UT nursing students rehearse disaster

AUSTIN (KXAN) - Texas's hurricane and tornado seasons will last another 2 1/2 months, and the area certainly get its fair share.

Texas leads the nation in natural disasters.

Thursday, some 60 University of Texas nursing students practiced emergency medical response. Their field drill was an industrial explosion, but it could have easily been a hurricane or tornado, flood or wildfire.

"It was definitely overwhelming entering the scenario," said student Jillian Ricciardi. "We were a little disorganized at first but once we got in a rhythm everyone did their job."

"It takes teamwork," said student Kirby Smith. "That's what we've been working on and we were more cohesive."

They worked on ghastly mannequins and student actors under the watchful eye of instructors.

"They spend too much time treating people," said Dr. Marilyn Pattillo, an R.N, PhD. "They should be triaging them. That's what happens when nurses want to treat everybody."

The students must sort the dying from those who might be saved.

"There are 100 victims out there," Pattillo said. "They can't treat everybody. They have to find out how the victims are categorized, so it's the greatest good for the greatest number. Some people will die."

The benefit of this training is, if upper level students can handle real triage in the field, hospital personnel can remain at their battle stations in their medical facilities, spreading the response capability to maximum effect.

There is a changing role for nurses these days.

"That's our job now," Ricciardi noted. "I'm not only working in the hospital now; when an emergency happens we'll be going out there to respond."

And if the call comes?

"I hope not but it's entirely possible," said Smith. "That's why we're doing what we're doing."

Last year the UT Nursing School won a national award from the American Association of Colleges of Nursing for its innovative education.