Evaluation of the Contents of the Disaster Training Courses Given in Nursing Undergraduate Programs in Turkey

INTRODUCTION: This study aims to evaluate the contents of the disaster training courses given in nursing undergraduate programs in Turkey.
METHODS: The study was conducted using a descriptive type research design. The data were obtained between March 1, and March 30, 2020, by screening Bologna education programs and curricula through the web pages of universities. Numbers and percentiles were used in the evaluation of the data.
RESULTS: A total of 206 universities affiliated with the Higher Education Institution in Turkey were reached between the dates of the study. Of these universities, 58.7% had nursing departments and 32.2% of the universities with nursing departments had disaster training courses. The course was named as “Nursing and First Aid in Disasters” in 38.5% of the curricula investigated within the scope of the study, and it was provided as an elective course in 53.8% of the courses, as a theoretical course given 2 hours a week. It was possible to reach the course content of 53.8% of the programs examined within the scope of the research.
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: It was concluded that the contents and hours of the courses given for disaster training in nursing undergraduate programs were inadequate. In addition, significant differences were found in the comparisons of the course contents. It is necessary to minimize the differences in the disaster training courses, analyze the course contents, and address disaster-specific issues such as psychological first aid, nutrition, infectious diseases, and communication in disasters.