Earthquakes, floods, fires, pandemics, and other disasters in recent years, often involving extraordinary health emergencies, have highlighted the urgent need for healthcare professionals to be prepared to deliver quality and effective care in crisis situations. Developing key competencies, including improving knowledge and practical skills of nurses in disaster care, is the primary goal of an international project titled Enhancing Practices and Strengthening Core Competencies in Disaster Nursing through the Learning HUB (ECoDN-HUB). This project focuses on creating innovative educational tools and programmes that will benefit not only nursing students but also educators and healthcare professionals on an international scale.
The project is coordinated by Akdeniz University in Turkey, with other consortium partners including Antalya Training and Research Hospital (Turkey), Koç University (Turkey), Abo Akademi University (Finland), West University of Timişoara (Romania), and the Faculty of Health and Social Sciences of the University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice, Czech Republic. On December 12–13, 2024, the project team held its inaugural meeting online. Participants discussed planned activities and priorities to be implemented throughout the project. The meeting was attended by the entire research team from the Faculty of Health and Social Sciences, including Dean Mgr. Ivana Chloubová, Ph.D., Vice-Dean for Science and Research and Director of the Institute of Nursing, Midwifery, and Emergency Care prof. PhDr. Valérie Tóthová, Ph.D., dr.h.c., Vice-Dean for International Relations Mgr. František Dolák, Ph.D., MBA, and PhDr. Andrea Hudáčková, Ph.D. "I am extremely pleased that our faculty has the opportunity to participate in such a significant and important project. This collaboration not only affirms the expertise of our faculty but also contributes to the development of cooperation and pedagogical and scientific knowledge in this field," stated Dean Chloubová.
The project encompasses a variety of initiatives, including: Developing and implementing simulation scenarios using augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) technologies to enable realistic and interactive disaster care education. Training project partners in creating simulation scenarios, to be conducted at the Romanian university. Pilot testing of the developed educational programmes, focusing on acquiring essential and advanced skills needed for disaster care. Integrating project outcomes into the nursing curriculum to ensure a lasting impact on the education of future healthcare professionals. Publishing a professional book containing theoretical foundations and practical guidelines, useful for both students and educators in the field of nursing.
The project offers multifaceted benefits: it will provide innovative tools and methodologies for education, thereby enhancing the preparedness of healthcare staff for disaster management. It will raise awareness of the importance of disaster care within the healthcare community and strengthen healthcare workers’ adaptability to crisis situations. Additionally, it will promote international collaboration and knowledge-sharing among participating institutions. “The ECoDN-HUB project represents a significant step forward in educating healthcare professionals. It will better prepare them to face future challenges and provide care in critical situations with a focus on quality, speed, and efficiency,” summarized Professor Tóthová.
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