ICN launched a document of core competencies required in disaster nursing. These core competencies are for the Nurses who work as part of a medical emergency team level III. Although it very from country to country the levels and composition of a medical emergency team. In India, there is no national-level system for medical emergency teams. These competencies are based on the WHO Classification and Minimum Standards for Emergency Medical Teams.
The document states “The ICN Core Competencies in Disaster Nursing Level III is a framework for ensuring that nurses have a standard
of abilities and capabilities required for a nurses role within an EMT. Improving professional competency is fundamental for nursing practice and has a direct relationship with improving the quality of patient care and promoting public health”
The complete list of competencies is titles as COMPETENCIES FOR NURSES INVOLVED IN EMERGENCY MEDICAL TEAMS (LEVEL III).
The report states the importance to establish the core competencies as “Developing new and more advanced roles for nurses (by nurses) can improve access to care for many communities worldwide (Delamare and Lafortune, 2010). Furthermore, understanding advanced nursing practice roles relative to the broader team in disasters means the scope of practice, knowledge requirements and skill development needs to be clearly articulated (Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officers Australia, 2020). This shared understanding leads to improve workforce flexibility and assists in generating a substantiable supply of Level III nurses who can work across boundaries and jurisdictions.”
ICN President, Dr Pamela Cipriano said: “According to the World Meteorological Organizationi, disasters have increased by a factor of five over the past 50 years. And when disasters strike, nurses play vital roles as first responders, triage officers, care providers, coordinators of care and services, providers of information and education, and counsellors. These new nursing core competencies for nurses involved in EMTs help to clarify the role of advanced practice nurses specializing in disasters, and ensure the highest level of care in the midst of disaster response.”
About ICN: The International Council of Nurses (ICN) is a federation of more than 130 national nurses associations representing the millions of nurses worldwide. Operated by nurses and leading nursing internationally, ICN works to ensure quality care for all and sound health policies globally.
