NURS FPX 6020 Assessment 3
[Student Name]
Capella University
[Prof. Name]
September 2025
NUR FPX 6020 Assessment 3: Evaluation of Emergency Preparedness and Readiness of Partners in Disaster Response
The strengths and limitations of disaster response can be projected in the context of Connecticut’s winter snowstorms, where extremely low temperatures and massive amounts of snow and ice create their own special risks. However, NUR FPX 6020 Assessment 3 emphasizes that other variables should be taken into account in circumstances of storm-related power outages, transportation disruptions, and the burden on the medical services.
Interagency cooperation and communication are crucial when it comes to road closures, heating outages, emergency sheltering requirements, and agency-to-agency discussions. In Connecticut, DESPP plans the storm response in coordination with local agencies. However, as mentioned in the communication skills handout, bad weather can lead to congestion on the communication systems, especially when power lines or cellular networks are disrupted.
The increase in cold-related ailments, including frostbite and hypothermia, as well as slip and fall injuries, would also need to be included in the medical and healthcare system’s reaction. Although hospitals in Connecticut regularly practice for disasters, a snowfall may eventually cause staffing shortages and delays in patient transportation when the roads become inaccessible.
The community and social support networks are strained by winter storms, and the elderly and homeless require immediate shelter and heating assistance. As mentioned in NUR FPX 6020 Assessment 3, planning initiatives like Connecticut’s Cold Weather Emergency Protocol may be helpful in allocating resources, but service delivery disparities are also an issue, especially in suburban counties.
However, as mentioned in the communication handouts, inclement weather can lead to congestion on the communication systems, especially when power lines or cellular networks are
disrupted. However, dangerous weather conditions and widespread disruptions are caused by even severe storms. Winter Storm Orlena and Tropical Storm Elsa in 2021 demonstrated the vulnerability of the state’s infrastructure, bringing down trees and ice that caused months without electricity. Investing in storm-resistant infrastructure, such as subterranean electrical cables, could reduce the hazards.
The last point is that technology and data usage are crucial for storm prediction and timely notifications. Residents can be effectively alerted about emergencies by using systems like IPAWS and CT Alert, although technological availability, especially among the elderly, can sometimes be a drawback. The secret to improving the effectiveness of the storm response is ensuring that everyone has access to timely information and is able to act upon it. As stressed in NUR FPX 6020 Assessment 3, resolving these Connecticut-specific problems can support emergency preparedness plans and a better coordinated and equitable response to severe winter weather.
Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Interprofessional Communication
As stressed in the communication narrative, interprofessional communication (IPC) in Connecticut’s healthcare system has to be reviewed and improved in order to support patient safety, continuity of care, and effective decision making. On the other hand, poor documentation, a lack of efficient communication, and a delayed information interchange are likely to result in mistakes, duplication, and possible patient harm. As stated in NUR FPX 6020 Assessment 3, it is critical to concentrate on interventions that enhance communication among healthcare professionals in order to address these challenges. One issue that comes up with IPC is fragmented communication between disciplines. One issue that comes up with IPC is fragmented communication between disciplines. It takes too long for nurses, doctors, pharmacists, and other
allied health professionals to exchange information about essential patients, and healthcare teams frequently operate in silos (Bestilleiro et al., 2021). In the event that a doctor changes a patient’s prescription order and a nurse is unaware of the change, it could result in the prior order being completed and having a detrimental effect on the patient.
In addition, there are misunderstandings and inadequate handoffs about shift reporting. Variability in handoff might result in incomplete or misinterpreted handoff information, putting the patient at risk for negative outcomes. As an indicator, bedside shift reports could be inconsistent and cause misconceptions about the next lab, mobility, or fall risk. The absence of a standardized communication protocol is another issue that is comparable. It is a one-way information flow that does not require the use of structured information frameworks like SBAR. Additionally, it might affect the ability to make the best choice at the right moment and with objectivity, especially under pressure (Cardinal and Boes, 2022). As stated in NUR FPX 6020 Assessment 3, these issues can be resolved by putting a variety of evidence-based recommendations into practice. First, it should be built on universal communication protocols such as SBAR, I-PASS, or SOAP and involve regular information sharing. Plans are used to lessen control, simplify emergency operations, and decrease variability. However, it is also true that not all train employees will be open to receiving training on such processes, and even some may find the methodical approach excessively strict and require reversing patient instances (Aune et al., 2021).
