NATIONAL HOSPITAL PREPAREDNESS PROGRAM TRAINING ,AN EFFECTIVE WAY TO IMPROVE NURSES PREPAREDNESS IN DISASTERS

Background and Aim : The National Hospital Preparedness Program in disasters is acomprehensive and unified model for disaster planning and response in hospitals and health centersof the country. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of training national hospitalpreparedness program on nurses preparedness in disastersMethods : This study is a randomized controlled field trial study with simple non-probabilit ysampling method which was done on 62 nurses. The instrument was the nurses preparedness indisasters response questionnaire (READI). The one-day workshop for nurses preparedness indisasters was organized in accordance with the National Hospital Preparedness Program.Questionnaires were completed to the case and control groups in three stages before, immedia te lyand two months later. Data were analyzed using Chi-square, Fisher, independent t-test, andBonferroni and repeated measures ANOVA at α = 0.05 level.Results : The findings showed that scores of clinical empowerment, managerial support, teamcohesion, and environmental empowerment and survival skills increased after the educationalintervention. Also, the total score of nurses preparedness in disasters was improved from 191before intervention to 193.4 immediately and 208.4 two months later (p <0.05).Conclusion : Training of National Hospital Preparedness Program in disasters improves thenurses preparedness level. Given the crucial role of nurses in disasters, it is recommended to usethis program in nurses’ courses and student courses.

Keywords:

Nurses Preparedness , National Hospital Preparedness Program , Hospital Preparedness