Nursing has a strong legacy with the American Red Cross, and 20,000 nurses, mostly volunteers, are in service across the organization. Red Cross nurses are the cornerstone of the Red Cross. They enhance the Red Cross brand and image, which communicates the mission of the American Red Cross—to provide compassionate care to those in need.
The Red Cross network of financial donors, volunteers and employees share a mission of preventing and relieving suffering in the face of emergencies, here at home and around the world. Red Cross nurses play a critical role in meeting this mission and are integral to disaster relief, community preparedness, assistance to military members and their families, blood banking and providing international humanitarian aid. Red Cross nursing has also had a major role in the historical evolution of nursing and nursing leadership in the United States.
The nursing and health practice setting in the American Red Cross is in the community. Red Cross nurses practice within the standards and scope of practice that aligns with their education and training. Examples of their practice during a disaster relief includes, but is not limited to: physical and psychosocial assessments/exams; condolence/home visits; hospital visits; nursing support to those individuals requiring sheltering; staffing first aid stations and coordinating care, in collaboration with a wide array of health care professions.
Red Cross nurses, simply stated, are indispensable in all Red Cross settings. To learn more about the American Red Cross and how to become a Red Cross Nurse go to www.redcross.org. Follow us on Twitter at @redcross and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/redcross.