Developing Disaster Nursing Competencies Through Academic Service-Learning

Abstract

Background: The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) and the Future of Nursing 2030 report emphasize the need for nursing students' competence in disaster care. Academic service-learning is a practical pedagogical approach for developing these skills that bolsters population health and leadership competencies.

Method: The Red Cross developed nine Academic Service-Learning (AS-L) modules that integrate training and hands-on experiences in disaster preparedness, response and recovery, well-being, diverse blood donation, case management, and immunizations and global health. Self-scored pre- and postquestions were developed to assess students' knowledge and confidence in skill application.

Results: Ongoing evaluation shows promising preliminary results in student learning and community engagement. Active faculty participation significantly improved student learning outcomes.

Conclusion: The Red Cross AS-L initiative augments nursing students' disaster and community health competencies through practical training and immersive experiences that align with evolving health care needs and AACN competencies. [J Nurs Educ. 2025;64(4):265-268.].