Other Titles
Exploring the Relationship Between Registered Nurses Resilience and Disaster Response: A Cross-Sectional Analysis [Title Slide]
Abstract
Nurses play a critical role in disaster response and readiness. While there is significant research that speaks to the importance of resiliency in the nursing profession, there is a lack of research specific to the relationship between resiliency and disaster response readiness. The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between RNs’ resilience and their readiness to respond to disasters. This descriptive cross-sectional study used purposive and snowball sampling to recruit participants. Data were collected via an anonymous online survey. Descriptive, non-inferential, and inferential statistics were used for data analysis. The sample included 352 RNs representing 271 distinct postal codes from 9 different countries. The majority were willing to respond to a disaster, but only 54.8% felt prepared to respond, and less than half were trained to respond. For personal characteristics, there was a statistically significant difference in average BRS score based on age, but no statistically significant difference in average BRS score based on gender, race, years of experience, or income. Those who had previously served or were currently serving in the military had higher BRS scores than those who had never served. There was also a significant association between feeling confident to take steps to prepare and BRS scores, as well as an association between feeling prepared for a disaster and willingness to respond to disaster and BRS scores. This study highlights multiple factors that influence RNs’ disaster readiness and underscores the relationship of resiliency to feeling prepared, willing, trained, and registered to respond to a disaster. Our results add to the understanding of modifiable factors that may impact RN resilience. The findings support the need for regular and ongoing disaster training for nurses.
Notes
Extensive reference list available in attached slide deck.
Sigma Membership
Non-member
Lead Author Affiliation
Old Dominion University, Norfolk, Virginia, USA
Type
Presentation
Format Type
Text-based Document
Study Design/Type
Cross-Sectional
Research Approach
Quantitative Research
Keywords:
Registered Nurses, Nurse Attitudes, Nurse Attitudes--Evaluation, Disasters, Resilience, Hardiness
Recommended Citation
Parrott, Jessica; Hawkins, Janice Evans; Tremblay, Beth; and Hawkins, Robert Joseph, "Exploring the Relationship Between Registered Nurses’ Resilience and Disaster Response Readiness" (2026). International Nursing Research Congress (INRC). 107.
https://www.sigmarepository.org/inrc/2026/presentations_2026/107
Conference Name
37th International Nursing Research Congress
Conference Host
Sigma Theta Tau International
Conference Location
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Conference Year
2026
Rights Holder
All rights reserved by the author(s) and/or publisher(s) listed in this item record unless relinquished in whole or part by a rights notation or a Creative Commons License present in this item record. All permission requests should be directed accordingly and not to the Sigma Repository. All submitting authors or publishers have affirmed that when using material in their work where they do not own copyright, they have obtained permission of the copyright holder prior to submission and the rights holder has been acknowledged as necessary.
Review Type
Abstract Review Only: Reviewed by Event Host
Acquisition
Proxy-submission
Date of Issue
2026-08-03
Exploring the Relationship Between Registered Nurses’ Resilience and Disaster Response Readiness
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Nurses play a critical role in disaster response and readiness. While there is significant research that speaks to the importance of resiliency in the nursing profession, there is a lack of research specific to the relationship between resiliency and disaster response readiness. The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between RNs’ resilience and their readiness to respond to disasters. This descriptive cross-sectional study used purposive and snowball sampling to recruit participants. Data were collected via an anonymous online survey. Descriptive, non-inferential, and inferential statistics were used for data analysis. The sample included 352 RNs representing 271 distinct postal codes from 9 different countries. The majority were willing to respond to a disaster, but only 54.8% felt prepared to respond, and less than half were trained to respond. For personal characteristics, there was a statistically significant difference in average BRS score based on age, but no statistically significant difference in average BRS score based on gender, race, years of experience, or income. Those who had previously served or were currently serving in the military had higher BRS scores than those who had never served. There was also a significant association between feeling confident to take steps to prepare and BRS scores, as well as an association between feeling prepared for a disaster and willingness to respond to disaster and BRS scores. This study highlights multiple factors that influence RNs’ disaster readiness and underscores the relationship of resiliency to feeling prepared, willing, trained, and registered to respond to a disaster. Our results add to the understanding of modifiable factors that may impact RN resilience. The findings support the need for regular and ongoing disaster training for nurses.
Description
This study highlights multiple factors that influence RNs’ disaster readiness and underscores the relationship of resiliency to feeling prepared, willing, trained, and registered to respond to a disaster. Our results add to the understanding of modifiable factors that may impact RN resilience. The findings support the need for regular and ongoing disaster training for nurses.