Disaster Nursing Perspective: Disaster Literacy

Abstract

Disaster literacy is the process of understanding, analyzing, synthesizing, and evaluating a disaster problem in detail, and making correct and conscious decisions at the end of the process. Nurses assume important roles and responsibilities at all stages of disasters with their technical skills and knowledge of epidemiology, physiology, pharmacology, cultural-family structures, and psychosocial issues. A disaster literate individual needs to have a basic understanding of their own needs, resources, and vulnerabilities. Attitudes and behaviors of individuals against disasters are an important factor in increasing or decreasing the damage that disasters may cause. It is important to create a disaster literate society to be protected from disasters and to overcome the damages that may come from disasters with as little loss of life and property as possible. In this context, the study aims to discuss disaster literacy within the scope of disaster nursing in the light of current literature.