title: Challenges and opportunities of nursing care in special-needs shelters.
abstract: Hurricanes Katrina and Rita forced many individuals along the coast of Texas and Louisiana to seek shelter inland. Among the evacuees were residents with special needs and residents of nursing homes and group homes caring for mentally retarded and physically disabled persons. Many nurses volunteered to provide health care for those in need. This article discusses challenges and opportunities that were encountered by nurses volunteering in special-needs shelters. Issues related to human and physical resources, patient care, and confidentiality are discussed including lessons learned. As nurses who cared for evacuees in the shelter, it is hoped some of the lessons learned can be utilized in future disasters.
authors.affiliation: University of Texas at Tyler, College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Tyler, Tex, USA. bdeal@mail.uttyl.edu
authors.forename: Belinda Joy
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Deal
authors.forename: Rebecca A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Fountain
authors.forename: Carol Ann
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Russell-Broaddus
authors.forename: Melinda
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stanley-Hermanns
mesh_terms: D006233:Persons with Disabilities; D004190:Disasters; D006801:Humans; D008607:Intellectual Disability; D008499:Medical Records; D009739:Nursing Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D010561:Personnel Staffing and Scheduling; D012066:Relief Work / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012112:Residential Facilities; D013781:Texas; D014481:United States