| Volunteer
Nurse Registry Form
The Tompkins County Health Department (TCHD) is staffed and trained
to respond to communicable disease and food borne illness outbreaks.
However, a natural disaster or bioterrorism event could exceed
our ability to respond as quickly or effectively as needed. For
example, after September 11, thousands of doctors and nurses called
or arrived in New York City to help but their offers quickly overwhelmed
the city's capacity to accommodate and make use of this valuable
resource. We have all learned that planning for the unexpected
is a necessity in this new century.
The Health Department participates in County and State Emergency
Planning Councils and activities. As part of this planning, we
are creating a registry of area nurses who would be willing to
volunteer in the event of a disaster. One example was the need
for nursing care in shelters in response to the recent ice storm
in the North Country. Other examples include working in mass vaccination
clinics in response to communicable disease outbreaks such as
Influenza, Hepatitis A or Smallpox.
Here is the information TCHD will need
from nurses interested in volunteering:
- Contact information: name, address, phone, email, etc.
- Registered Professional Nursing or Licensed Practical Nursing
license number. Retirees with current registration are also
eligible
- Vaccination or illness information for Measles, Mumps, Rubella,
Hepatitis B, Smallpox, Tetanus, Diphtheria, Pertussis and Chickenpox
- Specific nursing skills and experience that would be helpful
such as: immunizations, venipuncture, CPR certification, etc.
and language, signing skills to assist in the interpretation
of medical needs.
How will this work?
- We would maintain a confidential registry and would not share
it without the volunteer's written consent.
- We would request an update on volunteer information annually.
- In the event of a disaster, TCHD staff would contact volunteers
to see if they are available. No obligation is assumed.
How will this benefit Tompkins County?
- We would be able to mobilize and assign volunteer nursing
staff quickly, efficiently and safely
- We would be able to pre-plan meeting sites for information
dissemination, and
- We would be able to assist in the coordination of nursing
volunteers for American Red Cross shelters, and for emergencies
at area hospitals, colleges and universities.
For more information
Volunteer
Nurse Registry Form
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