Future Catastrophic Event Preparation

Abstract

Nurses play an important role in pandemic and disaster response, often at a personal cost to their overall well-being. Interviews with 19 frontline COVID-19 nurses helped illuminate priority focus areas involving nurses in the planning process, providing clear communication and offering mental health services. These recommendations align with and reinforce conclusions and recommendations from The Future of Nursing 2020-2030 Report.Nurses play an important role in disaster and pandemic response, often at a personal cost. Interviews of frontline nurses demonstrated their willingness to help in the recent pandemic came with an expense to their own well-being. 1 Interviews were conducted with 19 nurses working in intensive care and COVID-19designated medical units of 3 tertiary hospitals in an Upper Midwest healthcare system to gain a better understanding of their experience in caring for COVID-19 patients and balancing work and home life. These nurses were overwhelmed by the high volume of critically ill patients, frustrated by the care environment chaos and felt abandoned at work as well as by their families and communities. 1 This group provided future pandemic advice for leadership and educators, which could be applied to other catastrophic events. Even though a small group was interviewed, their recommendations are congruent with The Future of Nursing 2020-2030 Report, which provides an important foundation addressing the current challenges faced by nurses during the pandemic. 1,2