Work

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

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: 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.

Source: Nurse Education Today

DOI: 10.1016/j.nedt.2025.106791

Authors: Animesh Ghimire, Purushottam Ghimire

Institutions: Chitwan Medical College, Sustainable Prosperity Initiative Nepal, Monash University

Language: English

Topic: Disaster Response and Management

Subfield: Emergency Medical Services

Field: Health Professions

Domain: Health Sciences

SDGs: Good health and well-being, Quality education

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $4,010