Universities Conduct Mass Casualty Training for Nurses

• Some universities are conducting mass casualty training to help prepare future nurses for scenarios they will likely encounter in the field. 
• A recent study found that practitioners aren’t as equipped as they could be to handle the ever-changing dynamics of these incidents. 
• A separate study looking specifically at active shooter events had similar results. 

An interstate crash that left two people dead and three others injured. A New Year’s Day “act of terrorism” in New Orleans that resulted in 14 deaths and dozens more injuries. A mid-air collision between a military helicopter and commercial jet that killed more than 60 people. 

These mass casualty events — all within the first few months of 2025 — required myriad nurses to respond and treat the injured. But a recent study found that practitioners aren’t as equipped as they could be to handle the ever-changing dynamics of these situations. 

In hopes of better preparing the next generation of nurses, several universities and researchers are conducting mock mass casualty trainings that run the gamut from bombings and explosions to shooting scenarios. 

Ill-Prepared for Mass Casualty Response 

When focusing specifically on an active shooter event (ASE) — similar to what occurred at a Pennsylvania hospital earlier this year — nurses are unprepared to respond, a new study found. 

The research, published in January in the Clinical Simulation in Nursing journal, concluded that nursing education “should invest in programs to meet [International Council of Nurses] ICN disaster competencies and improve mass casualty triage through ASE.” It also noted that students have “limited opportunities to develop critical judgment” in relation to active shooter situations. 

“Nurse educators must create evidence-based simulations to enhance students’ ability and readiness for responding to such events … Continued training is crucial for a more competent nursing workforce in future ASE scenarios, potentially improving how nurses handle mass shootings and triage victims to increase survival rates,” the authors stated. 

One year prior, a 2024 study in BMC Emergency Medicine “highlighted inevitable challenges” nurses confront during disasters, including fear of the unknown and making mistakes “due to limited and contradictory information.” It also looked at a lack of support from management, stating that indifference and a general disregard for their well-being negatively affected nurse performance. 

To see better outcomes, the study authors suggested managers foster positive relationships with nurses and develop plans to improve academic and continuing education training. 

“Determining the challenges that nurses face during disasters is essential for improving disaster response efforts, promoting disaster preparedness, ensuring appropriate care for patients, and reducing emotional fatigue among nurses,” the authors stated. “Finally, nursing leaders, healthcare policymakers and governments should use these findings to better support the nursing workforce in disasters.” 

Mock Mass Casualty Training

Two universities in Arkansas recently conducted a joint mock mass casualty training to give nursing students a chance to test their knowledge and skills in a real-world setting. Alyson Rushing, the lead clinical faculty for Harding University’s Accelerated BSN program, told 5 News, a “good percentage” of nurses will respond to a mass casualty event during their career. 

RELATED COURSE: Gunshot Wound Injuries 

Hailey Blake, a Harding University nursing student, told the local media outlet that practicing their skills in a “high-pressure situation” will help with their confidence in the future. 

“Everyone is taking it seriously,” Blake said, “especially because we’re all a little nervous not knowing exactly what to expect.”  

A few years earlier, Graduate Entry Prespecialty in Nursing students at Yale participated in their own mock mass casualty — but theirs occurred at the Piggly Wiggly and included both mannequins and live actors. 

“Medical personnel are expected to move and tag patients quickly and efficiently, and after participating in this sim, I saw how easy it is to get caught up in our roles,” Sajni Persad, a family nurse practitioner student, told the Yale School of Nursing. “As a result, one of the many takeaways that I took from this simulation is that no matter how stressful a mass-casualty event may be, I should always remember that the patients recently experienced a traumatic event. In order to provide quality care, we need to stay empathic to the patients’ needs, concerns, and fears.” 

The Bottom Line

As mass casualty events, whether natural disasters or manmade, continue to proliferate society, nurses are more and more likely to respond to such an incident. Recent studies suggest that practitioners are not prepared for mass casualty events, but simulation training can help students and actively licensed nurses gain confidence. The Emergency Nurses Association also provides updates as needed on a dedicated page during mass casualty incidents. 

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