Evaluating the Preparedness and Resilience of Emergency Nurses in Disaster and Mass Casualty Situations from Private and Public Hospital

Archiles Briones Tolentino

emergency nurses, disaster preparedness, mass casualty incidents, resilience, public hospital, private hospital, comparative study

Disasters and mass casualty incidents pose significant challenges to healthcare systems, requiring emergency nurses to respond with competence, efficiency, and resilience. This study aimed to evaluate and compare the preparedness and resilience of emergency nurses in public and private hospitals in the Philippines. Using a descriptive-comparative research design, a total of 30 emergency nurses (15 from public and 15 from private hospitals) were purposively selected as respondents. Data were collected through a structured survey questionnaire assessing demographic profiles and six key indicators: knowledge and training, emergency response skills, institutional support, psychological resilience, teamwork, and adaptability under pressure. Descriptive statistics (mean, standard deviation, frequency, and percentage) and independent samples t-tests were employed to analyze differences between public and private hospital nurses. Results showed that private hospital nurses generally scored higher across most indicators, with a statistically significant difference in knowledge and training (p = 0.030). Both groups exhibited high psychological resilience, teamwork, and adaptability under pressure, while institutional support emerged as an area needing improvement, particularly in public hospitals. The study highlights the importance of combining individual competency, structured training, and institutional support to enhance emergency nurses’ preparedness and resilience, ultimately improving healthcare response and patient outcomes during disasters and mass casualty events.

Received: 21 Sep 2025, Received in revised form: 22 Oct 2025, Accepted: 25 Oct 2025, Available online: 30 Oct 2025

10.22161/ijaers.1210.8