141st APHA Annual Meeting

In This section

292013
National survey of emergency nurses and avian influenza threat

Monday, November 4, 2013

Mary Ann Bell, PhD, MSN, RNC , Department of Health and Recreation Professions, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH
Joseph A. Dake, PhD, MPH , Department of Health Recreation Professions, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH
James H. Price, PhD, MPH , Department of Public Health, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH
Timothy R. Jordan, PhD, MEd , Department of Public Health, College of Health Science & Human Service, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH
Paul Rega, MD , Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, University of Toledo - Health Science Campus, Toledo, OH
Introduction: The purpose of this study was to determine the perceived likelihood of emergency nurses reporting to work during an avian influenza outbreak, to consider options if nurses decided not to report work and, to explore Protection Motivation Theory constructs as predictors of reporting to work. Methods: Descriptive, non-experimental, cross-sectional survey of emergency nurses within the United States. Results: A total of 332 nurses (46%) responded. Most emergency nurses (84%) reported they would report to work (1 in 6 would not). Likelihood of reporting to work differed by education level, nurses' avian influenza information sources, and nurses who had family living with them. If nurses decided not to report to work, the majority were willing to provide health information (90%), administer vaccinations (82%), and triage (74%) neighbors/friends from home. One-third of nurses had not attended a disaster-preparedness drill within the past year. Only 20% identified formal training while on the job as a source of avian influenza information. A third of emergency nurses would be worried about getting an avian influenza vaccination due to potential side effects. Protection Motivation Theory accounted for almost 40% of the variance of likelihood to report to work with response costs being the largest predictor. Discussion: Disaster drills, avian influenza job training, and vaccination education are necessary to prepare emergency nurses for an outbreak. The findings support emergency nurses' willingness to work from home if unable to report to work. This finding is new and may have implications for disaster planning, staffing, and emergency department operations.

Learning Areas:
Epidemiology
Protection of the public in relation to communicable diseases including prevention or control
Public health or related nursing

Learning Objectives:
Explain Emergency Nurse identified barriers to reporting to work in the event of an AI outbreak. Describe at least one result of the study.

Keywords: Outbreaks, Disease Management

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: As a registered nurse, i have focused on community health nursing for the past 26 years.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.