Mapping Nursing Competencies Described for Disaster Response Within the Civil Defense Context: A Scoping Review

Background/Aims: The increasing complexity of disasters requires effective integration of nurses into Civil Defense (CD) systems. Despite their crucial role, the competencies needed to operate within these multi-agency frameworks remain fragmented and insufficiently defined. The main aim of the study was to map nursing competencies for disaster response within the CD context, identifying essential skills, contextual variations, and barriers to application. Methods: A scoping review was conducted following the JBI methodology and reported according to PRISMA-ScR guidelines. Major databases (PubMed, CINAHL, Scopus, Embase) were searched without time limits, resulting in the inclusion of 27 studies published between 2011 and 2025. Results: 12 core competency domains were identified. Clinical care was the most cited competency (70% of studies), followed by communication (63%), leadership (60%), triage (48%), and psychosocial support (48%). The lack of specific training emerged as the primary individual barrier (44%), while the absence of standardized curricula was the leading systemic obstacle (41%). Competency requirements varied significantly based on the hazard type and organizational setting. Conclusions: Disaster nursing is emerging as an essential specialized field in response to the increasing frequency of climate-related events and global conflicts. There is an urgent need to move beyond purely clinical training to integrate “organizational literacy” and psychological resilience, harmonizing educational pathways with national CD policies and competency-based disaster preparedness programs.