Principles of Leadership and Healthcare in Disaster and Emergency Preparedness

Graduate

This course teaches nurses the principles required to prevent/mitigate disasters and emergencies as well as the principles required to prepare for, facilitate, and coordinate prompt and effective management and recovery for a wide variety of major emergency and disaster situations within local, national, and 225 Winter 2027 Academic Calendar global contexts. Four key emergency management components are addressed: prevention and mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery. An all hazards approach is emphasized, including natural and human-induced disasters such as hurricanes, explosions, disease outbreaks and terrorism. Disaster public health, chemical/biological/chemical/nuclear and radiological threats, and leadership during crisis will be addressed. The importance of empowering communities through prevention/education and fostering community resilience will be identified. Topics that will be covered include the principles guiding emergency management, disaster life cycle, legal and ethical issues, crisis communications, disaster research, mass gatherings, complex humanitarian emergencies, care of the vulnerable populations, and the clinical nuances of disaster nursing. A number of historical disasters will be discussed to highlight these topics. Although developed for nurses, the content is also relevant for individuals in other health related disciplines who may be involved in the emergency management of public health emergencies.