Purpose: In March 2011, the Great East Japan Earthquake triggered a complex disaster––an earthquake, a tsunami, and a nuclear accident––leading to the collapse of medical care in affected regions, particularly Fukushima. Through interviews with nursing managers who experienced this crisis, we captured their evolving perceptions of the situation in Fukushima, from the aftermath to the present, and identified key issues.

Method: We conducted semi-structured interviews with six nursing managers from medical institutions located within a 20–30 km radius of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant. The interviews were transcribed verbatim and analyzed through qualitative data analysis.

Results: The transcripts contained 119 statements about the nursing managers’ perceptions. These were organized into a timeline of four periods and grouped into eleven categories. Main themes included 1) the dilemma of having to choose between obeying evacuation orders and maintaining professional duty to protect patients’ lives and 2) the efforts to develop a positive outlook on recovery from the earthquake and the nuclear accident in the March 2011 disaster.

Discussion: The nursing managers acknowledged that, throughout the crisis situations they faced, they maintained a strong sense of professional duty and forged close bonds with medical staff, from the initial disaster through to the present. The nursing managers' assessments of the challenges they faced at Fukushima offer salient lessons for nurses today as they prepare for future disasters. These points are: 1) assessing individual decisions about evacuation in disaster scenarios; 2) creating work environments that allow staff to return to their homes; 3) developing human resources that reflect the unique regional needs; and 4) envisioning medical plans tailored to local characteristics.

Aim: This study explores the beliefs underlying disaster nursing activities provided by public health nurses (PHNs) dispatched from outside Fukushima to provide long-term support to municipalities affected by the Fukushima–Daiichi nuclear power plant accident.

Methods: A qualitative descriptive research design was used. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with five PHNs who provided approximately two years of support to the affected municipalities. The interview transcripts were analyzed using qualitative methods. Repeated readings of the narratives identified frequently appearing phenomena, which were categorized at progressively higher levels of abstraction. Subcategories of similar phenomena were grouped and assigned category names.

Results: Five key categories of beliefs emerged regarding supporting PHNs’ disaster support activities: (1) advising disaster-affected PHNs on improving the quality of support for affected residents; (2) facilitating health activities led by disaster-affected residents; (3) reflecting on the advantages and challenges of long-term disaster support; (4) drawing strength from community support to sustain their activities; and (5) upholding a professional philosophy to guide their disaster support efforts.

Conclusions: Amid ongoing evacuations, the supporting PHNs prioritized direct support for disaster victim PHNs, while considering the needs of affected residents. The supporting PHNs remained committed to helping disaster victim PHNs progress in their roles, adapting their methods and content as necessary. Guided by professional pride, the supporting PHNs demonstrated a strong belief in the value of providing long-term disaster support.