Experiences of Intensive Care Nurses after the 2023 Earthquake in Turkey: A Descriptive Qualitative Study

Healthcare systems in Turkey have been adversely affected by major earthquakes in recent years. These earthquakes have jeopardized the safety of bedridden patients and have also led to a variety of personal and professional issues for the nurses caring for them. The aim of the current study was to reveal the personal and patient care experiences of intensive care nurses who experienced the earthquakes that occurred in Turkey on 6 February 6, 2023. The exploratory descriptive approach, a type of qualitative method, was applied. The study data were collected from 13 nurses through face-to-face interviews. The COREQ guidelines were followed for qualitative research reporting. After the data reached saturation, seven themes emerged within the categories of experiences during the earthquakes, early post-earthquake experiences and late post-earthquake experiences. These themes were 'fear', 'supporting patients' and 'family' in the category of experiences during the earthquakes; 'ethical care', 'family' and the 'care team' in the category of early post-earthquake experiences; and 'psychological effects' in the category of late post-earthquake experiences. Along with these themes, a total of 18 sub-themes including 'shock', 'panic', 'communication with family', 'sleep disturbances' and 'fear of earthquakes were identified'. The nurses continued to provide patient care despite the various psychological difficulties and ethical dilemmas they experienced. The psychological problems, in particular, continued into the late post-earthquake period and negatively affected their professional and social lives. It is critical for nurses who take care of vulnerable patients in intensive care units to manage this process effectively during and after earthquakes, both on the professional and on the personal level. In order to minimize the negative effects of earthquakes on intensive care nurses, holistic support mechanisms should be developed and health policies should be planned to be resistant to the effects of natural disasters.