Critical Care Nursing Response to the Maui Wildfire Disaster: Narrative Review and Case Study

Abstract

Climate change has increased the frequency and severity of natural disasters, including the 2023 wildfires in Maui, Hawai‘i. The no-notice disaster affected hospital operations at the sole acute care hospital that serves the community, requiring immediate interventions and reallocation of resources. The purpose of this article is to explore the role that critical care nurses play in responding to wildfires. Literature related to the nursing role in managing wildfire injuries and the events on Maui are explored and a case study presented. Results are organized into themes: environmental limitations, disaster response and code triage activation, no-notice preparation for critical care nurses, preparation to increase patient capacity and maintain patient safety standards, hospital staffing and staff affected by the disaster, management of patient care and hospital system operations, and disaster medical tent. Preparation for no-notice events requires critical care nurse involvement to effectively facilitate care for patients affected by disasters.