Lived Experiences of Nursing Staff During Earthquakes: A Meta-Synthesis of Qualitative Studies

To synthesize the lived experiences of nursing staff during earthquakes.

Nurses play a critical role in disaster response, yet the multifaceted challenges they encounter during earthquakes remain insufficiently understood. Capturing their experiences can inform evidence-based strategies to strengthen disaster nursing capacity.

This meta-synthesis drew on a comprehensive search of four electronic databases in November 2024, with an update in May 2025. Studies examining nursing care and support in earthquake settings were included. A thematic synthesis approach was used to integrate qualitative findings, and the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme checklist guided quality appraisal.

Thirty-seven reports met the inclusion criteria. Six analytic themes were generated: (1) Emotional Experiences, (2) Professional Challenges, (3) Personal and Professional Growth, (4) Community and Social Support, (5) Disaster Preparedness and Response, and (6) The Role of Nurses in Disaster Situations. These overarching themes were supported by 18 descriptive themes and illustrated with rich participant accounts. Together, they reveal nurses' emotional distress, ethical tensions, and operational barriers, as well as their resilience, adaptability, and commitment to patient and community well-being.

This meta-synthesis illuminates the complex, multilayered experiences of nurses responding to earthquake disasters. It underscores the urgent need for sustained mental health support, structured disaster preparedness, and institutional policies that enable a resilient and responsive nursing workforce.

Findings underline the need to implement competency-based disaster training programs and establish robust psychosocial support systems.

Findings reveal a critical need for policy-level action to enable intersectoral coordination and strategic resource allocation. Policies must formally integrate these elements to support frontline nursing capacity and embed disaster resilience across the health system.