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ABSTRACT
Background: An earthquake and tsunami hit the east coast of Japan on March 11, 2011. Nurses were actively involved in the health response to this disaster and, subsequently, many authors have reported on the role nurses played in these efforts in Japanese nursing professional journals.
Aim: To describe the role of nurses who assisted in the 2011 Great East Earthquake of Japan by reviewing Japanese literature and reporting the ļ¬ndings in English.
Method: This research used an integrative literature review methodology. Manuscripts were obtained from the Japanese database Ichushi Ver. 5 (Japan Medical Abstracts Society, Tokyo, Japan). A total of 44 manuscripts were identiļ¬ed and included in a thematic analysis.
Results: Three main themes were identiļ¬ed: (1) nursing roles, (2) specialized nursing roles, and (3) preparedness education. Nurses fulļ¬lled different roles in the period after the disaster (ie, as a clinician, a communicator, a leader, and a provider of psychosocial support). Additionally, the specialized nurse role was identiļ¬ed, along with the need for preparedness education to support the nurse’s role in a disaster.
Conclusion: The understanding of the role of nurses in disasters is expanding. There is a need to further explore the roles of specialized nurses in disasters. Further disaster education opportunities should be available as a part of continuing education for all nurses. Radiation aspects of disaster assistance should be included in disaster education programs where there are radio-nuclear hazards present in the environment
Kako M, Ranse J, Yamamoto A, Arbon P. (2014). What was the role of nurses during the 2011 Great East Earthquake of Japan? An integrative review of the Japanese literature. Prehospital Disaster Medicine. 29(3):1-5.
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