School nurse resilience: experiences after multiple natural disasters

Area of Science:

• Nursing
• Public Health
• Disaster Management

Background:

• Coastal Louisiana school nurses faced repeated natural disasters, including Hurricanes Gustav, Ike, Katrina, and Rita.
• Previous research has not fully explored the long-term professional impact of such repeated disaster exposure on school nurses.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore and describe the lived experiences of school nurses impacted by multiple, sequential hurricanes.
• To understand how these experiences influenced their professional practice and resilience.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative descriptive study design.
• Semi-structured interviews were conducted with five school nurses.
• Constant comparative method was used for thematic analysis of interview transcripts.

Main Results:

• A common process of resilience development was identified among participants.
• Nurses demonstrated an enhanced ability to recover and adapt following adversity.
• Key factors influencing resilience included preparedness, personal and professional support systems, and community commitment.

Conclusions:

• Repeated exposure to natural disasters fostered significant resilience in school nurses.
• Preparedness, social support, and community ties are crucial for professional adaptation in disaster-affected areas.
• Findings highlight the need for targeted support for healthcare professionals in disaster-prone regions.