Nurses are leaders and primary health responder/providers in natural, anthropic and technological disasters. Preparation and education for nursing emergency and disaster response should begin before nursing program graduation and before disaster events occur. In Louisiana, 17 federally-declared disaster declarations were experienced from 2000 – 2009, ranging from the Space Shuttle “Columbia” to Hurricane “Katrina”. This presentation overviews Louisiana nursing programs' disaster preparedness and operational planning as demonstrated to Louisiana's Schools of Nursing Aligned for Emergency Responsiveness (SAFER) Conference, New Orleans, 2010. Co-sponsored by Dillard University, Division of Nursing, New Orleans, and Northwestern State University, College of Nursing, Shreveport, the invitational conference brought expert nurse and physician preparedness speakers from federal, state and local venues to review disaster planning, experiences, needs, and nurse preparedness competencies with nurse faculty leadership.

A multiple choice survey was developed, trialed and emailed to 42 Louisiana Nursing Programs. Programs surveyed included Associate degree, Bachelors and Graduate-level providers for Registered Nurses as well as Vocational Technical programs for the Licensed Practical Nurse. National Planning Scenario threat priorities; impacts of federally declared disasters on Louisiana nursing programs; nursing program roles in disaster; and awareness of nurse emergency preparedness competencies were queried.

34 of 42 surveys were returned. 20 were complete. Nursing programs were located state-wide and found in 7 of 9 Louisiana regions. Surveyed programs offered a Bachelors degree (45%); Graduate degree (35%); Associate degree (35%) and vocational or Licensed Practical Nursing (35%).

The majority of Louisiana nursing programs and their health communities have been impacted by federally declared disasters. Coordinated efforts to improve nursing program preparedness education, roles and responsibility are warranted as vulnerability increases.