Strengthening healthcare readiness: Lessons from frontline nurses in a South African tertiary hospital for future pandemic preparedness

Despite being the majority of the health workforce, South African nurses often lack influence in disaster planning. This study highlights how systemic challenges in a resource-limited hospital setting-such as chronic staffing shortages, insufficient inclusion of nurses in disaster policy development, and lack of tailored mental health support-compromised pandemic preparedness. Interventions such as peer-led mental health support, bedside microteaching, and nurse-informed policies could strengthen future pandemic readiness. These findings offer practical, scalable solutions for similar low-resource settings and underscore the importance of involving frontline nurses in disaster policymaking.