Health and well-being after being deployed in a major incident; how do Swedish ambulance nurses perceive their health recover process? A qualitative study
Objectives To explore health problems and the recovery process after being deployed in a major incident.Design Qualitative, explorative design.Setting Ambulance services in Sweden.Participants and methods Semistructured, individual two-session interviews with 15 ambulance nurses with the experience...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
BMJ Publishing Group
2023-07-01
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| Series: | BMJ Open |
| Online Access: | https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/13/7/e071848.full |
| _version_ | 1797305130792517632 |
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| author | Karin Hugelius Karin Blomberg |
| author_facet | Karin Hugelius Karin Blomberg |
| author_sort | Karin Hugelius |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Objectives To explore health problems and the recovery process after being deployed in a major incident.Design Qualitative, explorative design.Setting Ambulance services in Sweden.Participants and methods Semistructured, individual two-session interviews with 15 ambulance nurses with the experience of being deployed to major incidents were conducted. Data were analysed with thematic analysis.Results Being deployed in major incidents was perceived to be straining and led to both physical health problems and distress. To recover, the ambulance nurses strived to use strategies to distance themselves from the situation and created supportive conditions for their recovery, and if successful, the experiences led to both professional and personal growth and self-awareness. However, being deployed in major incidents without significant preparedness or experience could harm individuals and, in the worst case, end their career.Conclusions A successful recovery from the physical and mental exhaustion experienced after being deployed in a major incident required both individual abilities and self-care strategies as well as a supportive working environment. Supporting individual recovery strategies and following up on physical and mental well-being over time should be part of all ambulance services procedures after major incidents. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T00:20:31Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-e5e3e79030c4424bb9d8d1dd05659767 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2044-6055 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T00:20:31Z |
| publishDate | 2023-07-01 |
| publisher | BMJ Publishing Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMJ Open |
| spelling | doaj.art-e5e3e79030c4424bb9d8d1dd056597672024-02-16T10:55:08ZengBMJ Publishing GroupBMJ Open2044-60552023-07-0113710.1136/bmjopen-2023-071848Health and well-being after being deployed in a major incident; how do Swedish ambulance nurses perceive their health recover process? A qualitative studyKarin Hugelius0Karin Blomberg1Örebro Univeristy, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Orebro, SwedenFaculty of Medicine and Health, Örebro University, Orebro, SwedenObjectives To explore health problems and the recovery process after being deployed in a major incident.Design Qualitative, explorative design.Setting Ambulance services in Sweden.Participants and methods Semistructured, individual two-session interviews with 15 ambulance nurses with the experience of being deployed to major incidents were conducted. Data were analysed with thematic analysis.Results Being deployed in major incidents was perceived to be straining and led to both physical health problems and distress. To recover, the ambulance nurses strived to use strategies to distance themselves from the situation and created supportive conditions for their recovery, and if successful, the experiences led to both professional and personal growth and self-awareness. However, being deployed in major incidents without significant preparedness or experience could harm individuals and, in the worst case, end their career.Conclusions A successful recovery from the physical and mental exhaustion experienced after being deployed in a major incident required both individual abilities and self-care strategies as well as a supportive working environment. Supporting individual recovery strategies and following up on physical and mental well-being over time should be part of all ambulance services procedures after major incidents.https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/13/7/e071848.full |
| spellingShingle | Karin Hugelius Karin Blomberg Health and well-being after being deployed in a major incident; how do Swedish ambulance nurses perceive their health recover process? A qualitative study BMJ Open |
| title | Health and well-being after being deployed in a major incident; how do Swedish ambulance nurses perceive their health recover process? A qualitative study |
| title_full | Health and well-being after being deployed in a major incident; how do Swedish ambulance nurses perceive their health recover process? A qualitative study |
| title_fullStr | Health and well-being after being deployed in a major incident; how do Swedish ambulance nurses perceive their health recover process? A qualitative study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Health and well-being after being deployed in a major incident; how do Swedish ambulance nurses perceive their health recover process? A qualitative study |
| title_short | Health and well-being after being deployed in a major incident; how do Swedish ambulance nurses perceive their health recover process? A qualitative study |
| title_sort | health and well being after being deployed in a major incident how do swedish ambulance nurses perceive their health recover process a qualitative study |
| url | https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/13/7/e071848.full |
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