Table 3 Themes, categories and subcategories extracted from qualitative content analysis

Insufficient ability of nurses to respond to disasters

Diverse nursing conditions during disasters

• Confusion and uncertainty during disasters

• The unknown end of disasters

• Intensifying cognitive and psychological impacts of job during disasters

Inappropriate interactive platform during disasters

• Challenges of communicating the reality of disaster conditions to companions

• Controlling emotions inappropriately as a factor in unfavorable interactions

• Communication without support

The presence of obstacles to teamwork

• Lack of commitment to collaborative management among nurse managers

• Development and monthly implementation of schedules in nursing practice

• Management of inexperience among novice nurses during disasters

• Lack of disaster risk management experience among nurse managers

Lack of platform for nurses to acquire adequate disaster risk management competence

• Lack of continuous disaster risk management training for nurses

• Lack of effective disaster risk management training among nurses

• Lack of equipment for practical training

• Difficulty in determining and evaluating disaster risk management competencies

• Lack of development and implementation of evidence-based clinical guidelines

Moral tension in complex disaster situations

• Dilemma between personal health and sacrifice in nursing practice during disasters

• Dilemma between family responsibilities and voluntary work in nursing practice

• Making effective decision in resource-limited situations

• Inadequate disaster preparedness in nursing practice

• Complexity of effective triage protocols in nursing practice during disasters