, rehabilitation nurses are particularly well-suited to help during times of complex, multifaceted medical and emotional responses.