Perinatal Considerations in the Hospital Disaster Management Process

Abstract

Nurses play a vital role in providing care to mothers and infants during a disaster, yet few are fully prepared for the challenges they will encounter under extreme conditions. The ability to provide the best possible care for families begins with understanding the perinatal issues in relation to each phase of the disaster management process. This article reviews the hospital and perinatal nursing role in the mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery phases of disaster management. © 2010 AWHONN, the Association of Women's Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses.