Disaster Planning Education for Home Care Nurses, Patients, and Caregivers

Abstract

Home health nurses are at the forefront of protecting noninstitutionalized nursing patients and their caregivers from disasters. The September 11 terrorist attack on our nation magnifies the uncertainty of our lives and the need to be prepared through disaster planning education. Disasters—large or small, natural or man-made— can strike anywhere and anytime. The Neal Theory of Home Health Nursing posits that home health nurses progress through three stages (dependence, moderate dependence, and autonomy) as they spend time in home health nursing, adapting, gaining experience, and confidence. Neal’s Theory can be applied to preparation for disasters that could confront home health nurses, providing the framework for planning, training, and oversight that the home health agency can use to ensure that the home health nurse is prepared. The role of collaborator is a cumulative result of the progression through Neal’s three stages and positions the home health nurse to influence strategic disaster planning and education within the agency, community, state, and federal policy levels.