Nurses' Needs and Expectations after Natural Disasters Trauma Based on Values and Culture

Abstract

Background: Disasters can happen anywhere and causes trauma for human, including nurses. This study aimed to identify the needs and expectations of nurses who experience trauma after natural disasters based on values and culture.
Materials and methods: A qualitative research design with phenomenological approach. The study included 37 practicing nurses who had experienced and survived a natural disaster. The data collection instrument was an interview guide to identify themes concerning the experience, needs, and hopes of survivor nurses via in-depth interviews. Data analysis involved the commonly used Colaizzi analysis to determine the themes.
Results: Most participants experienced post-traumatic stress syndrome after a disaster, characterized by fear, anxiety, and helplessness. Between the occurrence of the disaster and the time of the study, participants’ relationships with God and those who experienced the same suffering deepened, and the need to help each other was based on self-awareness, motivation, and interdependence.
Conclusions: Natural disasters cause trauma to everyone who experiences them, especially those who suffer great loss. Cultural and spiritual factors become an important intervention of post-traumatic stress syndrome