Undergraduate nursing students’ competencies in disaster scenarios: from educational needs to curricula regulation

Abstract

Background: Nurses play a central role in disaster preparedness, so appropriate disaster-related education is essential. However, almost all Portuguese undergraduate nursing curricula do not address disaster situations. Objective: To understand nursing schools’ contribution to developing undergraduate students’ knowledge and skills in disaster scenarios and the existing constraints on integrating this content into undergraduate nursing curricula. Methodology: A qualitative study with methodological triangulation, including interviews and focus group, was carried out to explore the perceptions of 35 nurse teachers and 6 nurses with experience in health care provision in disaster scenarios, about integrating disaster-related content into nursing curricula. Results: The study reveals that disaster management and preparedness should be integrated into undergraduate nursing education to guarantee the effective development and more objective regulation of students’ skills in this area. Conclusion: Portuguese nursing schools need to promote and develop undergraduate training in disaster preparedness and a more inclusive and objective regulation of this area.