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Acting at a disaster site: experiences expressed by Swedish nurses
1Borås University College of Health Sciences, Sweden.
Journal of Advanced Nursing
|January 1, 1997
Summary
Experienced nurses demonstrated leadership in disaster situations, while inexperienced nurses focused on immediate care. Enhanced disaster nursing training is crucial for all nurses to improve preparedness and reduce negative experiences.
Area of Science:
- Disaster Nursing
- Emergency Care
- Nursing Education
Background:
- Previous study evaluated nursing students' views on disaster response.
- This study assesses practical roles and experiences of nurses in disaster situations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the practical functional role and experiences of nurses in major disaster situations.
- To compare experiences of nurses with varying levels of disaster nursing background.
Main Methods:
- Personal interviews and a standardized questionnaire were used.
- Sixteen nurses with diverse emergency care experience were included.
- Two disaster scenarios ('load and go' and 'stay and play') were assessed.
Main Results:
- Experienced nurses exhibited leadership actions, surveying the scene and assessing casualties.
- Inexperienced nurses primarily provided immediate care under direction.
- Nurses with extensive experience reported higher readiness for disaster response.
- Inexperienced nurses commonly experienced feelings of insufficiency, unreality, and organizational difficulties.
Conclusions:
- Disaster nursing requires systematic training for all nurses, regardless of experience level.
- Training should address leadership, situational assessment, and organizational understanding.
- Improved training can mitigate negative experiences and enhance overall disaster response effectiveness.