In the event of a disaster (natural or man-made) there are many responsibilities and roles that a nurse has but I believe that the primary roles and responsibilities are to number one protect their patients, number two protect themselves, and number three be a resource for anyone that needs their assistance. It is their role to be there for their patients and provide care where it is needed but it is also their role to do what can be done in their scope of practice and according to their hospital policy. They are also responsible for keeping people calm, helping direct them to the right resources, and attend to their patients and those that need help.

As I mentioned, a nurse’s primary roles and responsibilities in the case of a disaster are to protect their patients and themselves. Provision 2 of the ANA Code of Ethics states that a nurse’s primary responsibility is to the patient and Provision 5 of the ANA Code of Ethics states that a nurse owes the same duty to self. My thoughts on both two ethical codes are as followed: I believe they go hand in hand. How can a nurse care for a patient if they haven’t been caring for themselves or their self-duty to themselves is to protect their patients? I think that both Provisions are right. In both no matter the primary responsibility they have stated the nurse will end up doing both; they know their primary responsibility is to the patient but also in the case of a natural or man-made disaster they have the same duty to take care of themselves. A nurse’s duty to self can be providing to their patient or taking time to prepare for patient care. Nurses are compassionate and will always help others especially in the event of a natural or man-made disaster, but they also hold the same reason to help themselves.