Disaster nursing in Iran: Challenges and opportunities

SummaryBackground and objectiveDisaster nursing was one of the first forms of nursing practice in Iran, and nurses have long served voluntarily in disasters. Despite their key role throughout a disaster management cycle, few studies have examined nurses’ unique role in the management of disasters in this region of the world.MethodsAn integrative narrative analysis of international research published in English and Persian studies between years 2000 and 2013 was conducted.ResultsAnalysis of the 32 articles yielded two major: organisational and managerial challenges, and challenges linked to the educational system. The most significant factors linked to the role of nurses in disasters included the lack of identification of those who educated nurses to serve in critical conditions, defects in university's educational systems and lack of in-service training for nurses with regard to disasters.ConclusionsThe integration of dedicate organisational units to educate human workforces, formalising a relationship between nursing staff and the disaster organisations, creative educational content, and effective economical systems to educate nurses may further enable disaster preparedness and response.