World first disaster nurses graduate

The world’s first ever specially trained nurses with a postgraduate degree in disaster relief nursing graduated today from the University of Ulster.

The MSc course in Disaster Relief Nursing was set up three years ago through a collaboration of nursing academies, non-governmental organisations and national military establishments across Europe.

The course combines traditional educational approaches with simulation exercises, field placements and e-learning.

The first seven nurses – three Swedes, two Finns, a Londoner and one from Portadown, Co Armagh – are now poised to become leaders in the world’s disaster zones.

They all hold down full-time nursing jobs but are ready at a moment’s notice to fly off to take control in a disaster area anywhere in the world.

During their training they underwent placements in Angola, Tanzania and Belgrade.

A further 24 students from Britain, Ireland, Germany, Sweden, Portugal and Finland are enrolled for a new course starting this year.

Speaking at the graduation at the university Magee campus in Londonderry , vice-chancellor Gerry McKenna said: “Since the first moves to establish this course, events around the world have strongly underlined the wisdom of launching this distinctive postgraduate programme.”

He said that during the 1990s an annual average of 75,000 people lost their lives in natural or human-initiated disasters, with a further 210 million affected.

“It is reasonable therefore to regard disasters as among the greatest global threats to the human race.

“As one of the largest groups of frontline workers within the humanitarian community, nurses make a massive contribution to our preparedness for and response to disasters, not only in the provision of direct care but also in a range of senior management posts and leadership roles,” he said.

Disasters of one kind or another were so prevalent that nurses must be trained up to the leading edge of capacity, and the edge must be persistently extended, he said.

Pat Deeny, course director and senior lecturer at Magee, added: “Today is the result of five years’ planning. This is a momentous occasion for the School of Nursing.

“It not only confirms our position of international standing but reflects the diversity of educational methods and support for people in developing research skills already held.”