Surge capacity preparedness in emergencies and disasters

Surge capacity is a fundamental and critical approach to hospital preparedness. To successfully survive a typically unexpected situation, a well-developed disaster plan is essential. The aim of this review paper was to provide current evidence of the use of the hospital preparedness approach in managing emergencies and disasters. Between January 2014 and June 2024, a comprehensive search of published articles in English via EBSCO, CINAHL, Google Scholar, PubMed, and MEDLINE was conducted. The search included both quantitative and qualitative studies. In total, 44 articles were relevant to the review. All the identified relevant papers were reviewed to determine the studies related to this review. Two subtopics were identified: hospital preparedness and surge capacity. The findings of the reviewed studies provide an exciting opportunity to advance our knowledge of hospital preparedness and surge capacity. It is integral to healthcare system programs, particularly in disaster-prone areas, to manage the state of chaos effectively and control morbidity and mortality rates. Nurses, recognized as experts in planning and coordinating patient care, assume a primary role in disaster planning efforts. Understanding the concept of surge capacity, it becomes clearer that nurses and nurse managers play a crucial role in enhancing emergency preparedness plans.