title: A comparison of nurses' needs/concerns and hospital disaster plans following Florida's Hurricane Floyd.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The idea for this study was inspired by the response to Hurricane Floyd. Nurses are relied upon and expected to fulfill responsible roles during disaster situations, but little is known about the needs or concerns that nurses experience when they meet expectations and function as disaster responders.
  
  
  METHODS
  Official copies of disaster protocols from 4 area hospitals were reviewed, and 4 focus groups consisting of ED nurses from respective hospitals provided information about nurses' concerns or needs in response to Hurricane Floyd.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of primary importance to nurses was family safety, pet care, and personal safety while at work. Secondary concerns were basic needs such as food, water, sleep, shelter, and rest. Group commitment levels to providing care during disaster situations varied greatly. Participants requested that hospital policy revisions address work assignments, pay/financial compensation, flexibility for extenuating circumstances, pet care, family sheltering, and provision of basic needs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It is not sufficient for a few key officials and planners to know their roles and responsibilities during a disaster; the roles of everyone involved must be clearly understood. Many participants described their conflict as family commitment versus professional obligation. We identified several areas of concerns in our interviews, and those areas have been clearly defined in the revised protocols. Other areas have yet to be addressed.
authors.affiliation: Emergency Department, Parrish Medical Center, Titusville, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Emily D
authors.initials: ED
authors.lastname: French
authors.forename: Mary Lou
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Sole
authors.forename: Jacqueline Fowler
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Byers
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004189:Disaster Planning; D004190:Disasters; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D005431:Florida; D017144:Focus Groups; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital