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National Disaster Preparedness: Can Nurses Stay Afloat?
Wanda Hilliard1, Donna Owen1, Alexia Green1
1Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, School of Nursing, Lubbock, Texas.
The Journal of Nursing Education
|June 22, 2026
Summary
Nurses need better disaster preparedness education. A nursing school integrated disaster training into all programs using a competency-based framework to ensure graduates are ready for emergencies.
Area of Science:
- Nursing Education
- Public Health Emergency Preparedness
- Disaster Management
Background:
- Increasing frequency and severity of disasters in the US.
- Many nurses lack formal disaster management education.
- Need for comprehensive disaster preparedness training in nursing curricula.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and integrate a comprehensive disaster preparedness training approach across all academic nursing programs.
- To address curricular gaps in disaster management education.
- To emphasize health disparities in vulnerable populations during emergency responses.
Main Methods:
- Conducted a literature review and monthly faculty meetings.
- Assessed curricular gaps using AACN Essentials and emergency response frameworks.
- Employed a public health emergency response model to identify competencies and deficits.
Main Results:
- Developed a hybrid top-down and bottom-up framework for disaster preparedness.
- Ensured consistent competency standards across all nursing levels.
- Incorporated community-based learning into baccalaureate, master's, and doctoral programs.
Conclusions:
- Integrating disaster preparedness into nursing curricula enhances graduate readiness for emergencies.
- Competency-based frameworks and community partnerships are key to effective disaster training.
- Prepares nurses for local, national, and global health emergencies.
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