Nursing and Emergency Medical Technician Students' Perspectives on Mass Casualty Simulation Training: A Phenomenological Study

The purpose of this study was to explore the lived experiences of senior undergraduate nursing students and emergency medical technician students participating in a large-scale mass casualty incident simulation. This study used a qualitative, interpretive phenomenological research design. Participants included senior undergraduate responders (N = 385), with 250 nursing students and 135 emergency medical technician students, who attended a simulated mass casualty incident at a private university in the western United States. Data were collected from 2021 through 2024 via written reflective essay responses to open-ended prompts. Data were analyzed using Patricia Benner's method for interpretive phenomenology in nursing in conjunction with Heideggerian hermeneutics. Our findings suggest that mass casualty simulation training helps improve student responders' capacity to make accurate medical and logistical decisions under pressure, collaborate effectively as an interdisciplinary team, and remain professional in stressful situations. The implications for healthcare professions are that medical emergency simulation training can enhance technical skills, instill a more robust dedication to healthcare professions, and confidently assist in future emergencies.