Public Health Preparedness, Response & Recovery: Lessons Learned through Leadership & Collaboration: Part 1

Background/Issue:  In August 2005, Hurricane Katrina resulted in catastrophic flooding of metropolitan New Orleans and its surrounding areas.  The overall destruction vastly exceeded that of any other major disaster, such as the San Francisco Earthquake and Fire of 1906, and Hurricane Andrew in 1992.  Prolonged catastrophic events overwhelm an already overburdened system.  During Hurricane Katrina and subsequent Hurricanes Rita, Gustav, and Ike, there weren't enough medical providers to care for the most vulnerable populations.  Advanced practice nurses licensed outside of the state of Louisiana were only permitted to respond as generalist registered nurses, regardless of their educational preparation, certification, scope, skills and abilities based on current rules and regulations.  Notably, the clinicians with the ability to diagnose, treat, and prescribe were insufficient in the greatest time of need.

Description:  Information and lessons learned will be presented to demonstrate efforts to bolster public health medical/nursing response infrastructure during public health medical emergencies and disasters.  Key advocacy strategies will be discussed on effective utilization of advanced practice registered nurses licensed outside of the state of Louisiana in disasters through proposed regulatory changes.  

Recommendations:  Nurses should be allowed to practice to the full extent of their education, license and scope.  Licensed health professionals are bound by professional legal requirements, even when applying skills and knowledge in extreme circumstances.  Emergencies do not change the basic standards of practice, code of ethics, competence, or values of the professional.  Advocacy strategies to bolster public health nursing response should be considered in preparedness, response and recovery efforts.