This study aimed to explore the challenges faced by nurses during disaster response. Nurses play a critical role in disaster risk management, but they face unique challenges that are not typically encountered in their daily practice. These challenges include diverse nursing conditions during disasters, inappropriate interactive platforms, obstacles to teamwork, lack of platforms for acquiring disaster risk management competence, and moral tension in complex disaster situations. The study used a qualitative content analysis approach with 24 nurses from emergency departments in Kerman, Iran. The findings revealed that nurses often experience confusion, uncertainty, and emotional distress during disasters, which can impact their ability to provide effective care. Additionally, nurses face challenges in communication with patients, families, and healthcare teams, as well as in managing inexperience among novice nurses and lack of disaster risk management experience among nurse managers. The study also highlighted the importance of continuous training and support for nurses to improve their disaster response capabilities. The results emphasize the need for improved disaster preparedness, adequate training, and support systems to ensure effective nursing care during disasters. The study concludes that nurses require ongoing development of their skills and competencies for disaster risk management to maintain quality nursing activities before, during, and after disasters. The findings suggest that nursing leaders, healthcare policymakers, and governments should use these insights to better support the nursing workforce in disaster situations.This study aimed to explore the challenges faced by nurses during disaster response. Nurses play a critical role in disaster risk management, but they face unique challenges that are not typically encountered in their daily practice. These challenges include diverse nursing conditions during disasters, inappropriate interactive platforms, obstacles to teamwork, lack of platforms for acquiring disaster risk management competence, and moral tension in complex disaster situations. The study used a qualitative content analysis approach with 24 nurses from emergency departments in Kerman, Iran. The findings revealed that nurses often experience confusion, uncertainty, and emotional distress during disasters, which can impact their ability to provide effective care. Additionally, nurses face challenges in communication with patients, families, and healthcare teams, as well as in managing inexperience among novice nurses and lack of disaster risk management experience among nurse managers. The study also highlighted the importance of continuous training and support for nurses to improve their disaster response capabilities. The results emphasize the need for improved disaster preparedness, adequate training, and support systems to ensure effective nursing care during disasters. The study concludes that nurses require ongoing development of their skills and competencies for disaster risk management to maintain quality nursing activities before, during, and after disasters. The findings suggest that nursing leaders, healthcare policymakers, and governments should use these insights to better support the nursing workforce in disaster situations.