Learning Objectives
Apply ethical frameworks to resource allocation decisions
Describe Nevada legal requirements (NAC 632.340, 632.355)
Differentiate between isolation and quarantine
Identify strategies for psychological resilience
Ethical Frameworks for Crisis Response
Utilitarianism
Greatest good for greatest number
During mass casualty events, maximize lives saved when resources are scarce
Duty-Based
Professional obligation to care
Balanced against duties to self, family, and society
Justice-Based
Fair allocation without discrimination
Use transparent, consistent criteria for resource distribution
Isolation vs. Quarantine
ISOLATION
For SICK individuals
Separates people with confirmed or suspected infectious disease from those who are not sick
Purpose: Prevent transmission from ill person
QUARANTINE
For EXPOSED individuals
Restricts movement of people who were exposed but are not yet sick
Purpose: Monitor for symptoms during incubation period
Psychological Resilience
Common Reactions During Crisis
- Fear, anxiety, uncertainty
- Moral distress from difficult decisions
- Burnout and compassion fatigue
- Guilt about resource allocation
Self-Care Strategies
- Recognize stress as normal response
- Maintain work-life boundaries
- Seek peer support and debriefing
- Use Employee Assistance Programs
Key Takeaways
Crisis standards apply utilitarian principles - greatest good for greatest number
Isolation = sick people; Quarantine = exposed but not yet sick
Duty to care is balanced against duty to self and family
Psychological self-care is essential for sustained response