What is a critical responsibility of nurses during a disaster response situation?

Establishing triage protocols is a critical responsibility of nurses during a disaster response situation because it directly affects patient care and resource allocation in emergencies. Triage is the process of prioritizing patients based on the severity of their condition and the urgency of their needs. In a disaster scenario—where the number of injured individuals often exceeds available resources—effective triage ensures that those who are most critically ill or injured receive immediate care while less urgent cases can be managed later.

Nurses play a pivotal role in triage, as they have the training to quickly assess patient conditions and make informed decisions about the level of care required. By establishing clear triage protocols, nurses help to streamline the disaster response, ultimately improving outcomes and maximizing the use of available medical resources. This function is vital in maintaining order in chaotic environments, allowing for an organized approach to care, which is essential for saving lives.

Considering the context of the other options, they do not align with the primary responsibilities of nurses during a disaster: choosing which patients to admit could lead to ethical dilemmas and neglecting immediate care needs; developing hospital marketing strategies is irrelevant in an emergency context; and implementing non-essential procedures would divert resources and attention away from the urgent care demands of disaster response. These roles