Nurses’ Familiarity on Disaster Preparedness in Hospitals

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Ara Alyssa Rabaya
Jerilyn Mae Aquino
Hanah Meghan Rayne Bahatan
Emelynne Dongla
Nicole Paula Jimenez
Lovelace Osei-Afriyie
Aimee Dianne Piamonte
Sheila Ruto
Bruce Derick Tomines
Ria Joy Padilla, RN, MN

Abstract

Disasters are frequently experienced in the Philippines with detrimental impact to hospitals and its vulnerable population. Nurses, who are front liners in hospitals during disasters, must be familiar in disaster management. This study determined the extent of familiarity on disaster preparedness of nurses in hospitals, and the significant difference when grouped according to years of experience, position and area of assignment. A quantitative descriptive method was employed, wherein the EPIQ (Emergency Preparedness Information Questionnaire) was used. Nurses with more than one year of experience were selected using simple random sampling. T-test and F-test were employed. Findings revealed that nurses were moderately familiar on disaster preparedness and there was a significant difference in all variables. Nurses in hospitals have more to learn on disaster preparedness. The need for continuing education is recommended. Future researches may be done on unaccounted for factors from this study like gender or type of institution using objective-type questionnaire.

Keywords: Hospital nurses, nurses’ familiarity, disaster preparedness, disaster management, patients’ safety

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About the Authors

Ara Alyssa Rabaya, Jerilyn Mae Aquino, Hanah Meghan Rayne Bahatan, Emelynne Dongla, Nicole Paula Jimenez, Lovelace Osei-Afriyie, Aimee Dianne Piamonte, Sheila Ruto, and Bruce Derick Tomines are all students of the Saint Louis University, School of Nursing.

Ria Joy Padilla, RN, MN is a faculty research promoter of the Saint Louis University School of Nursing. She is a member of the Philippine Nurses Association and Gerontology Nurses Association of the Philippines.