Nurses' Reflections on Caring for Amputees After an Earthquake: Like "Writing on Water!"A Phenomenological Approach

In 2023, two major earthquakes with magnitudes of 7.7 and 7.6 struck Turkey, resulting in significant loss of life, extensive property damage, and numerous amputations. While existing literature explores the experiences of nurses caring for amputees, there is a notable gap in research specifically addressing the experiences and needs of nurses caring for individuals amputated following an earthquake.

This study aims to qualitatively examine the experiences of nurses providing care to individuals amputated as a result of the earthquake.

A qualitative descriptive research design was employed, utilizing traditional content analysis. Snowball sampling was used. Data saturation was achieved after interviews with ten participants. In-depth interviews were conducted between April and June 2023. Ethical approval was obtained (Social and Human Sciences Ethics Committee of Ondokuz Mayıs University, dated 29.03.2023; number 2023-132). The COREQ checklist was used for reporting.

The experiences of nurses caring were categorized into three themes: "Psychological and Cognitive Strain," "Expanding Care," and "Needs in Disaster Management." The "Psychological and Cognitive Strain" theme encompassed meaning units such as fear of causing harm, sadness, suffering, feelings of inadequacy, helplessness, emotional turmoil, and avoidance behavior. The "Expanding Care" theme included elements of altruism, sympathy, and compassion.

The "Needs in Disaster Management" theme highlighted both individual and organizational challenges. Despite their efforts to expand care in response to unexpected and rapidly evolving situations, including amputations, nurses encountered significant individual and organizational challenges and inadequacies, making it difficult to cope with the constantly changing health conditions. Therefore, it is recommended that nurses receive empowerment training focused on disaster management and the specialized care of amputees.