Nursing children after a disaster: a qualitative study of nurse volunteers and children after the Haiti earthquake.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to explore the experiences of nurse volunteers caring for children after the Haiti earthquake in January 2010.


METHODS
This descriptive qualitative study using in-depth interviews focuses on the experiences of 10 nurse volunteers.


RESULTS
Four themes emerged: hope amid devastation, professional compromises, universality of children, and emotional impact on nurses.


CONCLUSIONS
Nurses who volunteer after natural disasters have rich personal and professional experiences, including extremes of sadness and joy. Nurse volunteers will likely need to care for children. Nurses and humanitarian agencies should prepare for the unique challenges of pediatric care.
Johns Hopkins University, School of Nursing, Baltimore, Maryland, USA. Esloand1@jhu.edu
Elizabeth
E
Sloand
Grace
G
Ho
Rachel
R
Klimmek
Anthony
A
Pho
Joan
J
Kub
D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D055866:Earthquakes; D005260:Female; D006205:Haiti; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D024802:Nurse's Role; D009723:Nurse-Patient Relations; D010371:Pediatric Nursing / Q000458:organization & administration*; D036301:Qualitative Research; D018635:Rescue Work / Q000458:organization & administration*; D013315:Stress, Psychological; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014838:Volunteers / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000523:psychology; D055815:Young Adult