Creating the next wave of public health nursing leadership in emergency preparedness: A call for holistic primary prevention and health promotion

The threat of pandemic avian flu and the possibility of bio-terrorist attacks in the U.S. require public health nurses to actively engage in emergency preparedness initiatives. Often leading these initiatives, public health nurses have the knowledge and skills to do so efficiently and effectively. Current initiatives focus predominantly on secondary and tertiary preventive strategies, such as strategic national stockpiling and dispensing, risk communication and management of on-site volunteers, and enforcing a mass quarantine. Indeed, primary prevention strategies are limited in most emergency preparedness plans at county, state, and national levels, focused mostly on individual ‘Go kit' preparation and maintenance.

Public health nurses are in a unique position to inform emergency preparedness initiatives using a holistic nursing framework which necessitates attention to primary prevention strategies that have the potential to empower the public in their preparedness for public health emergencies. Food safety and availability is one example of an area that lends itself to primary prevention emergency preparedness strategies. Beyond recommending maintenance of three days supply of food and water, public health nurses can encourage the public to become aware of local food producers and to examine dependence on large chain grocery stores that would be unavailable if there were disruption of the current food transport system.

The current political climate and emphasis on emergency preparedness in the U.S. creates a unique opportunity for public health nursing to recommend, develop, and implement comprehensive programs that empower individuals, communities, and systems. Certainly, primary, secondary, and tertiary interventions are needed and warranted in preparing for inevitable emergency scenarios. The challenge before public health nursing, though, is to creatively and holistically develop strategies that are not limited by historic, traditional preparedness activities. In this presentation, an innovative, holistic approach to emergency preparedness planning is proposed, specifically emphasizing primary prevention initiatives that empower individuals and communities. Examples of such public health nursing strategies will be highlighted.