Building Emergency Management Capacity Through Nursing Student Integration: A Literature and Experiential Review

The growing frequency of disasters, from hurricanes to pandemics, has strained emergency management (EM) systems, highlighting the need for an expanded workforce. Nursing students, with their clinical expertise and enthusiasm for practical experience, offer a valuable resource to enhance community resilience. This literature review synthesizes 10 peer-reviewed studies from 2015 to 2025 to explore strategies for integrating nursing students into EM programs, particularly for universities without established programs. From the perspective of a lifelong public health responder now teaching nursing students, the review identifies simulation-based training, interprofessional collaborations, community partnerships, and curriculum integration as key strategies documented in the literature, while offering some real-world individual experience. Outcomes of the strategies include improved student competencies, enhanced community preparedness, and increased professional development, though some challenges like training gaps and logistical complexities persist. Lessons learned are discussed as well as some practical steps for universities to take from scratch to achieve the title goal. Future research directions are suggested to evaluate long-term impacts and scalability, offering actionable insights, especially for educators.