Citation

Lafuente CR, Eichaker V, Chee VE, Chapital E. J. Am. Acad. Nurse Pract. 2007; 19(8): 383-391.

Affiliation

Southeast Louisiana Veterans Health Care System, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2007, American Academy of Nurse Practitioners, Publisher John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1111/j.1745-7599.2007.00241.x

PMID

17655567

Abstract

Purpose: To describe the challenges faced by healthcare providers in the aftermath of one of the worst natural disasters in the United States. Data sources: Eight healthcare providers describe their perceptions of the care they provided to veterans at a mobile clinic in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. This informal report used Giorgi's phenomenological approach to gathering and analyzing information provided in written response to eight specific questions. Conclusions: Four broad categories of challenges and concerns are discussed in this article: (a) What was important in the provision of care for the veterans, (b) the hindrances encountered, (c) factors that facilitated the care given, and (d) the perceived effects of the care they provided. Three key themes characterized the lived experience of the eight participants: uncertainty, deprivation, and stabilization. Although this was not a formal research study, the authors and participants were able to use their research backgrounds and understandings to organize and make sense of their experiences during this chaotic period. Implications for practice: As hurricane season in the United States and the anniversary of Hurricane Katrina (August 2005) approach, it is hoped that this report on the experiences and recommendations of healthcare providers will benefit other providers in similar situations.

Language: en