We applied new skills when working with large and diverse groups. The comprehensive nature of this project allowed us to take the initiative, create a precise timeline, and follow up to ensure that each deadline was met. Developing these skills is instrumental in bridging the gap between new roles and responsibilities, fostering the proactivity needed to be an effective leader, advocate, and caregiver.
The ability to manage budget allocation effectively showed our capacity to direct funds efficiently to gather necessary supplies and address other project needs. By clearly identifying our target population and our mission to provide disaster preparedness supplies and education, we systematically determined the most beneficial materials for the kits. Strong organizational skills are essential for effective teamwork to manage teams, tasks, and time. Given that healthcare is an interdisciplinary process, collaboration is crucial to ensure that every need is met by fostering a supportive environment. As this project involved numerous elements, each task— from organizing supplies to developing educational materials and assembling the kits— was broken down and delegated, creating an equitable workload and fostering a highly collaborative atmosphere.
This project highlighted communication and education as two of the most vital skills of a leader, advocate, and caregiver. Clear and concise communication is paramount to conveying information, fostering positive relationships with all involved parties, and maintaining open dialogue. Many of the events where we presented our disaster preparedness information involved highly diverse communities across all ages, genders, and races. Therefore, we aimed to create inclusive material that met basic literacy levels. We assessed all written material with the Flesch-Kincaid tool for a 4th grade reading level. We also ensured that both our checklists and verbal presentations used simple, accessible language.
Project Impact
This project provided a valuable basis for prioritizing education to include collaborating with community nursing organizations and specialized groups to access patient populations. Information can then spread organically, impacting families, friends, and broader community networks. A key area that
we uncovered in this project was that not all individuals are effectively reached through electronic forms of communication, like websites. Therefore, more traditional, physical forms of outreach must be used to ensure that all community members receive information and have equal access to resources. Furthermore, some existing online information can be difficult to locate, and certain digital platforms may be challenging for some individuals to navigate. These accessibility issues must be addressed to provide the highest quality of electronic education and communication possible. Another priority is to address how people with no transportation or who have limited mobility can access public resources for evacuation if needed. Lastly, disaster readiness planning should comprehensively address the unique needs of individuals with pets. Many community members expressed an unwillingness to go to a shelter without knowing
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