In a mass casualty incident, what is the nurse's primary responsibility during the disaster preparedness plan implementation?

In a mass casualty incident, the nurse's primary responsibility during the implementation of a disaster preparedness plan is to follow a formal written plan of action for coordinating staff responses. This plan provides clear guidance on the roles and responsibilities of healthcare professionals during a crisis, ensuring that care is organized and efficient. Having a formal written plan is crucial because it minimizes confusion and enhances the coordination necessary to respond effectively to the large influx of patients.

A formal plan helps establish triage protocols, allocate resources effectively, and ensure that communication is streamlined among team members. This structured approach is vital in managing the chaos that often accompanies mass casualty incidents, allowing healthcare providers to prioritize care based on the severity of injuries and available resources.

While contacting nurses informally may be part of the response, it lacks the systematic approach necessary for large-scale incidents. Ensuring medical supplies are available or designating levels of casualty care are also important components of disaster planning, but they fall under broader operational strategies that rely on the overall coordination outlined in the formal plan of action. Hence, without proper coordination through a written plan, the effectiveness of those components may be significantly compromised.