Haiti Deployment

The Delaware Medical Relief Team (DMRT) is in need of your expertise. DMRT has organized and deployed 4 teams to help with relief efforts in Jacmel, Haiti. More than 40 of your colleagues have donated time and energy to travel with the group.

Are you interested in doing volunteer work, but aren’t sure where to start? A not-for-profit organization has been set up for donations and relief efforts. A website has now been set up for more information. Please see www.delawaremedicalreliefteam.org .

All professionals will need a valid passport, vaccines, and raise money for the cost of travel. Previous volunteers are willing to share their experiences with you. Relief trips are approximately 10 days in length. Check with your employer, vacation time might be given in exchange for your service with DMRT. All medical professionals are needed, NPs, PAs, RNs.

Email Susan Kaye at slkaye57@aol.com or volunteer@delawaremedicalrelief.org for more information. Unable to travel, but wish to help organize efforts locally? Contact the group for more information.

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Disaster Preparedness Planning

The issue of health professional surge capacity during a major disaster has been a concern at all levels of government and for those involved in disaster planning and response. ANA and DNA strongly encourages all registered nurses who are interested in disaster volunteering to pre-register with a registry and consider a few questions when determining the most suitable registry given their personal and professional situation.

The primary message to registered nurses is:

1. Do not spontaneously deploy to a disaster scene. If you want to volunteer do so as a part of a coordinated effort, like a registry.
2. Responding through a recognized, coordinated effort helps to ensure that you do not become a victim yourself.
3. Responding through a recognized, coordinated effort helps ensure that your skills, knowledge and ability are most effectively used.
4. Responding through a recognized, coordinated effort may afford you some level of protection related to licensure recognition, professional liability and workers compensation.
5. Pre-registering within a registry affords you access to the necessary education and training to prepare you to respond during a disaster and to keep yourself safe.
6. Pre-registering within a registry and deploying through a recognized system should provide you with the necessary equipment-personal protective equipment, etc. to respond appropriately and to keep you safe.
7. Choosing the appropriate registry or team should be based on a careful analysis of your ability to secure release from your employer to respond, other professional commitments, and your personal/family situations and commitments. This prevents duplicative counting of important human resources.¹

¹Disaster Preparedness Planning-Volunteer Registries, November 2006 Constituent Assembly Consent Information Report

To register with the Medical Reserve Corp, download the application now. For additional information, download the brochure.

Nurses House

A National Fund for Nurses in Need

Nurses House is a nurse-managed, non-profit organization dedicated to helping registered nurses in need. Their mission is to provide short-term financial assistance to nurses in need as a result of illness, injury, or disability. While some Nurses House guests face short- term illness or injury, others are permanently disabled. Many nurses need funds to help pay for such basics as food, a car payment, or health insurance. Nurses House has helped thousands of nurses in all 50 states to regain health and productivity.

Please invest in Nurses House. Your generosity will make a tangible and welcome difference in the lives of nursing colleagues throughout the nation. Make a donation.

If you are a registered nurse and need assistance, please complete form.