Dealing With Crisis Situations as a Travel Healthcare Professional

Day to day nursing is already a brave and difficult job. Crisis situations will put you to the ultimate test. Whether it's a natural disaster or a human made disaster there's no denying that a crisis will be an extraordinary challenge. You don't have to be caught off guard, with preparation, you can be in a position to act quickly and effectively in the face of a crisis. Here's how:

Learn your hospital's emergency protocol-

When you start a new assignment, take steps to learn about your hospital's protocol for handling emergencies, including evacuation plans, viral infection protocols, shelter in place information, active shooter protocol etc. Make sure to learn emergency codes for your specific hospital.

Complete extra training and educate yourself-

Many nursing schools are beginning to incorporate disaster readiness training into the curriculum but if you feel you could benefit from more education in disaster response there are options such as the National Nurse Emergency Preparedness initiative or checking out the CDC's comprehensive list of resources for disaster readiness.

Consider volunteering to gain experience-

Medical Reserve Corps is a network of volunteers that improve emergency response within the community as well as American Red Cross and the Federal Emergency Management Agency which provides first hand experience in disaster response.

Prepare yourself-

The final part of crisis readiness is being personally prepared, staying stocked up on essentials such as flashlights, work gloves, a blanket and emergency food and water etc.

It's true the world can be scary and disasters can strike anywhere, at any time. Armed with preparation and knowledge you'll be empowered to meet any crisis with strength and self assurance.