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.

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Disasters and humanitarian emergencies due to natural or human origins result in severe and often prolonged suffering of the affected population. Midwives have a role to play in providing assistance because women and their infants experiencing such crises have unique vulnerabilities and needs. This article introduces midwives and other women's health care practitioners to international humanitarian emergency response efforts and describes preparation and training activities they can undertake to get ready to volunteer with an international health aid agency. Various clinical realities and challenges are discussed, including recommended priorities for providing reproductive health care in disaster zones. Common ethical dilemmas in crisis health care settings are also reviewed. By arriving in the field well prepared to participate and collaborate, midwives can make substantial contributions to the safety, health, and comfort of women and their families who have experienced a natural disaster, armed conflict, or disease epidemic.

Opportunities for perinatal and neonatal nurses to serve as expert witnesses are expanding, particularly in the area of medical malpractice. The article presents an overview of the role and qualifications of the nurse expert in medical malpractice cases. The phases of involvement in the legal process, from review of medical records to testifying in deposition and at trial, are described. Essential information is presented about factors to consider in formulating an expert opinion and strategies for testifying in medical malpractice lawsuits. A description is provided of the types of malpractice cases that may be on the horizon.