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 attend/view/read the entire activity and complete the associated evaluation to be awarded the contact hours or CERP. No partial credit will be awarded.

Disclosure

This activity has been reviewed by the Nurse Planner. It has been determined that the material presented here shows no bias. No conflicts of interest have been identified for any individual with the ability to influence the content of this activity. Accreditation refers to recognition of continuing education only and does not imply AACN or ANCC approval or endorsement of any commercial products discussed or displayed in conjunction with this educational activity.

Accreditation

The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) is accredited as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by the American Nurses Credentialing Center's (ANCC's) Commission on Accreditation, ANCC Provider Number 0012. AACN has been approved as a provider of continuing education in nursing by the California State Board of Nursing (CBRN), California Provider number CEP 1036. This activity is approved for 1.00 contact hours.

AACN programming meets the standards for most states that require mandatory continuing education contact hours for license and/or certification renewal. AACN recommends consulting with your state board of nursing or credentialing organization before submitting CE to fulfill continuing education requirements.

Refund Policy

Continuing Education Activities are nonrefundable.