The Integrated Training Program for Mass Casualty and Disaster Nursing Management

Abstract

The Royal Thai Army Nursing College initiated the Integrated Training Program for Mass Casualty, and Disaster Nursing Management called “Yok Pirarak Operation” in the academic year of 2014. In the first year, the training was a three-day extracurricular activity which was part of The Graduates’ Identity and The Institute’s Uniqueness Development Program. The purpose of this program was to develop our expected graduates to have desirable qualities identified: “Outstanding Military Attribute, Public Mind Emphasis, Excellent Wisdom with Morality and Nursing Value Development in Every Situation.” Fostering the identity and uniqueness requires adequate preparation for our future nursing graduates to be capable of working in various situations both in-hospital and pre-hospital settings in cases of peaceful, disaster or wartime events. The training program focused on improving knowledge and nursing skills essential for mass casualty and disaster management in pre-hospital settings. This program was an additional component from the previous nursing program which mainly addressed in-hospital care. In the academic year of 2015, it was included in the nursing curriculum as part of the Nursing Comprehensive Practicum Course for the first time and the program was extended to five days. The program included class lecture, core-skills training, tabletop exercise, real-like scenarios for managing mass casualty, disaster and military events and debriefing. According to the overall 3-year program evaluation, the nursing students participated in the training program perceived that the training was practical in improving their knowledge and core nursing skills required to work in various situations. Also, they reported that the intensive training was effective in fostering several desirable attributes: leadership, discipline, teamwork, communication, critical thinking, problem-solving, decision making and limited resources management. The participants also demonstrated a great pride of being part of the training program. The Nursing college has strong determination to reinforce our identity and uniqueness, and encourage our graduates’ application and integration the obtained knowledge and nursing skills to accomplish future potential missions for effectively serving the Royal Thai Army, the society and the nation in every situation.