Role of the Advanced Practice Registered Nurse in Crisis Response

Activity Summary

Required reading for all learners: Implicit Bias impacts patient outcomes

Advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) they are uniquely qualified to support responses to disasters and mass casualty incidents. Although frameworks for emergency preparedness and response have been established by the National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties (NONPF) and the International Council of Nurses (ICN), the APRN community is not consistently prepared to participate in crisis response. In this article, we highlight challenges and barriers identified during previous disaster incidents, with a focus on the COVID-19 pandemic. Then, we provide suggestions for deployment of APRNs to the full extent of their scope of practice during future crises and mass casualty incidents.

Objectives

Describe APRN perception of disaster preparedness.
Identify the domains of disaster preparedness and response in which APRNs may be involved.
Discuss additional disaster-related competencies during the COVID-19 response in which APRNs adapted and excelled in order to meet patient and system needs.

Continuing Education Disclosure Statement

Successful Completion

Learners must complete the entire activity and the associated evaluation to be awarded contact hours AND read Implicit Bias impacts patient outcomes. No partial credit will be awarded.

Accreditation

The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses is accredited as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by the American Nurses Credentialing Center's Commission on Accreditation.

Provider approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing, Provider number CEP 1036, for 1.00 contact hours.

Disclosure

Any relevant relationship between an ineligible company and an individual with the ability to influence clinical content will be identified by the Nurse Planner within the activity. Any relevant relationship between an ineligible company and an individual with the ability to influence clinical content has been mitigated.

Accreditation refers to recognition of continuing education only and does not imply AACN, ANCC, or CBRN approval or endorsement of any commercial products discussed or displayed in conjunction with this educational activity.

Activities with pharmacology hours are to assist the APRN in fulfilling the pharmacotherapeutic education requirements for licensure and certification renewals.

Activities meet the standards for most states that require mandatory continuing education for license and/or certification renewal. AACN recommends consulting with your own state board of nursing or credentialing organization before submitting your certificate of completion.

Refund Policy

Continuing Education Activities are nonrefundable.