Practical suggestions for helping emergency nurses handle mass casualties.

Disaster plans need practical approaches to ensure that all staff function well. This article describes how a disaster plan was customized within a department. Decision trees have been created for each staff position (manager, supervisor, resource nurse, staff nurse) as well as for key processes (triage and supplies). Simplicity is the key because it decreases confusion before and during the disaster. These templates and processes can be easily understood and applied in any ED or setting.