Aims This study identified clinical nurses' awareness of emergency codes and disaster nursing competencies and investigated the relationships between these variables. Background Nurses are on the front lines of disaster and emergency response; however, they report not feeling confident about their disaster preparedness. Methods Participants included 234 nurses working at a general hospital in Korea. Emergency code awareness was measured by recognition of and self‐confidence in eight emergency codes, and disaster nursing competencies were measured using the Disaster Nursing Preparedness Response Competency Scale. Data were collected from 17 to 23 October 2019. Results The recognition rate of emergency codes was 87.4%, whereas the level of self‐confidence was 3.30 out of 5. Nurses scored 2.98 out of 5 on disaster preparedness competencies and 3.37 out of 5 on disaster response competencies. Emergency code recognition was positively correlated with self‐confidence and disaster nursing competencies (p < .05). Conclusion Higher recognition of emergency codes among clinical nurses was associated with higher self‐confidence and disaster nursing competencies. Further studies need to develop strategies to improve nurses' awareness and confidence concerning emergency codes. Implications for Nursing Management Nurse managers should pay attention to provide more opportunities for disaster education to improve nurses' self‐confidence and disaster nursing competencies.

Personal protective equipment (PPE) is critical to protect healthcare workers from pandemic outbreaks. This study was designed to identify nurses' knowledge, attitude and perceptions on PPE. Methods: Data were collected from 154 nurses working at a tertiary general hospital, where positively diagnosed and suspected patients were accepted and admitted during the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus outbreak in 2015. The PPE tool consists of 20 items for knowledge, and 5 each for attitudes and perceptions. Results: Overall, knowledge for PPE was higher than moderate (76.95/100), but there was a lack for items related to powered air purifying respirator (PAPR). For attitudes, willingness to work in pandemic outbreaks was the most positive (4.04/5.00). Goggles and PAPR were perceived as the most uncomfortable barriers to work. There was no correlation between knowledge, attitude and perceptions, despite a strong positive correlation between attitude and perceptions. PPE training was identified as a factor to improve knowledge and attitudes on PPE. Conclusion: To respond to pandemic influenza, nurses need to expand their knowledge on PPE up to Level C, and be updated through regular training. Study findings suggest that repetitive studies targeting nurses and other healthcare workers at various hospital settings are necessary.

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