Weathering the Storm: Nurses' Stories about Hurricane Sandy

Area of Science:

• Nursing
• Qualitative Research
• Disaster Nursing

Background:

• Hurricane Sandy presented unprecedented challenges to healthcare professionals in New York City.
• Understanding nurses' lived experiences during extreme weather events is crucial for disaster preparedness.
• The humanbecoming school of thought offers a unique perspective on lived experience.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the emerging meanings of "weathering the storm" from the perspective of nurses.
• To understand the lived experience of nurses during and after Hurricane Sandy.
• To enhance knowledge for global health nursing in disaster situations.

Main Methods:

• A hermeneutic study using the humanbecoming school of thought.
• Collected and analyzed narratives from 16 nurses.
• Focused on nurses residing and working in New York City during Hurricane Sandy.

Main Results:

• Identified key themes related to resilience, adaptation, and the search for meaning.
• Highlighted the significance of professional commitment and community support.
• Revealed the complex interplay between personal and professional challenges during the event.

Conclusions:

• The experience of "weathering the storm" is a dynamic process of finding meaning amidst adversity.
• Findings contribute to a deeper understanding of nurses' roles in disaster response.
• Implications for training and supporting nurses in future global health crises.