Abstract:
This research was a descriptive research using the Delphi technique. The purpose was to study on disaster nursing management from 21 experts in disasters which were divided into 4 groups including 1) 8 nursing managers and clinical practice nurses, 2) 5 nursing instructors, 3) 5 physicians, and 4) 3 experts involved in the policy of disaster management. The results revealed that the experts opinion had a consensus on disaster nursing management should be divided into 3 phases: 1) preparedness phase, 2) response phase and 3) recovery phase. It consisted of 13 domains and 79 items. The median of all items was 4.34-4.73 and the interquartile range of all items was 0.28-0.91. Preparedness phase comprised of 5 domains and 40 items: 1) management plan of disaster affecting to health of the community (5 items), 2) development of nursing services for disaster care (7 items), 3) development of disaster plan for nursing organizations (8 items), 4) development of disaster nursing competencies (12 items), and 5) provision of nursing resources for disaster management (8 items). Response phase comprised of 4 domains and 24 items: 1) arrangement of a security system for victims and nursing personnel (7 items), 2) provision of nursing services during disaster (6 items), 3) resource and infrastructure management during disaster (6 items), and 4) allocation of nursing personnel to deal with disasters (5 items). Recovery phase comprised of 4 domains and 15 items: 1) healing victims and nursing personnel affected from the disaster (3 items), 2) summarizing the operating results of the nursing organization (5 items), 3) setting up nursing services after the disaster by cooperating with network partners (4 items), and 4) reconstructing nursing service system and environment affected by the disaster (3 items). The research findings can be used as a guideline for initiating effective and systematic disaster nursing management, competency development and disaster nursing management skills.