Disaster nursing in Iran: challenges and opportunities

Area of Science:

• Nursing
• Disaster Management
• Public Health

Background:

• Disaster nursing is a foundational practice in Iran with a history of voluntary nurse involvement.
• Nurses play a critical role in all phases of disaster management.
• Limited research exists on the specific contributions of Iranian nurses in disaster management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the challenges and roles of nurses in disaster management within Iran.
• To identify key factors influencing nurses' effectiveness in disaster situations.

Main Methods:

• An integrative narrative analysis was performed on international research.
• Studies published in English and Persian from 2000 to 2013 were included.
• Analysis focused on 32 selected articles.

Main Results:

• Two primary challenge categories emerged: organizational/managerial and educational system deficiencies.
• Key issues included a lack of specialized training for nurses in critical conditions.
• Deficiencies in university curricula and insufficient in-service disaster training were identified.

Conclusions:

• Establishing dedicated organizational units for workforce education is recommended.
• Formalizing partnerships between nursing staff and disaster organizations is essential.
• Developing creative educational content and effective economic systems can enhance nurse preparedness and response capabilities.