A qualitative study on Turkey's earthquakes, the century's catastrophe: Perspectives and coping methods of surviving nursing students

Aim: To understand the experiences and coping strategies of nursing students who were impacted by Turkey's once-in-a-century catastrophic earthquakes in 2023. Background: Nursing students rarely experience a disaster in person, and their imagination can be limited. Methods: This study used a descriptive-qualitative study design. It was conducted with 17 first-year nursing students, studying at a university in the northeastern part of Turkey, who survived the earthquake. A personal information form and a semistructured questionnaire were used to collect the data. The data were collected between March and April 2023 and analyzed using the content analysis method and the MaXQDA programme. Results: The data were grouped into three main themes—“What ‘earthquake’ was and what it is now?,” “Am I aware of the ‘earthquake’ now?,” and “Coping mechanisms and supporting systems”—and categorized into seven subthemes. Conclusions: The experiences of earthquake-affected nursing students emphasized the importance of being prepared for disasters and meeting their emotional needs. Implications for nursing practice and policies: Including specific courses and case studies regarding disasters, whether natural or human-made, in education programs can ensure better prepared nurses. Also, the integration of content about management and coping with such crises into nursing curricula is considered vital.