Exploring the Concept of Surge Capacity

Disasters and infectious disease outbreaks over the last several years have demonstrated the importance of emergency preparedness for large-scale events affecting many people. The ability to respond effectively to events producing a massive influx of patients that disrupt daily operations requires surge capacity. Key components of surge capacity include the four S’s: ‘staff,’ ‘stuff,’ ‘structure,’ and ‘systems.’ As experts in planning and coordinating patient care, nurses have a crucial role to play in disaster planning. Nurses must become familiar with the concept of surge capacity and understand both how it relates to the health and safety of communities and how it is applicable to their nursing practice. This article explores the concept of surge capacity and describes how surge capacity can be useful in various aspects of emergency preparedness planning.