Disaster Nursing Preparedness and Response Competency: A Comparative Study of Nurses Instantly Deployed and Not Deployed in the 2023 Kahramanmaraş Earthquakes in Turkey

Abstract

Objectives In Turkey, a region prone to seismic activity, the 2023 Kahramanmara & scedil; earthquakes exemplified the critical need for effective disaster nursing competencies, highlighting the challenges health care professionals face in large-scale emergencies. This study aims to evaluate disaster nursing competencies, particularly in the context of the 2023 Kahramanmara & scedil; earthquakes.Methods This study involved a total of 352 nurses, 73 of whom played an active role in the earthquake response. Employing the Turkish version of the Disaster Nursing Preparedness - Response Competency (DNPRC) Scale, this study compared the competencies of nurses based on their demographic and professional characteristics, and whether they were actively involved in the earthquake response.Results Nurses who received disaster training, especially those with combined theoretical and practical training, and those who participated in drills, scored significantly higher on the DNPRC Scale. Intriguingly, nurses actively involved in the earthquake response scored lower, indicating a discrepancy between perceived and actual competencies.Conclusions The study highlights the complexity of disaster nursing competencies and the gap between self-assessed competency and real-world challenges. It underscores the need for re-evaluating current training programs and implementing more scenario-based approaches to adequately prepare nurses for the realities of disaster response.