Short simulation exercises to improve emergency department nurses’ self-efficacy for initial disaster management: Controlled before and after study

This study tested short, low-resource simulation exercises to improve emergency department nurses’ readiness for disaster response. Nurses participated in brief, repeated simulation scenarios focused on initial disaster actions. After the training, nurses reported higher confidence and self-efficacy in key response tasks, including triage, communication, and prioritization. The short format made the training easier to repeat and integrate into routine work compared to large drills. The findings suggest that frequent, simple simulation exercises can build frontline staff confidence and readiness, making them a practical way to strengthen disaster response capacity without major time or resource demands.