Challenges of nurses' deployment to other New York city hospitals in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy

Nancy Vandevanter, Christine T. Kovner, Victoria H. Raveis, Meriel McCollum, Ronald Keller

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

On October 29, 2012, a 12-ft storm surge generated by Hurricane Sandy necessitated evacuation and temporary closure of three New York City hospitals including NYU Langone Medical Center (NYULMC). NYULMC nurses participated in the evacuation, and 71 % were subsequently deployed to area hospitals to address patient surge for periods from a few days up to 2 months when NYULMC reopened. This mixed methods study explored nurses' experience in the immediate disaster and the subsequent deployment. More than 50 % of deployed nurse participants reported the experience to be extremely or very stressful. Deployed nurses encountered practice challenges related to working in an unfamiliar environment, limited orientation, legal concerns about clinical assignments. They experienced psychosocial challenges associated with the intense experience of the evacuation, uncertainty about future employment, and the increased demands of managing the deployment. Findings provide data to inform national and regional policies to support nurses in future deployments.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)603-614
Number of pages12
JournalJournal of Urban Health
Volume91
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 2014

Keywords

  • Hurricane Sandy nurses' deployment-related practice-based challenges
  • Psychological distress
  • Regional and national disaster response policy implications

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Health(social science)
  • Urban Studies
  • Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health

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