Question

Watch the "Diary of Medical Mission Trip" videos dealing with the catastrophic earthquake in Haiti in 2010. Reflect on this natural disaster by answering the following questions: Propose one example of a nursing intervention related to the disaster from each of the following levels: primary prevention, secondary prevention, and tertiary prevention. Provide innovative examples that have not been discussed by previous students. Under which phase of the disaster do the three proposed interventions fall? Explain why you chose that phase. With what people or agencies would you work in facilitating the proposed interventions and why?

Answer 1

Nursing interventions related to the Haiti earthquake in 2010:

Primary prevention: The main aim of primary phase is to help save people from life threatening injuries and it can includes the preventive measures necessary to avoid the occurrence of disease, while maintaining healthy life. Access to surgical, medical, emergency obstetric are as well as proper case management, particularly for trauma, wounds and burns including IV fluids and Antibiotic therapy procedures are mainly focused in this phase.

Secondary prevention: Priority immunizations, including mass vaccination campaign for tetanus immunization as part of wound care. This is to be executed in the second phase to help assure once lives are out of imminent danger they do not get a secondary situation from an infection. It includes the activities of early diagnosis and providing optimum treatment, while preventing or limiting the secondary consequences of the disease.

Tertiary prevention:

The main focus of tertiary prevention is to limit the detrimental consequences of the disease, while trying to maintain the normal health. It includes long term medication to rehabilitate the body, efficient treatment approaches and patient education. Communicable disease surveillance and response, including preparedness for epidemic-prone diseases. Nutritional support, for infant and young children, and malnutrition management. Provision of sufficient and safe water, and sanitation. This is to be executed in the third phase to help Haitians gain strength and health to be able to survive and rebuild their community and to avoid further illness.

I would work with the Primary health agency to help save lives first and foremost. However, I would really enjoy the tertiary phase as I feel this is my forte and passion. I would help reorganize their water and food sources to help them regain strength and start rebuilding their community.