I.

DEFINITION OF TERMS
Earvin Joed Biason, RN, EMT-B, MSN(c)

Define

Emergency
an

unforeseen combination of circumstances or the resulting state that calls for immediate action sudden calamitous event bringing great damage, loss, or destruction

Disaster
a

Define

Emergency and Disaster Nursing Deals with human responses to any trauma or sudden illness that requires immediate intervention to prevent imminent severe damage or death Care is provided in any setting to persons of all ages with actual or perceived alterations in physical or emotional health

Define

Emergency and Disaster Nursing Relations between humans and their environment, as serious or sudden event on such scale that the stricken community needs extraordinary efforts to cope with outside help or international aid (Shishani et al, 2009)

II. HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE OF EMERGENCY NURSING

Origin

1600s French sisters of mercy was one of the first organized nursing orders that responded to care for epidemic victims (Corcoran, 2011)

Evolution

Emergency Nursing traces its origins in the Florence Nightingale era 1854 -56 Crimean War Emergency nursing care is episodic, primary, and usually acute 1860 - Establishment of a nurse training school in London started the development of modern nursing as we know it today.

Evolution

1800's hospitals become more popular so emergency care grew and many people would sit for hours waiting for treatment General rule of thumb was first come first served, even for dying patients Major emergency care advancements - TRIAGE

Evolution

1963 - First reference to triage during nondisaster activity at Yale, Newhaven hospital USA Emergency nursing has grown over the centuries the last 35 years have seen the most profound changes especially in the position that emergency nurses now hold. 1970s - many countries have developed national organizations related to emergency nursing

Evolution

1985 - first ever international emergency nursing conference was held in London (over 600 delegates representing 28 different countries) 1990s - development and polishing of emergency nsg. as a specialty field 1990s - redevelopment of triage, care of bereaved relatives, child care, psychiatric care, pre hospital care, etc

Evolution

1990s - collaborative way, the co-operation and multi-disciplinary working among HC providers improved

Source: International Council of Nurses, 2000 http://www.icn.ch/fr/networks/history-of-emergency-nursing/