Learning Objective #1: Verbalize the importance of being personally prepared, through developing a plan, building a kit, and being informed

Learning Objective #2: Verbalize the importance of this knowledge being a part of curriculum for beginning students and continuing education for practicing nurses

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There is a new standard for nurses and nursing education related to homeland security and disaster preparedness. The standard is being prepared. Although some of the issues related to mass casualties are not new, the circumstances are. The war on terrorism has brought to light many new facets of training and education that needs to be addressed for nurses. Nurses are on the front lines now. Being prepared is essential. There are two populations that need to be addressed, students in schools of nursing and continuing education for practicing nurses. Basic or what is know as awareness level education is the key starting point for all nurses. Education needs to take place on two levels, personal and professional. In both areas a combination of subject matters need to be covered. Preparation for and response to weapons of mass destruction including biological, chemical, radiological and explosives are very important. Natural disasters continue to need to be addressed. Also incident command and how it applies to the community and to hospitals, this is not just for management and administration. The correct uses of personal protective equipment and the types needed. These are just some of the subjects that need to be taught. This education needs to be from a nursing prospective, where many of the other teaching methods and curriculum has been based after the medical model. Curriculum has being developed for on-line classes related to homeland security and disaster preparedness covering the all hazards approach. It is designed to approach the subject matter from a nurse's prospective. The areas of personal preparedness and professional preparedness are addressed, where preparedness is the standard. This presentation is designed to educate about the need for this curriculum and how it is organized.