Humanitarian nursing with Médecins Sans Frontières: The dream job

Abstract

Aim: This original oral history research explores the motivation for, and experience of, humanitarian nursing. It demonstrates nursing's role in relief work, offering a unique record of such remarkable nursing contributions in the late 20th and early 21st century. The formation of modern nursing is often associated with times of conflict, such as the Crimea and other wars, where nurses offered their services. This research adds understanding to the continuing attraction of such work and its place in nursing history and practice. Methods: Following ethical approval, oral histories were recorded with seven nurses who worked for Médecins Sans Frontières during this period. Analysis used the Listening Guide, a feminist approach employing four related readings of the data. Results: The histories of these nurses locate their extraordinary experiences within their life and identity as nurses; escapism and moral outrage, combined with a love of travel and thirst for adventure, influenced their decision to undertake humanitarian work. Once on a mission, their narrative captures the contrast between the ordinary and the extraordinary; familiar routine experiences side by side with mortal danger. Returning to normal life required resilience and a reappraisal of their life story in order to locate their experiences, finding meaning and peace in their post-mission world. An overarching theme of 'dreams' includes romance, nightmares and impossible dreams. Conclusion: At a time of debate and challenge regarding the role and identity of nursing within society, this research records and analyses the oral histories of nurses working with Médecins Sans Frontières at this time.

Humanitarian nursing with Médecins Sans Frontières: Foregrounding the listening guide as a method for analysing oral history data

“…However, first missions, in particular, were often isolating and unhappy times for the nurses; they were not yet established members of the MSF family with its arrogant and daring image which meant they were uncertain of their place. Nevertheless, there was also the development of camaraderie with local people and fellow workers, along with fun and the building of lifelong friendships (Hargreaves & Golding, ). In turn, this helped negate some of the less positive reflections of their missions shared by the nurses.…”

“…The nurses in this research completed missions in many African countries, plus Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, Haiti, the Middle East, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. A variety of experiences were shared, but they were always arduous and often dangerous (Hargreaves & Golding, ) and stressful. Lesley reflects on mission stress:

my last mission was in Haiti […], I'd been for the earthquake […] back for the massive cholera epidemic and I was the [role] and it was extremely stressful and by that time I was just almost completely burnt‐out […] I'd seen what happened to other people […], I wasn't completely but I was verging, so I decided to stop.

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“…This was conducted by the analyst as she had experience of using the method. Outputs from this research include academic papers (Hargreaves & Golding, , ) and an oral history archive (Hargreaves, ).…”

“A complete meltdown of humanity”: The Aleppo Disaster of 2016

“…Preventive measures before conflicts strike such as evacuation systems development, disaster relief training as a standard measure of employment, standardization development, investment in generators, more effective ways to deliver aid when ceasefires fail, and tangible international laws that are binding might have helped Aleppo avoid the crisis that it finds itself in now. At the same time, aid groups that enter these frays have to do so with the knowledge that their work has deep emotional and physical dangers (Hargreaves and Golding, 2017). In addition, the civil war is forcing all aid personnel to question their unyielding stance of neutrality and impartiality.…”

“…This manuscript extends the analysis of Hargreaves and Golding (2017) who have studied humanitarian nursing during disasters. They argue, "Humanitarianism is at the heart of nurses' identity and motivation to practice" (p. 49).…”