Disaster nursing: Self-reported competence of nursing students and registered nurses, with focus on their readiness to manage violence, serious events and disasters

Jan Nilsson; Eva Johansson; Marianne Carlsson; Jan Florin; Janeth Leksell; Margret Lepp; Christina Lindholm; Gun Nordström; Kersti Theander; Bodil Wilde-Larsson; Ann Gardulf

doi:10.1016/j.nepr.2015.09.012

Disaster nursing: Self-reported competence of nursing students and registered nurses, with focus on their readiness to manage violence, serious events and disasters

Nurse Educ Pract. 2016 Mar:17:102-8. doi: 10.1016/j.nepr.2015.09.012. Epub 2015 Oct 28.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Department of Health Sciences, Faculty of Health, Science, and Technology, Karlstad University, SE-651 88 Karlstad, Sweden; The Japanese Red Cross Institute for Humanitarian Studies, Tokyo, Japan. Electronic address: nilj@kau.se.
² Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Division of Nursing, Karolinska Institutet, SE-141 83 Huddinge, Sweden.
³ Department of Public Health and Caring Sciences, Uppsala University, SE-751 05 Uppsala, Sweden; Faculty of Health and Occupational Studies, University of Gävle, SE-801 76 Gävle, Sweden. Electronic address: marianne.carlsson@pubcare.uu.se.
⁴ School of Education, Health and Social Studies, Dalarna University, SE-791 31 Falun, Sweden. Electronic address: jfl@du.se.
⁵ School of Education, Health and Social Studies, Dalarna University, SE-791 31 Falun, Sweden. Electronic address: jle@du.se.
⁶ Institute of Health and Care Science, The Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, SE-405 30 Gothenburg, Sweden; Østfold University College, Halden, Norway. Electronic address: margret.lepp@gu.se.
⁷ Sophiahemmet University, SE-114 86 Stockholm, Sweden. Electronic address: c.lindholm@telia.com.
⁸ Department of Health Sciences, Faculty of Health, Science, and Technology, Karlstad University, SE-651 88 Karlstad, Sweden; Faculty of Public Health, Department of Nursing and Mental Health, Hedmark University College, Elverum, Norway. Electronic address: gun.nordstrom@kau.se.
⁹ Department of Health Sciences, Faculty of Health, Science, and Technology, Karlstad University, SE-651 88 Karlstad, Sweden. Electronic address: kersti.theander@kau.se.
¹⁰ Department of Health Sciences, Faculty of Health, Science, and Technology, Karlstad University, SE-651 88 Karlstad, Sweden; Faculty of Public Health, Department of Nursing and Mental Health, Hedmark University College, Elverum, Norway. Electronic address: bodil.wilde@kau.se.
¹¹ The Unit for Clinical Nursing Research and for Clinical Research in Immunotherapy, Division of Clinical Immunology, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institutet at Karolinska University Hospital, Huddinge, SE-171 77 Stockholm, Sweden; The Japanese Red Cross Institute for Humanitarian Studies, Tokyo, Japan. Electronic address: ann.gardulf@ki.se.

PMID: 26776502
DOI: 10.1016/j.nepr.2015.09.012

Abstract

The World Health Organization and the International Council of Nurses recognises the importance of nurses' involvement in disaster preparedness and response. The aim of this study was to describe and compare self-reported disaster nursing competence (DNC) among nursing students (NSs) and among registered nurses (RNs) with professional experience. Further to investigate possible associations between self-reported DNC and background factors. A cross-sectional study was conducted of 569 NSs and 227 RNs. All respondents completed the 88-item Nurse Professional Competence Scale, including three items assessing DNC. Significant differences were found among the NSs depending on which University/University College they had attended. RNs reported significantly higher overall DNC and better ability to handle situations involving violence, and to apply principles of disaster medicine during serious events. RNs working in emergency care reported significantly better DNC ability, compared with RNs working in other areas of healthcare. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that working night shift and working in emergency care were positively associated with high self-reported overall DNC. The results indicate that workplace experience of serious events increase the readiness of registered nurses to handle violence, to act in accordance with safety regulations, and to apply principles of disaster medicine during serious events.

Keywords: Disaster nursing; NPC Scale; Nursing students; Registered nurses.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Attitude of Health Personnel
Cross-Sectional Studies
Disaster Planning / organization & administration*
Emergency Medical Services
Humans
Nurses*
Professional Competence*
Self Report*
Students, Nursing*
Sweden
Violence*