title: Jordanian nurses' perceptions of their preparedness for disaster management.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess Jordanian RNs' perceptions regarding their knowledge, skills, and preparedness for disaster management.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Current disaster knowledge, skills, and preparedness levels need to be evaluated to guide plans for effective educational programs. There is also a need to know where RNs received their knowledge, skills, and preparation, to enhance or improve future educational opportunities.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional survey where the Disaster Preparedness Evaluation Tool (DPET(®)) was distributed to Jordanian RNs who work in three randomly selected Ministry of Health hospitals and two university hospitals.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Four hundred and seventy-four participants completed the survey. Sixty-five per cent of respondents described their current disaster preparedness as weak: 18% medium: 12% good; and 5% felt their preparation was very good. Thirty-one per cent received disaster education in undergraduate programs; 8% in graduate nursing programs; 31% in facility drills, and 22% in continuing education courses. Eleven per cent had participated in a real disaster. Four hundred and thirty RNs wanted to learn more about RNs role in disasters, including knowledge and skills.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Knowledge,skills, and disaster preparedness need continual reinforcement to improve self efficacy for disaster management.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is a need for a consistent national nursing curriculum for disaster preparedness and nationwide drills to increase disaster knowledge, skills, preparedness, and confidence.
authors.affiliation: Adult Health Nursing Department, Faculty of Nursing, Al al-Bayt University, Mafraq, Jordan. m_khalailah@aabu.edu.jo
authors.forename: Murad A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Al Khalaileh
authors.forename: Elaine
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bond
authors.forename: Jafar A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Alasad
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004189:Disaster Planning; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007597:Jordan; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009726:Nurses / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires