Defense Date
3-21-2024
Graduation Date
Spring 5-11-2024
Availability
One-year Embargo
Submission Type
dissertation
Degree Name
PhD
Department
Nursing
School
School of Nursing
Committee Chair
Pamela Spigelmyer
Committee Member
Richard Zoucha
Committee Member
Terri Rebmann
Keywords
disaster preparedness, disaster planning, COVID-19 pandemic, schools, natural disasters
Abstract
Background: Disasters are dangerous for schools where many children are located in one area. Children were significantly impacted by a biological incident during the 2009 H1N1 influenza pandemic, and more recently the COVID-19 pandemic. Research is needed to determine the values, perceptions, and beliefs of school disaster preparedness through a cultural lens.
Methods: A focused ethnography was used to interview school administrators and nurses from April-December 2022 to explore and understand the unique culture of school disaster preparedness. Data was analyzed according to Leininger’s Four Phases of Data Analysis.
Results: Twenty-four participants from K-12 public schools were interviewed resulting in 26 categories, 7 patterns, and 3 themes. Themes included: 1) leadership, collaboration, and support are essential in disaster preparedness and response, 2) previous experience of managing a disaster leads to a perception of better preparedness, and 3) experiencing a disaster impacts all areas of school life (personal and professional).
Implications for School Health, Policy, Practice, and Equity: Disasters have a major impact on all areas of school life and can be lessened or increased depending on the level of leadership, collaboration, and support.
Conclusions: School culture has an impact on preparedness. School nurses were leaders during the pandemic, and most are involved in school disaster preparedness. Understanding the impact of disasters through a cultural lens will help focus future improvements in school disaster preparedness.
Language
English
Recommended Citation
Horton, D. (2024). School Nurses and Administrators Perceptions of School Preparedness: A Focused Ethnography (Doctoral dissertation, Duquesne University). Retrieved from https://dsc.duq.edu/etd/2335
Additional Citations
Horton, D., Spigelmyer, P., Zoucha, R., & Rebmann, T. (2023). Disaster Preparedness in K‐12 Schools: An Integrative Review. Journal of school health, 93(8), 726-732.