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The hospital also has a team of emergency preparedness professionals who are responsible for updating and testing the emergency preparedness plan on a regular basis.

How health policy impacts nursing practice in preparing for emergencies

Health policy can impact nursing practice in preparing for emergencies in a number of ways. For example, health policy can:

• Provide funding for emergency preparedness: Health policy can provide funding for hospitals and other healthcare organizations to develop and implement emergency preparedness plans.
• Mandate emergency preparedness training for nurses: Health policy can mandate that nurses receive training in emergency preparedness.
• Establish standards for emergency preparedness: Health policy can establish standards for emergency preparedness that hospitals and other healthcare organizations must meet.
• Promote collaboration between healthcare organizations and other stakeholders: Health policy can promote collaboration between healthcare organizations and other stakeholders, such as public health agencies and first responders.

Examples of health policy impacting nursing practice in preparing for emergencies:

• The Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA): EMTALA requires hospitals to provide emergency medical treatment to anyone who needs it, regardless of their ability to pay. This policy ensures that nurses are prepared to provide care to all patients, regardless of their circumstances.
• The Hospital Preparedness Program (HPP): The HPP is a federal grant program that provides funding to hospitals to improve their emergency preparedness capabilities. This funding can be used to purchase equipment, train staff, and develop emergency preparedness plans.
• The Nurse and Allied Health Professional Resilience and Retention Act of 2018 (NAHRRA): NAHRRA provides funding for programs to support the resilience and retention of nurses and other allied health professionals. This funding can be used to provide training in emergency preparedness, stress management, and other coping skills.

By understanding how health policy impacts nursing practice in preparing for emergencies, nurses can better advocate for themselves and their patients.