title: Emergency preparedness for the home healthcare nurse.
abstract: Recent events are quickly becoming the hard teacher: giving tests of preparedness first, then allowing for lessons afterward. However, each emergency teaches valuable lessons about assessment and preparation, and each lesson learned can be integrated into assessment of and preparation for the next event. This article outlines key steps that home care nurses can take to ensure patient safety during emergencies or disasters.
authors.affiliation: The Arizona Hospital and Healthcare Association, Phoenix, USA. darlenerodriguez@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Darlene
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rodriguez
authors.forename: Carol O
authors.initials: CO
authors.lastname: Long
mesh_terms: D003140:Communicable Disease Control; D003152:Community Health Nursing / Q000458:organization & administration*; D018672:Community Health Planning / Q000458:organization & administration; D019058:Community Networks; D004189:Disaster Planning / Q000458:organization & administration*; D004190:Disasters; D004630:Emergencies / Q000451:nursing*; D004631:Emergency Medical Service Communication Systems / Q000458:organization & administration; D005392:First Aid; D005523:Food Supply; D006699:Home Care Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D020380:Needs Assessment; D024802:Nurse's Role; D009730:Nursing Assessment; D018570:Risk Assessment; D017751:Safety Management / Q000458:organization & administration; D023481:Terrorism / Q000517:prevention & control; D014881:Water Supply