The pre-hospital role of nurses: The 2009 Black Saturday Victorian Bushfires

Mr Jamie Ranse: Clinical Manager, Emergency Department – Calvary Health Care ACT Chief Nursing Officer, St John Ambulance Australia

Mr Shane Lenson: Manager of Emergency Department Services– Calvary Health Care ACT

Mr Brett Aimers: State Professional Officer, St John Ambulance Australia (Victoria)

Overview

• Background• Aims• Method• Results• Discussion

Background: Black Saturday Bushfires 2009

• 7th February:– Temperature 48.8oC, wind 115km/hr

• Loss:– 2,000 properties– 61 businesses– 173 lives– Numerous displaced persons

Background: Disaster Response

• Australia's health care response to disasters– Familiar with the threat of natural disasters– Real world disasters not tested

• St John Ambulance Australia– Clinical accreditation framework– Health care professionals in St John– Role of St John in the bushfires– Cross boarder arrangements

• Education• Previous experiences

Aim

To describe the clinical experience, disaster training / education, and disaster experience of nurses who participated in the February 2009 Victorian Bushfire response and recovery.

Method

• Exploratory and descriptive• Purposive sample

– ~35 Victorian nurses– ~20 Nurses from other jurisdictions– Identified from a membership database

• Survey• Descriptive statistics• Response rate 45%

Results

• Participant demographics

Results

• Work area and years of experience

Results

• Qualifications

Results

• Course type and participation

Results

• Mock disaster type and participation

Results

• Roles during the Black Saturday Bushfires

Results

• Nursing and Midwifery Experience: Nursing Years

Discussion

• Males overrepresented• More medical / surgical nursing experience• Postgraduate qualifications in critical care• Disaster education• Disaster training – not bushfire related• Experience – bushfires• Roles – caring for firefighters in staging areas

The pre-hospital role of nurses: The 2009 Black Saturday Victorian Bushfires

Mr Jamie Ranse: Clinical Manager, Emergency Department – Calvary Health Care ACT Chief Nursing Officer, St John Ambulance Australia

Mr Shane Lenson: Manager of Emergency Department Services– Calvary Health Care ACT

Mr Brett Aimers: State Professional Officer, St John Ambulance Australia (Victoria)