LAUSR

Study/Objective: This was descriptive, cross-sectional research conducted in the Latin American Center for Disaster Medicine (CLAMED) in the period from March 2010 to October 2013. The objective that was developed: Designing a strategy for the improvement of nurses in helping to raise their professional skills in disaster. Background: Some of the most serious consequences of disasters are often: the impact it has on populations with increased morbidity and mortality, deterioration of environmental hygiene, the risk of epidemics, damage to health infrastructure, inaccessibility to services, and involvement in the development of health programs. Thus, the higher the vulnerability, there will be an increased risk of the occurrence of disasters and the exponential association of the frequency and intensity of threats. As such, governments and health systems in many countries should focus their efforts on preparing health professionals, as well as for the prevention and mitigation of disasters. Methods: The research, supported in different areas of knowledge, made possible the construction of its theoretical framework, relying on documentary analysis, system approach, modeling, and historical and logical thought. From the research process, the level of knowledge of nurses on disaster risk reduction was diagnosed, and in that sense, a strategy that asks for consideration was prepared. Results: It was found that 66.6% had not received readying on the issue Health and Disasters. It was evident that general disasters and organization of prehospital and hospital care in disaster situations were the issues that most impacted the level of knowledge, behaving 24.6% and 18.1%, respectively. They were diagnosed as having an insufficient level of knowledge for disaster risk reduction. Conclusion: A strategy for nurses in Health and Disasters showing a harmonious configuration in the system, given the close link between the different organizational forms of postgraduate training in Cuba, was designed.