Experiences of nurses working at the hospital during the initial major one of the February 6 earthquakes in Turkiye: a qualitative study

Abstract

Destructive earthquakes have escalated in number and thus disrupted nursing care. From that perspective, understanding nurses’ experiences during earthquakes can offer valuable insights. This study aims to examine the experiences of nurses working at the hospital during the initial major one of the February 6 earthquakes in Turkiye. A phenomenological research design was used in this qualitative study. The study conducted with 14 nurses working in a tertiary hospital during the initial major earthquake in one of the Turkish provinces heavily affected by the February 6 earthquakes. The data was collected from in-depth semi-structured interviews and analysed through the reflexive thematic analysis method. This study adhered to Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research (COREQ) checklist for reporting. Three main themes were identified: (1) ‘Psychosocial repercussions of the earthquake on nurses,’ (2) ‘Sustaining care amid chaos,’ and (3) ‘Lessons learnt from the earthquake’. This study shed light on what Turkish nurses’ experienced during the initial major earthquake. The findings are important as they can guide nurses who are likely to experience the earthquake while they are on duty. They are also guiding for nurse managers and health policymakers to develop training programs for nurses who may live through an earthquake while they are on duty. Not applicable.