Willingness to respond in a disaster: a pediatric nurse practitioner national survey.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this study was to examine factors associated with pediatric nurse practitioners (PNPs) reporting to work in the event of a disaster.


METHODS
An anonymous national survey of PNPs was conducted. Several domains were explored, including demographics, personal preparedness plans, disaster training, prior disaster experience, and likelihood of responding in the event of a disaster. A logistic regression analysis was conducted to determine which factors were associated with the respondent's likelihood of responding in the event of a disaster.


RESULTS
Factors associated with increased likelihood of responding included gender (being a male PNP), military experience, and disaster training. The most significant factor associated with an increased likelihood of responding to work during a disaster was having a specified role in the workplace disaster plan. PNPs with a specified role were three times more likely to respond than were those without a specified role.


CONCLUSIONS
PNPs are health care workers with advanced skill sets. This untapped resource is available to provide care for a vulnerable population: our children. Disaster planners should explore the possibility of utilizing these highly skilled health care workers in their disaster plans.
Pediatric Surgery, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, MS#100, 4650 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90027, USA. cgoodhue@chla.usc.edu
Catherine J
CJ
Goodhue
Rita V
RV
Burke
Rizaldy R
RR
Ferrer
Nikunj K
NK
Chokshi
Fred
F
Dorey
Jeffrey S
JS
Upperman
D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D004189:Disaster Planning / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005260:Female; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D054527:Mass Casualty Incidents; D008875:Middle Aged; D009722:Nurse Practitioners / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D024802:Nurse's Role; D010371:Pediatric Nursing; D011336:Probability; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology