Perceived Emergency Competencies Among Novice Nurses Across Six Middle Eastern Conflict-Affected Countries: A...

This study aims to assess the self-perceived competence of novice nurses in emergency response to armed conflict within Middle Eastern countries.

Armed conflicts in the Middle East have placed immense strain on healthcare systems, where novice nurses frequently serve as frontline responders. Despite the development of disaster nursing frameworks, there is limited research examining the competencies of newly trained nurses operating in such high-risk conflict zones.

A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted between November 2024 and June 2025 among 465 novice nurses from Iraq, Syria, Yemen, Palestine, Saudi Arabia, and Lebanon. A validated questionnaire assessing 47 distinct nursing self-perceived competence in armed conflict zones was utilized.

Findings showed statistically significant differences in self-perceived competence across countries, departments, education levels, and experience. Nurses from Syria and Palestine reported the highest self-perceived competence, while those from Lebanon and Saudi Arabia reported the lowest.

This study provides valuable insights into the self-perceived competencies of nurses, particularly novice nurses, in armed conflict areas in the Middle East. The variations in self-perceived competence across countries highlight the importance of context-specific training and standardized approaches to nursing education in conflict zones.