Legal aspects of disaster nursing.

Nurses face several legal and ethical issues when providing care during disasters and public health emergencies. The codes of ethics for healthcare providers are ambiguous in addressing responsibilities during such times. Nurses may practice in states where they are not licensed, without legal protections, and standard laws around informed consent, advanced directives, and reporting crimes may be challenging to follow under altered circumstances. Some of the key legal aspects nurses must navigate include licensing, emergency powers acts, negligence, good Samaritan laws, and fulfilling duties around consent and reporting.