The second suggestion is to improve the digitization of electronic health records so that data may be shared instantly. A healthcare team can work using real-time updates, interdisciplinary notes, and AI-driven predictive analytics to make sure that everyone on the team has access to the best and most recent information about patients. This will lessen the
possibility of unintentional medication errors, redundant orders, and treatment regimens. These technological advancements are not inexpensive, though, and the main drawback is that the employees will have to deal with more paperwork, which will stress them out. Other strategies could also be used to enhance the IPC, like making sure staff members support the interdisciplinary rounds and standardization of bedside shift reporting as important contributors to the collaborative decision-making and creation of real-time care plans, as the narrative emphasizes. Patient safety, contentment, and engagement may all be improved by these procedures. The process may be time-consuming in high-acuity units, as mentioned in NUR FPX 6020 Assessment 3, and not all staff will be amenable to the idea of moving to verbal bedside reporting; some will want to keep the old approach of written records.
Furthermore, real-time and HIPAA-compliant provider-to-provider contact can be facilitated using secure messaging and digital collaboration platforms like Microsoft Teams, Vocera, or Tiger Connect. This reduces the amount of time wasted transmitting critical updates and allows for quick consultations. Training staff to use digital messages can be advantageous and even professional, as the risk of alert fatigue may lead them to ignore the signal (Garcia et al., 2022). Lastly, when communication training programs and feedback mechanisms are implemented, a culture of continuous development can also be fostered. Through peer review, simulation training, debriefing, and other methods, trust, teamwork, and effective communication can also be developed.
All of these steps will eventually lead to improved patient care outcomes and IPC empowerment, but they cannot be completed in a single night and will necessitate regular feeding. These are brought up, and a sensible communication plan can aid Connecticut’s medical endeavors in fostering collaboration among practitioners, reducing medical errors, and enhancing
patient safety. With a multidisciplinary team of experts and a thorough integration of standard principles, technology advancement, and lifelong learning, it will also aid in the development of a robust and integrated healthcare system.
Conclusion
In NUR FPX 6020 Assessment 3, it is said that interprofessional communication is one of the keys that allow for improved patient safety, care coordination, and efficiency in high-stakes scenarios, such as during Connecticut’s winter snowstorms. Standardized procedures, secure messaging, real-time EHR-to-EHR connections, and standardized bedside shift reports could all be used to improve collaboration and eliminate errors by addressing issues with inconsistent documentation, inefficient handoff processes, and fragmented communication. However, as stated in the communication handouts, this needs to be done progressively with the staff members involved and with flexibility in order to overcome any potential barriers, such as aversion to change, workload, and technological limitations. Better clinical outcomes, workflow, and a sustainable healthcare system that can promptly handle emergencies and cut-offs are all expected outcomes of the patient-centered, partnership-based, knowledge-based, and process improvement approach.
References
Aune, K. T., Davis, M. F., & Smith, G. S. (2021). Extreme precipitation events and infectious disease risk: A scoping review and framework for infectious respiratory viruses.
International journal of environmental research and public health, 19(1), 165. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19010165
Bestilleiro, R. S., Senaris, D. M., Rodriguez, M. J. P., Vazquez, R. G., Rodriguez, R. G., Rodriguez, M. T. G., … & Diaz, S. P. (2021). Nosocomial infection outbreak due to SARS-CoV-2 in a hospital unit of particularly vulnerable patients. International Journal of Medical Sciences, 18(10), 2146. https://doi.org/10.7150/ijms.56789
Cardinal, C., & Boes, K. (2022). Extreme winter storms: Environmental impacts of public utility policies on vulnerable populations. Journal of Environmental Health, 84(7), 12–19.
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Garcia, R., Barnes, S., Boukidjian, R., Goss, L. K., Spencer, M., Septimus, E. J., Wright, M. O., Munro, S., Reese, S. M., Fakih, M. G., Edmiston, C. E., & Levesque, M. (2022).
Recommendations for change in infection prevention programs and practice. American journal of infection control, 50(12), 1281–1295. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajic.2022.04.007
