Disaster Response in Haiti
In the wake of the devastation in Haiti, the American Nurses Association (ANA) would like to convey our deepest sympathies to those who have suffered incalculable losses. For nurses who have expressed an interest helping with the relief and recovery efforts, ANA encourages anyone interested in becoming a first responder to pre-register with one of the many disaster registries and response organizations that already exist. These groups ensure that volunteers will have access to training and will be utilized according to the appropriate response plans.
ANA has been contacted by several relief agencies and is in communication with our government partners who are participating in the relief and recovery mission in Haiti. Many are anticipating deployment opportunities for nurses, but there appears to be little immediate deployment plans for large numbers of volunteers. Security and health safety concerns continue to be an issue for the responders on the ground, as well as logistical difficulties in transporting responders to and around the country.
Nurses interested in participating in this mission should Use This Form. It is very likely that nurses of all specialties will be needed in the coming months as part of a long-term comittment to establish a health infrastructure in Haiti.
For those interested in immediate deployment, please be advised that volunteer responders should consider the following:
- Conditions continue to be austere.
- Talk with your family and employer. It is possible the mission could last more than 2 weeks.
- You will need a current US passport to deploy overseas.
Please visit the Volunteer Now page on NursingWorld to learn more about how to become an emergency first responder. This is an excellent time to sign up for a response registry that meets your desired level of participation and activity so that you are skilled and trained for deployment in future disasters.
As nurses, we are professionals who have a fundamental desire to heal, help, and comfort those in need. We understand that nurses are anxious to hit the ground in Haiti to help stop the suffering. The good news is that many of the earthquake victims have received the care they need as part of the massive international medical relief response that has occurred.
The direct medical needs after a major disaster like an earthquake are great, but the indirect health tolls from dehydration, communicable disease, malnutrition, exposure, and emotional stress are often even more immense and longer lasting than the immediate impact. Haiti will be in need of nurses and other responders for weeks, months, and possibly years to help confront these secondary health issues and to help build a stronger, resilient health care system. Your opportunity to provide care for those in need may be even greater in the coming weeks and months when the initial surge of aid begins to slow.
Stay informed on efforts by the ANA to assist, as well as get any information on calls for nurse volunteers, by adding this page to your RSS service. We will also be providing information on our Facebook page and Twitter feeds, which you can access at the bottom of this page. For our members, we have established a community page to discuss and debrief on this situation on our social networking site ANANursespace. Members also receive detailed situation reports. If you are an RN, consider becoming an ANA member to receive this information and to become a part of ANA's robust disaster response work.
The American Nurses Foundation (ANF) - the charitable and philanthropic arm of ANA - has established a fund that will benefit restoring the nursing infrastructure in Haiti through assisting the International Council of Nurses member Association Nationale des Infirmières Licenciès d'Haiti. Donate here!.
Additional links, ANA resources, and an Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) is below.