Nursing Students Get Real-World Exposure to Disaster
Scenario
Undergraduate students from
the University of Kentucky
College of Nursing recently participated as “victims” in a
mock disaster drill held by
CSEPP
(Chemical Stockpile Emergency Preparedness Program). The
annual drill involves a scenario in which a chemical agent
release has occurred at the Bluegrass Army Depot in Madison
County, Kentucky.
At
University of Kentucky Chandler Hospital, 15 student
“victims” simulated breathing problems, chemical burns, cuts and
hysteria. The scene encompassed the ambulance parking area and
the Emergency Department. Victims were triaged outside and
either sent through the decontamination (“decon”) tent or taken
straight into the trauma area of the ED.
Students were prepared
beforehand with “moulage” - simulated injury cosmetic material -
and told what their symptoms or injuries would be so they would
act appropriately for first responders.
Gia Mudd, PhD, assistant professor,
coordinator of the undergraduate public health nursing course,
said, “This experience provided a foundation for student
understanding of public health emergency planning and disaster
response, recognition of the importance of federal, state, and
local coordination of efforts, and, perhaps most importantly,
recognition of the unique role of nurses in a public health
emergency response.” Mudd coordinated the student involvement in
today’s exercise as part of the disaster planning and response
component of this course.
Approximately 100 other UK
nursing students performed similar roles at UK HealthCare
Samaritan Hospital, Central Baptist Hospital, both locations of
Saint Joseph Hospital and the Veterans Administration Hospital.
“This exercise allowed the
students studying adult nursing to see firsthand how an
emergency of this magnitude would be assessed and triaged in the
Emergency Department. And their role playing gave them the
unique opportunity to witness such an experience from the
patient’s perspective,” said
Jennifer Cowley, MSN, undergraduate instructor.
CSEPP is a joint venture
between the United States Army and the Federal Emergency
Management Agency (FEMA) to assist state and local governments
to improve emergency planning and preparedness in communities
near the eight chemical weapons storage sites in the United
States (http://madison-county-ema.com/csepp/about.htm).
Back to main news page |
