Standards and Best Practices
Emergencies, Disease Outbreaks and Disasters
H1N1 Flu Virus (Human Swine Flu)
For the latest information and precautionary measures on the HiN1 Flu Virus (Human Swine Influenza) outbreak, visit the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC). PHAC has released guidelines for health professionals addressing infection prevention, control management and screening criteria.
Ethical Nursing Practice in a Pandemic: A National Nursing Perspective
CNA presented a poster at the First Canadian Roundtable on Public Health Ethics. It describes emergency preparedness resources developed for nurses, including the Code of Ethics for Registered Nurses, a position statement and an Ethics in Practice paper.
What Every Nurse Should Know
CNA and others have developed a working relationship with the Public Health Agency of Canada’s Centre for Emergency Preparedness and Response to combine expertise resulting in a stronger, more effective response to emergency situations and to define nurses' role in a national emergency response plan. As well, CNA is providing consultation to Health Canada on a number of issues, including Health Canada's small pox contingency plan.
The Canadian Nurses Association (CNA) has developed a position statement on the role of nurses in emergency preparedness and response. Nurses are particularly well equipped to engage in these activities because they have the scientific background to understand needed interventions and the communications skills to deliver messages. Nurses in all health-care settings engage people in emergency preparedness through their patient-teaching and community-building activities. CNA's position statement articulates the beliefs and values of registered nurses regarding emergency management, and the role of nurses in relation to other organizations that are involved in planning for and responding to emergencies.
Online Course for Front-line Health Professionals
Nurses and other health-care professionals can access Infectious disease outbreaks: Tools and strategies for front-line clinicians – a free, six-hour online course from the Public Health Agency of Canada. This evidence-based course focuses on the coordination between clinical care, public health officials and laboratories. A series of case studies provides best practices in preparedness, early detection, and response to notifiable and emerging infectious diseases.
Government links
Emergency Preparedness and Response Training Catalogue
Health Professional Information
Bioterrorism and Public Health
Responding to Stressful Events
The Canadian Pandemic Influenza Plan
for the Health Sector
Appendix E (in PDF) of the Canadian Pandemic Influenza Plan describes the role of the antiviral drug, oseltamivir phosphate (Tamiflu™) in preventing pandemics and in early treatment of influenza.
CNA is one of 124 national nursing associations that are members of the International Council of Nurses, which offers information pertinent to global nursing issues such as coping with terrorism and disaster preparedness. In March 2006, CNA adopted the ICN position statement Nurses and Disaster Preparedness (2001).
Other Resources
Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Information for health professionals on smallpox
World Health Organization
Epidemic and Pandemic Alert and Response
Canadian Red Cross
Webcast and slideshow: "How to Manage the Flu: An Introduction to Prevention of Disease Transmission in Canadian Workplaces"
Canadian Public Health Association
Pandemic Influenza Portal
Updated: November 23, 2010
