Abstract
Keywords
In September 2021, the United States commemorated the 20th anniversary of September 11, 2001—an event that changed the world. Two decades later, there is an entire generation of nurses entering the health care workforce who were born just before, or immediately after, this event. Although it is impossible for outsiders to fully grasp what rescuers and survivors went through on that day, there are extraordinary, new-release documentaries such as “9/11: One Day in America” that connect the viewer with detailed knowledge and intense emotions surrounding that event (Lindsay et al., 2021). Creators of this documentary reviewed thousands of hours of archival videos that had not been released before. Firsthand, Ground Zero footage includes 2020/2021 interviews with survivors and renders an extremely emotional and raw viewing experience. This is supremely important as our most powerful memories are always connected to emotion. The horrific attacks on the twin towers ultimately provided invaluable lessons that must never be forgotten and should be retained by the next generation. With that said, current generation nurses might be able to relate to these “lessons of the past” even better than veteran nurses could have ever predicted.
Undoubtedly the #1 lesson learned from 9/11 is the theme of, “Is it safe? Protect Yourself!” Although 20 years have passed, countless first responders and survivors are still battling the consequences of 9/11 exposure (Abbasi, 2021). As has been documented, police, firefighters, and others who rushed to help on-site were exposed to toxic fumes, dangerous debris, and gruesome sights and sounds. The famous world trade center (WTC) cough that developed early on in first responders and progressed to chronic symptoms and permanent lung damage reminds today’s providers how critically important it is to be individually aware, assess scene safety, and utilize the correct protective equipment to avoid becoming an additional disaster victim. Ironically, nurses in 2021 have faced their own pandemic version of, “Is it safe?” while not necessarily having the means of protecting themselves and their families. Five years ago, the American Nurses Association (ANA) released an issue brief discussing the nurse’s duty to respond in disasters. The ANA (2017) asserts that nurses “must decide how much high quality care they can provide to others while also taking care of themselves.” The ethics of self-care versus responding in disasters should be contemplated prior to future events.
The ethics of self-care also leads into the other main lesson learned from 9/11, which is the theme of “Were you hurt? Take time for healing.” Nurses must remember that disasters can have widespread impact beyond the actual event—especially with global events. The bigger the event, the more time it will take to heal. Just as the victims from 9/11 required substantial support in their healing, today’s nurses will need an equal amount of support in their post-pandemic journey. Post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, depression, and other stress reactions are common after disasters (Makwana, 2019). With global events, nurses must find ways to promote individual resilience such as utilization of relaxation techniques and networking with support systems which may include mental health professionals, friends, family, and other nurses. Creating an environment of awareness among the nursing community related to support resources available for those impacted is paramount. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (2021) provides a plethora of recommendations and resources to assist nurses and their families in coping with disasters. The ANA (2021) has also developed a Covid-19 Resource Center and Well-Being Initiative designed to promote nurse health healing. While it is critical to be prepared for black swan events, nurses then and now have found they can do hard things and survive disasters. The key is to foster preparedness, encourage reflection, spread resource awareness, and promote self-awareness and self-healing . . . in 2022 and beyond.
