Purpose: This study aimed to conduct a questionnaire survey targeting instructors at all public health nurse (PHN) training institutions nationwide. Further, this study seeks to clarify the state of education on infectious disease health crisis management and the achievement levels of educational goals for PHN students, considering the differences among training programs.

Methods: An anonymous, self-administered, web-based questionnaire survey targeting one representative from each PHN training institution nationwide was conducted between February and March 2023.

Results: Responses were obtained from 82 participants (response rate: 28.0%). The achievement rates for the infectious disease health crisis management goals were relatively high in terms of knowledge; however, it tended to be lower in terms of skills. Institutions offering “four-year education” had fewer lecture and exercise hours related to infectious disease health crisis management. It also had a lower proportion of observation and practical experience during public health center practicums than those offering “advanced education.”

Discussion: To enhance students’ practical skills, it is necessary to secure time for exercises related to infectious disease health crisis management and develop educational programs that utilize instructors’ field experience during the COVID-19 pandemic. Materials that are concrete and easy to visualize must also be created and used.

Aims: To clarify the effectiveness of a simulation exercise for earthquake evacuation shelter response for public health nursing students using the “Evacuation Shelter (H) Operation (U) Game (G).”

Method: A simulation exercise was conducted with 27 public health nursing students, who assessed their own performance using an anonymous, self-administered questionnaire. The questionnaire included quantitative data derived from an 11-point rating scale and qualitative data obtained from free-text responses, which were analyzed qualitatively.

Results: The median rating for reactions such as “interest” was 10.0, while the median score for goal achievement after the exercise, such as “understanding of shelter situations,” was 8.0, indicating strong responses. Free-text responses identified key themes such as “understanding community and evacuation center needs and functioning as a command post” and “considering shelter responses based on community characteristics, including vulnerable individuals, even during normal times.” Additionally, comments reflected that participants found the exercise to be “a valuable experience, offering a realistic understanding of shelter response.”

Conclusions: Through this simulation exercise, public health nursing students perceived earthquake evacuation shelters as a personal responsibility, leading to more concrete planning for actions during non-crisis times. The findings suggest that this simulation exercise effectively enhances students’ preparedness for shelter response.