Psychiatric Nurses’ Experience from the Great East Japan Earthquake

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  • 東日本大震災における精神科看護師の体験

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Abstract

<p>The goal of this study is to investigate the experience of psychiatric nurses in the tsunami-affected areas following the Great East Japan Earthquake. Seventeen nurses from five facilities participated in semi-structured interviews that were analyzed using thematic narrative analysis. While experiences differed depending on the degree of damage to the hospital, the themes of “protect the patient with a sense of mission/responsibility,” “return to the basics of nursing,” “provide support through interactions,” and “the physical and mental strain experienced by nurses” were congruent.</p><p>The nurses derived meaning from the trauma as “a lesson for the future” from both the perspectives of “trauma that remained after the earthquake experience” and “recognizing the positive aspects of the earthquake experience and turning it into a learning experience.” Results indicate that psychiatric nurses overcame difficulties regarding the performance of nursing care; even when faced with a lack of resources, they tried to maintain normalcy by getting back to basics, showing that psychiatric nursing is possible even if there is nothing. In addition, support through interactions with each other was promoted (transcending occupation and obstacles), as well as understanding psychiatric patients despite nurses being mentally affected. Furthermore, these results suggest that patient conveyance is difficult, and close collaboration between a psychiatric hospital and a nearby hospital is essential.</p>

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