Preparing nursing students for disaster, crisis, and conflict response: A scoping review of educational strategies and preparedness

BACKGROUND: Preparing nursing students to respond effectively to disasters, crisis situations, and large-scale emergencies is an increasing priority in nursing education. Although students are expected to develop competencies in disaster preparedness and crisis response, many report feeling insufficiently prepared for the clinical and psychological demands of such situations. Evidence on how nursing education programs prepare students for disaster response, crisis situations, and conflict-related healthcare delivery remains fragmented. AIM: This scoping review aimed to map and synthesize the existing literature on how nursing education prepares nursing students for disaster, crisis, and conflict-response settings. METHODS: The review followed Arksey and O'Malley's scoping review framework and adhered to Joanna Briggs Institute guidance and PRISMA-ScR reporting standards. Searches were conducted in MEDLINE (PubMed), CINAHL Complete, and Scopus for studies published between 2015 and 2025. Data were charted using a structured extraction framework and analyzed through thematic analysis. RESULTS: Twelve studies met the inclusion criteria. Four main domains emerged: disaster preparedness competencies, educational strategies for crisis training, psychological and contextual challenges in crisis and conflict environments, and nursing students' willingness to participate in emergency response. Overall, students reported positive attitudes toward disaster response but variable levels of perceived preparedness and practical competency. Structured training programs and experiential learning approaches were associated with higher perceived readiness. CONCLUSION: The findings reveal substantial variability in how nursing education prepares students for crisis response and highlight gaps in the integration of disaster preparedness within nursing curricula. Strengthening experiential training and developing clearer educational frameworks may support the preparedness of future nurses for disaster and crisis response, including conflict-related healthcare settings.