Abstract
Background
Healthcare professionals are service providers playing a vital role in providing timely, adequate, high-grade, and effective health services quantitatively and qualitatively in devastating natural disasters such as earthquakes.
Objective
This study to learn in detail the experiences, strategies for coping with difficulties, achievements, and suggestions for the future of senior manager nurses who experienced Kahramanmaraş Center Earthquakes on 6 February 2023, including those who served immediately after the earthquake, and are still serving in the region.
Methods
This study was conducted using a descriptive phenomenological qualitative design. Participants were recruited using the snowball sampling method and 12 senior manager nurses consented to participate in the study.
Results
The participants expressed the difficulties they experienced as earthquake survivors and as healthcare professionals working with reduced personnel because of loss of human life. Previous training on crisis management and disasters was very different from taking charge directly during this disaster. From such a devastating earthquake disaster, the participants gained the ability to cope with events, to understand the importance of immediate response, and to use resources effectively.
Conclusions
The participants shared their disaster experiences and made suggestions for the future such as assigning personnel who have not experienced disasters, preparing stock and logistics.
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