Abstract
In the last decades, the number of natural disasters and subsequent population migrations have increased worldwide, research documenting their impact through multiple discipline’s perspectives. The bio-psycho-social effects on groups and communities have been well-documented (Capelli, Constantini & Consoli, 2021). Furthermore, Zhang et al (2022) and Auchincloss and Chernak (2024) found that exposure to natural disasters negatively impacts individuals’ mental and physical health throughout the life-span. First responders often include social workers and nurses working with individuals in the aftermath of disasters, yet few programs in higher education emphasize this important preparedness aspect. This paper reports on a model of integrating emergency preparedness interprofessional collaborative practice simulations across different disciplines, including social work and nursing at a higher education institution in the Southern U.S. Simulations have been found to be effective in increasing the students’ level of preparedness and collaboration to intervene in different situations (Cannon, 2016; Pinar, 2015). Furthermore, simulations that include different professions and/or roles have shown to increase knowledge, skills, and improve attitudes towards team-based approaches across disciplines (Miller, Rambeck, & Snyder, 2014). After the simulation, which was built around the WHO (2010) and Interprofessional Education Collaborative (IPEC, 2016) frameworks for responding to individual, families, communities, and population needs, students completed a survey that sought to identify their perceptions of their preparedness to respond to natural disasters. The study results show that integrating interprofessional simulations in higher education is not only beneficial (Alim, Kawabata, & Nakazawa, 2015) but also prepares future professionals to support their communities’ recovery process.
Presenters
Laura RacovitaProfessor of Social Work/ Dean, Social Work, Southern Adventist University, Tennessee, United States Amy Mejias
Student, Master of Social Work (August 2024), Southern Adventist University, Tennessee, United States Mioara Diaconu
Assistant Professor, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, MI
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
KEYWORDS
Response to Human Migration, Inter-professional Simulation, Emergency Preparedness, Higher Education
