title: Experiences of municipal public health nurses following Japan's earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear disaster.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to explore the experiences of municipal public health nurses in the wake of the March 2011 massive earthquake and tsunami and resulting nuclear accident in Fukushima, Japan, from the time of the disaster until December 2013.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-two public health nurses working in three cities in Fukushima prefecture were divided into four focus groups and took part in interviews, which were analyzed using a qualitative descriptive method.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Two major themes were extracted: (1) experiences of difficulties and dilemmas, and (2) professional challenges and the meaning of excellence as a public health nurse. Subjects recounted their experiences based on the timeline of events. The process of overcoming various dilemmas--between prescribed roles and actual needs on the ground, being both civil servants and private citizens with families, and having to be publicly accountable while lacking adequate information--caused participants to reexamine the meaning of excellence in the practice of public health.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The strenuous and complex demands of extended disaster management caused subjects to grow professionally. Helping them process their emotions should also help these nurses give focus to their posttraumatic growth, and strengthen their sense of professionalism.
authors.affiliation: Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing, College of Nursing, St. Luke's International University, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Mami
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kayama
authors.forename: Tsuyoshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Akiyama
authors.forename: Akiko
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ohashi
authors.forename: Naoko
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Horikoshi
authors.forename: Yoshifumi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kido
authors.forename: Tazuko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Murakata
authors.forename: Norito
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kawakami
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002947:Cities; D004190:Disasters; D055866:Earthquakes; D017144:Focus Groups; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D008875:Middle Aged; D064689:Nurses, Public Health / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D036301:Qualitative Research; D018788:Radioactive Hazard Release; D057192:Tsunamis; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: earthquake; nuclear accident; professionalism; public health nurse; qualitative research