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Nursing at ground zero: experiences during and after September 11 World Trade Center attack.
Suzanne Steffan Dickerson1, Mary Ann Jezewski, Christine Nelson-Tuttle
1University at Buffalo-SUNY, Buffalo, New York, USA.
The Journal of the New York State Nurses' Association
|July 31, 2002
Summary
Nurses experienced profound emotional and professional impacts following the September 11th attacks, finding new meaning and pride in their roles. The study highlights nursing
Area of Science:
- Nursing
- Disaster Response
- Psychology
Background:
- The September 11th World Trade Center terrorist attack was a significant global event.
- Understanding the experiences of healthcare professionals during such crises is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the shared perceptions, feelings, and experiences of nurses post-September 11th.
- To analyze the impact of the terrorist attack on nursing practice and identity.
Main Methods:
- Interpretive analysis of narrative stories.
- Qualitative study involving seventeen nurses.
Main Results:
- Six key themes emerged: loss and new meaning, disaster without patients, organizational coordination challenges, rediscovering nursing pride, traumatic stress, and future preparedness.
- A constitutive pattern identified was that nursing facilitates humanitarian disaster response.
Conclusions:
- Nursing played a vital role in the humanitarian response to the September 11th attacks.
- Nurses experienced significant personal and professional growth, including renewed pride and a sense of purpose.