Building climate resilience: A qualitative exploration of disaster preparedness in nursing education.

BACKGROUND

Climate change is exacerbating the frequency and intensity of disasters globally, posing significant threats to human health, particularly in vulnerable countries such as Nepal. As frontline healthcare providers, nurses play a crucial role in disaster preparedness and response. However, current nursing education often lacks adequate training to address the complex health challenges arising from climate-related disasters.

OBJECTIVE

This study investigated disaster preparedness training within Nepalese nursing education, focusing on strategies for integrating climate-related disaster preparedness into the curriculum to enhance nursing students' disaster response skills.

DESIGN

A qualitative study employing exploratory and descriptive designs was conducted to gather in-depth perspectives from key stakeholders.

PARTICIPANTS

Twelve participants were purposefully recruited from a tertiary nursing institution in Bharatpur, Nepal: six final-year undergraduate nursing students and six nursing faculty members.

METHODS

Data were collected through four focus group discussions. Discussions were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed using a thematic analysis framework.

RESULTS

Findings revealed three key themes: (1) Bridging classroom instruction with community-based clinical placement, (2) Bridging the urban-rural divide for equitable disaster response, and (3) Strengthening disaster resilience through interprofessional and multisectoral collaboration.

CONCLUSION

This study offers crucial insights for transforming disaster preparedness training in Nepalese nursing education. By emphasizing community-focused clinical placements, sustainable healthcare practices, and interdisciplinary collaboration, this research provides a foundation for cultivating a future nursing workforce equipped to navigate the complex health challenges of climate-induced disasters and effectively champion community resilience.