title: International humanitarian nursing work: facing difference and embracing sameness.
abstract: This article explores the experience of humanitarian disaster and emergency nursing, asking the question, "How is difference (and sameness) in being a nurse revealed when working in a disaster/relief context?" The articles discusses interviews with seven nurses, plus the primary researcher, who tell their stories of humanitarian nursing. Stark differences are revealed: extent of injuries, limits of treatment, and overwhelmingness of need. Alongside this is the huge difference of personal danger. Sameness shows itself in the human-to-human call and response to need that holds nurses in such work. Difference and sameness are not fixed; one readily becomes the other.
authors.affiliation: Waitakere Hospital and Waitemata District Health Board, Auckland, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Graham
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zinsli
authors.forename: Elizabeth A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Smythe
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000533:Altruism; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002321:Career Choice; D054521:Cultural Competency / Q000193:education / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000523:psychology*; D004189:Disaster Planning / Q000458:organization & administration*; D016529:Emergency Nursing / Q000458:organization & administration; D005239:Fear; D005260:Female; D014943:Global Health; D006240:Happiness; D006801:Humans; D007588:Job Satisfaction; D008297:Male; D009520:New Zealand; D024802:Nurse's Role / Q000523:psychology; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D009740:Nursing Staff / Q000193:education / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000523:psychology*; D012066:Relief Work / Q000458:organization & administration*; D020377:Self Efficacy; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires