Learning from critical care nurses' wartime experiences and their long-term impacts

Area of Science:

• Nursing
• Military Health
• Disaster Response

Background:

• Critical care nursing history is linked to battlefield nursing.
• Nurses face similar challenges in modern crises as in past wars.
• Lessons from historical battlefield nurses are vital for current critical care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore lessons from civilian nurses deployed to Israeli battlefields (1967-1982).
• To understand the experiences and challenges faced by nurses in wartime settings.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative study using semi-structured, in-depth interviews.
• Twenty-two former military nurses interviewed about wartime deployments.
• Content analysis of interview transcripts guided by COREQ checklist.

Main Results:

• Three main themes emerged: Field Service Challenges, Coping with Challenges, and Nurses' Need for Recognition.
• Ten subthemes detailed the specific issues encountered by nurses.
• Identified mental, emotional, and organizational challenges.

Conclusions:

• Wartime experiences highlight needs for better preparation and support for critical care nurses.
• Findings offer insights for nursing and health policy for future crisis deployments.
• Lessons learned are applicable to diverse disasters, including pandemics and conflicts.