When disaster strikes and we hear the term’ first responders,’ it typically refers to firefighters, paramedics, and police officers. However, there is another group of people who are ready to respond to emergencies and often provide the first touch of care a patient receives – nurses. The first responders are the trained professionals who immediately respond to emergencies and are the first ones to show up on scenes. Nurses, on the other hand, do not show up on scenes but are getting ready to treat the ill or injured; therefore, they are not legally called first responders, but they are frontline heroes. In this blog, we will answer the question Are nurses considered first responders?
Who are first responders, and are nurses considered part of this group?
First responders typically consist of police officers, paramedics, and firefighters who reach the scenes and provide help to the patients. But nurses are the front-line heroes who are first to assess the incoming trauma patient and provide the care they need. However, there is growing recognition that some nurses do function as first responders. Especially during COVID, nurses were recognized as the first responders. Some of the nurses who are considered first responders are as follows:
- ER nurses are part of the emergency trauma response.
- Flight nurses deliver critical care in mid-air.
- Disaster response nurses.
- School nurses are the first and only ones responding to the health crisis in schools.
Why is there a distinction between nurses and first responders?
- The distinction between nurses and first responders depends on the settings, roles and responsibilities, and training.
- First responders typically work outside in a non-hospital setting, whereas nurses provide care in hospital settings.
- First responders have certifications such as paramedic training, CPR, etc, whereas nurses have more education, training, and hold a license.
- For first responders, the focus of care is immediate stabilization, whereas for nurses, the focus is on ongoing care.
Are nurses first responders?
So, to finally answer the question, whether nurses are considered first responders? Well, nurses might not always be considered the first responders, but they are the front-line heroes who take care of the patient when they arrive at the hospital. And nurses during crisis step in when lives are on the line, such as in school settings, code blue in the ICU, etc.
Myths and Reality: Are nurses first responders?
Myth: Nurses are first responders because they deal with emergencies.
Reality: Nurses are not classified as first responders because they deal with emergencies in clinical settings and not outside.
Myth: Any nurse can provide care outside the licensed medical setting.
Reality: No doubt nurses deal in emergencies, but they have limitations on what they can do outside the clinical setting.
Myth: Nurses are automatically part of the emergency response system.
Reality: Nurses are not automatically part of the emergency response system unless they are in their specialized role.
Myth: Nurses receive the same benefits and protections as first responders.
Reality: Nurses do not receive the same benefits and protections as first responders.
Conclusion
So, are the nurses considered first responders or not? Well, they are not legally considered as first responders, but they are the first ones to give care to the trauma patient in clinical settings such as hospitals and clinics. There are a few things that differentiate nurses from first responders, including their training, education, benefits, etc. Some nurses, such as flight nurses or school nurses, are the first ones to be considered first responders because they are the first to respond to the emergency. Nurses’ main focus is to give continuing care to the patient until they recover, whereas the first responders’ focus of care is to stabilize the patient’s condition immediately outside the clinical setting.
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