An exploration of perceptions of disaster nursing and disaster preparedness among Australian nursing undergraduates

Abstract

Aim: The primary aim of this pilot study was to explore perceptions of disaster nursing and disaster preparedness among Australian nursing undergraduates, including their definitions of disaster, disaster nursing and disaster preparedness. The study also aimed to gain an increased understanding of what Australian nursing undergraduates might see as their role in disaster situations. A naturalistic, qualitative approach was selected for this study. An exploratory, instrumental single case study design was determined to be the most effective research methodology for exploring this issue.

Methods: Data collection occurred via focus groups from a purposive, homogenous segmented sample. Participants were enrolled in the Bachelor of Nursing (pre-registration) at a School of Nursing and Midwifery at an Adelaide University. The data were thematically analysed.

Results: Four main themes were identified; ‘ideology of disaster’, ‘what is disaster nursing’, ‘what is disaster preparedness’ and ‘do nursing undergraduates have a role to play in disaster response?’

Conclusions: Three recommendations are made. The first is to increase nursing undergraduates’ knowledge of disaster nursing and disaster preparedness as part of their Bachelor of Nursing (BN) degree. The second is the establishment of agreements between schools of nursing and community organisations to facilitate nursing undergraduates’ engagement in the disaster response space. The third suggests ways to link nursing undergraduates with volunteer opportunities in order to increase their understanding of disaster preparedness and planning. This study found that the nursing undergraduates were not prepared to respond in a disaster setting, which may compromise their ability to respond should the need arise.