Navigating Extreme Weather Events: Experiences of Nursing Leaders in a Rural, Acute Care Hospital in Atlantic Canada

The increasing frequency and severity of severe weather events poses significant challenges for hospital leaders, particularly those in rural areas where, compared with urban centers, inequities in resources and social determinants of health exist. Using a case study to illustrate our experiences with extreme weather events, we describe the steps taken to prepare our hospital services for these events and identify pearls and pitfalls to guide future preparations. A hospital-based, nursing leader with disaster management training is well positioned to deliver a holistic perspective to the planning, management, and recovery activities relating to disasters such as extreme weather events.