School nurses as volunteers in a bioterrorism event

Most public health departments do not have enough public health nurses to adequately respond to a bioterrorist attack or other large-scale health emergency and would need to look to volunteers to help with staffing needs in an emergency. The National Association of School Nurses supports the use of school nurses, a skilled workforce, as responders in a mass casualty event, whether it is naturally occurring or as a result of bioterrorism. This article explores the use of school nurses to supplement public health staff during an emergency. A Likert-scale survey was used to assess the preparedness and willingness of school nurses to respond to a health threat. Although school nurses are willing to respond, the findings highlight the importance of continued education on risk and personal protection.