Three of the most common initiatives that can prepare and guide RNs for emergencies include the Clinical Outreach (COCA), Crisis and Emergency Risk Communication (CERC), and Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC). For instance, COCA prepares RNs to respond to new health issues and emergencies through the communication of critical health information. Contrarily, CERC trains them on the ethics of crisis and risk communication in health care. Finally, EMAC offers shared personnel, resources, and equipment across state lines during health disasters (CDC, 2016).
For example, during the recent Zika outbreak in Florida, the CDC collaborated with like-minded agencies to educate healthcare providers on essential disease management techniques. A huge part of this initiative involved the dissemination of information on the tools required to improve Zika response and preparedness to the state and federal governments as well as healthcare leadership. Also, the initiative considered an increment in the RNs’ knowledge-set on Zika, as related to pregnant women (CDC, 2016).
Third, RNs under this initiative would then seek to enhance knowledge through peer-to-peer communication on the crisis and risk management. Fourth, the CDC and other healthcare personnel helped hospitals increase their readiness to community-based Zika transmission. They achieved this element through the provision of technical assistance and surveillance support. Eventually, they gained the ability to identify and mitigate potential gaps on state- and local-level preparedness against Zika (CDC, 2016).
Reference
CDC. (2016). Emergency Preparedness and Response -Specific Audiences. Retrieved from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): https://emergency.cdc.gov/training/index.asp
