Get information necessary to perform tasks assigned, do not encourage or spread unsubstantiated information. Rumors can be a barrier to the effective treatment of victims. The media has the job of reporting to the public. Media persons are not the enemy of health providers, they simply have a different job. However, health care providers must protect patient confidentiality.
All hospitals have a process for one department to deal with the media.
The media loves the personal story of victims and others, and have been known to attempt interviews with any available staff, volunteer, student. Only authorized personnel should provide information to the media in any health care institution in a disaster. Since student nurses are not familiar with all hospital staff, students should follow the directions of their faculty if present, otherwise, authorized health care personnel i.e. nursing supervisors, etc. For a variety of reasons, unqualified persons are sometimes drawn to disaster situations and there have been cases where lay impostors directed patient care. All staff and students have personal family needs.