From the classroom to the community: Disaster nursing fieldwork by nursing students in a Japanese community

In 2025, 54 undergraduate nursing students at Tsuruga Nursing University participated in a two-day disaster nursing fieldwork project in a residential area of Tsuruga City, Fukui Prefecture. Working with local residents and the city’s Crisis Management Office, the students conducted community walks and interviews to assess disaster preparedness, with a focus on vulnerable populations. They identified environmental risks such as steep slopes, inadequate lighting, and drainage ditches, as well as social challenges such as limited participation in evacuation drills and insufficient support for people with dementia or mobility impairments. Back in the classroom, the students developed proposals that integrated both physical and psychosocial strategies, including environmental improvements, inclusive evacuation drills, and the incorporation of disaster education into community events. These proposals were shared with residents and experts, fostering dialogue and refinement based on local knowledge. The fieldwork underscored the value of experiential learning in disaster nursing education and promoted collaboration to strengthen community resilience.