Abstract
In January 2025, over 230 employees were rapidly deployed from a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) system to support the medical and social needs of Eaton wildfire evacuees at the Pasadena Convention Center (PCC). Of the thousands of Pasadena and Altadena residents displaced, many of the employees were directly impacted. As environmental disasters are becoming more frequent, organizations can implement measures to reduce the psychological impact by promoting coping strategies to improve mental wellbeing for nursing professionals.1,2
Research has shown that volunteer responders who are highly motivated report lower levels of burnout.3 There is a gap in research tailored to disaster scenarios and organizational factors to improve emergency responder recovery and burnout among FQHCs.4,5 The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore how the experiences of entry-level frontline workers providing services at PCC impacted their personal and professional role. In phase one of the study, 15 participants were recruited for qualitative interviews from June 2025 to September 2025 through convenience sampling. The inclusion criteria consisted of FQHC Medical Assistants (MAs), Licensed Vocational Nurses (LVNs), and Community Health Workers (CHWs) staff who supported the wildfire response. Participants drew parallels between their experiences during the wildfire, the COVID-19 pandemic, and other crises. Emotional toll, physical stressors, and trauma impacts were primary themes in the interview findings. Notable barriers included frustration due to limited resources and emotional fatigue. Facilitators centered on adaptable coping mechanisms, recognition, and emotional support from peers, nursing leadership, and allied health professionals. Themes illustrate the connection between crises and mental wellbeing, emphasizing the importance of providing recovery support for those impacted and the necessity of nursing systemic changes to build resilience. These findings highlight the need for equitable and trauma-informed interventions in the workforce in future research and clinical practice.
Notes
References:
1. Brooks SK, Dunn R, Amlôt R, Rubin GJ, Greenberg N. Protecting the psychological wellbeing of staff exposed to disaster or emergency at work: a qualitative study. BMC Psychol. 2019;7(1):78. doi:10.1186/s40359-019-0360-6
2. Piras I, Usai V, Contu P, Galletta M. Vicarious trauma, coping strategies and nurses’ health outcomes: An exploratory study. AIMSPH. 2024;11(4):1071-1081. doi:10.3934/publichealth.2024055
3. Morse JL, Dik BJ, Shimizu AB, Reed KA. Volunteerism and Burnout: Does Satisfaction of Motives for Volunteering Protect Against Symptoms? Voluntas. 2022;33(2):229-241. doi:10.1007/s11266-020-00257-y
4. Leppold C, Gibbs L, Block K, Reifels L, Quinn P. Public health implications of multiple disaster exposures. The Lancet Public Health. 2022;7(3):e274-e286. doi:10.1016/S2468-2667(21)00255-3
5. Martinez-Hollingsworth A, Kim L, Richardson TG, et al. Supporting “Bleeders” and “Billers”: How Safety-Net Administrators Mitigate Provider Burnout During the COVID-19 Pandemic and Beyond. Journal of Ambulatory Care Management. 2021;44(3):172-183. doi:10.1097/JAC.0000000000000383
Sigma Membership
Non-member
Type
Presentation
Format Type
Text-based Document
Study Design/Type
Phenomenology
Research Approach
Qualitative Research
Keywords:
Wildfires, Emergency Responders, Volunteer Experiences, Resiliency, Hardiness, Well-Being, Psychological Well-Being, Professional Burnout, Psychological Stress, Coping, Stress/Coping
Recommended Citation
Inzunza, Zurisadai A.; Scherer, Monika; Balliet, Maximus; Hollingsworth, Zoe; and Martinez-Hollingsworth, Adrienne, "Care Among Crisis: Trauma and Building Resiliency with Wildfire Respondents" (2026). Creating Healthy Work Environments (CHWE). 52.
https://www.sigmarepository.org/chwe/2026/presentations_2026/52
Conference Name
Creating Healthy Work Environments
Conference Host
Sigma Theta Tau International
Conference Location
Washington, DC, USA
Conference Year
2026
Rights Holder
All rights reserved by the author(s) and/or publisher(s) listed in this item record unless relinquished in whole or part by a rights notation or a Creative Commons License present in this item record. All permission requests should be directed accordingly and not to the Sigma Repository. All submitting authors or publishers have affirmed that when using material in their work where they do not own copyright, they have obtained permission of the copyright holder prior to submission and the rights holder has been acknowledged as necessary.
Review Type
Abstract Review Only: Reviewed by Event Host
Acquisition
Proxy-submission
Date of Issue
2026-04-29
Care Among Crisis: Trauma and Building Resiliency with Wildfire Respondents
Washington, DC, USA
In January 2025, over 230 employees were rapidly deployed from a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) system to support the medical and social needs of Eaton wildfire evacuees at the Pasadena Convention Center (PCC). Of the thousands of Pasadena and Altadena residents displaced, many of the employees were directly impacted. As environmental disasters are becoming more frequent, organizations can implement measures to reduce the psychological impact by promoting coping strategies to improve mental wellbeing for nursing professionals.1,2
Research has shown that volunteer responders who are highly motivated report lower levels of burnout.3 There is a gap in research tailored to disaster scenarios and organizational factors to improve emergency responder recovery and burnout among FQHCs.4,5 The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore how the experiences of entry-level frontline workers providing services at PCC impacted their personal and professional role. In phase one of the study, 15 participants were recruited for qualitative interviews from June 2025 to September 2025 through convenience sampling. The inclusion criteria consisted of FQHC Medical Assistants (MAs), Licensed Vocational Nurses (LVNs), and Community Health Workers (CHWs) staff who supported the wildfire response. Participants drew parallels between their experiences during the wildfire, the COVID-19 pandemic, and other crises. Emotional toll, physical stressors, and trauma impacts were primary themes in the interview findings. Notable barriers included frustration due to limited resources and emotional fatigue. Facilitators centered on adaptable coping mechanisms, recognition, and emotional support from peers, nursing leadership, and allied health professionals. Themes illustrate the connection between crises and mental wellbeing, emphasizing the importance of providing recovery support for those impacted and the necessity of nursing systemic changes to build resilience. These findings highlight the need for equitable and trauma-informed interventions in the workforce in future research and clinical practice.
Description
In January 2025, over 230 Federally Qualified Health Center employees, many directly impacted, assisted Eaton wildfire evacuees at the Pasadena Convention Center. A qualitative phenomenological study of 15 frontline staff found emotional toll, trauma, and resource challenges were common barriers. Adaptive coping, peer and leadership support facilitated wellbeing. Findings highlighted the need for trauma-informed and equitable interventions to support workforce resilience during crises.