The American Nurses Association (ANA) is hosting a major policy conference, Nursing Care in Life, Death and Disaster on June 20-22 in Atlanta, Georgia where experts in nursing, medicine, public health and disaster preparedness will discuss issues related to the standards of care provided during a major disaster.
One of the goals of the conference is to develop guidance dedicated to improving patient outcomes and quality of care during a crisis.
?Nurses have always answered the call to service during times of war, epidemic and natural disaster,? said ANA President Rebecca M. Patton, MSN, RN, CNOR. ?But in the aftermath of a catastrophic event, registered nurses and other health professionals are often forced to make difficult decisions with regard to patient care. Nurses and other conference attendees will have a significant voice in shaping the policies that guide the health profession.?
This conference brings together experts in nursing, medicine, public health and disaster preparedness to develop guidance dedicated to reconciling the professional, legal and regulatory conflicts that can occur during a major disaster. ANA is pleased to work in partnership with the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Association of State and Territorial Directors of Nursing (ASTDN) to bring together a diverse field of panelists and attendees. Other participants will include: representatives from the Department of Health and Human Services, CDC, Center for Biosecurity and Public Health Preparedness and the National Council of State Boards of Nursing.
Attendees will work together to identify key areas of risk to patients during less than optimal conditions and define actions to reduce that patient risk. ?Dialogue sessions? will provide an opportunity for nurses to address specific policy questions related to the professional and legal obligations in providing patient care during a disaster. Attendees will also discuss the impact of disasters on vulnerable populations such as the elderly, children, and individuals with special health care needs. Finally, the conference will provide valuable, practical information for first responders, and a discussion on national, state and local disaster response systems.