Evolution of Experiential Learning Opportunities for Nursing Students After Natural Disaster

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Disaster Response
• Public Health

Background:

• Natural disasters like Hurricane Harvey offer unique learning opportunities for nursing students.
• Post-disaster environments present challenges and require adaptable healthcare professionals.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of disaster relief missions as a hands-on educational tool for nursing students.
• To assess the impact of real-world disaster response on nursing student development and confidence.

Main Methods:

• University nursing students and faculty participated in regular relief missions to Rockport, Texas, following Hurricane Harvey.
• Teams provided primary care, preventative services, and door-to-door health education and assessments.

Main Results:

• Over 200 students and 12 faculty members provided care during more than 60 trips over six months.
• Students reported feeling like "real nurses" and described the experience as highly valuable for their professional development.

Conclusions:

• Disaster relief missions serve as a powerful, hands-on educational experience for nursing students.
• This intervention demonstrates the potential of experiential learning in preparing future nurses for crisis situations.