Introduction:

The occurrence of disasters has been increasing all over the world and Portugal is no exception, with a significant impact on the health of populations. On the other hand, scientific evidence shows that the current training system does not prepare health professionals to respond to catastrophic events. The recently faced COVID-19 pandemic has clearly shown that even the best health systems have been overwhelmed, devastated and on the brink of collapse.

Objective:

To analyze the perception of nurses in an Emergency Department (ED) about their preparation to work in a disaster situation and relate it to sociodemographic and professional variables.

Methods:

This is a quantitative, descriptive-correlational, cross-sectional study using the Disaster Preparedness Evaluation Tool, Portuguese version, applied to 60 ED nurses from a hospital in Northern Portugal. The collected data were submitted to descriptive and inferential statistical treatment, taking into account the intrinsic ethical considerations.

Results:

They show that ED nurses do not feel prepared to intervene in disaster situations. However, males and those with advanced training in the area of emergency and/or disaster reveal to be more prepared, with statistically significant differences in skills related to "knowledge," "post-disaster management," and overall score.

Conclusion:

Institutional contingency plans are essential, but in order for them to be operationalized efficiently and effectively, it is necessary to be constantly updated and periodically simulacra so that each professional becomes aware of their importance and knows their mission and functions.

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