Nursing faculty members’ experience in the disaster area following the Great East Japan Earthquake: Focus on disaster prevention

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<p>Aim: This study identified issues associated with disaster prevention measures in three Educational Nursing Institutions (ENIs) affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake in 2011.</p><p>Methods: Participants were eight ENI nursing faculty members in the Tohoku region. A qualitative descriptive methodology was utilized using semi-structured interviews. The focus was on the successful aspects of the participants’ actions following the disaster. Disaster prevention issues that were identified were divided into two categories: rehabilitation period and emergency conditions. Categories were classified using the narratives of the eight participants.</p><p>Results: Five issues identified in the rehabilitation period were: (1) clarification of the role of schools in the area; (2) communication methods at the time of disaster were not established; (3) emergency equipments were insufficient; (4) the need to review content of disaster prevention training; and (5) failure to utilize the disaster prevention manual adequately. Six issues mentioned in the emergency conditions are as follows: (1) the roles of faculty and staff were not clarified; (2) command and control systems were underdeveloped; (3) evacuation methods were not defined; (4) the safety confirmation system was incomplete; (5) the role of students was unclear due to a lack of infrastructure to adequately support them; and (6) it was difficult to care for the students.</p><p>Conclusions: Educational Nursing Institutes should be aware that their institutions could be utilized as evacuation centers following disasters, despite not being designated as such in the regional disaster prevention plan. As a result, ENIs should be prepared to fulfill their role in assisting survivors. In addition, disaster prevention plan should equally balance the business continuity plans for disasters, thus ensuring “student safety and health management”. Also, “measures to resume and continue education” are necessary.</p>

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