Nurse Educators’ Perception of Their Role in Gun Violence Prevention

Background: Gun violence is a US public health concern leading to 132 deaths daily. However, little is known about nurse educators’ perceived prevention responsibilities or curricular integration. Purpose: This study explored nurse educators’ perceptions of their responsibilities related to gun violence prevention, including advocacy, research, clinical intervention, and education. Methods: This descriptive, cross-sectional study used an anonymous online survey and snowball sampling. Nurse educators currently practicing in academic or clinical educational roles completed the 18-item Nursing Perceptions Related to Their Role in Addressing Gun Violence Tool. Results: Seventy educators participated in the survey. Participants strongly agreed with professional responsibility across advocacy, research, intervention, and education domains (median = 4-5). Fewer than one-third reported integrating content into lectures (29.0%), clinical experiences (23.2%), or simulation (20.3%). Conclusions: Findings suggest a gap between perceived responsibilities for gun violence prevention and curricular implementation, indicating a need for faculty development, standardized competencies, and curricular guidance.