RNs have a contractual duty to respond to patients. Provision 2 of the nurse’s code of ethics states that the nurse’s primary commitment is to the welfare of patients (Nursesbooks.org, 2015). However, disaster situations such as Zika outbreaks threaten self-care of nurses because they are infectious. Provision 5 of the code of ethics demonstrates that nurses have a duty to others as well as themselves. This means that they have the moral obligation to take care of their patients as well as consider their self-care and preservation. In a situation where there are limited equipment and support, nurses are faced with ethical dilemmas, including whether to uphold the right to self-safety (Casey, 2017). Therefore, in disaster situations governing bodies and policymakers should set protocols for disaster management that account for the constraints that may erupt in disaster situations to enhance RNs’ self-preservation and care.
