Abstract
The sudden outbreak of severe adult respiratory syndrome (SARS) in 2003 exposed a series of problems, such as inadequacy of protective facilities and measures available to nurses. The fear of SARS finally led to a serious moral issue, refusal of taking care of SARS patients. We analyzed this issue by distributing 103 questionnaires to nurses working at thirteen different hospitals in southern Taiwan with an effective return rate of 100%. Our results showed that, 1. The average age is 29.77 years old,the average working year is 7.97 years. Most of them are single, with junior college level, with monthly income from 30,000 to 50,000 NT dollar, with no religion, working at medical wards, and under in-service-training; 2. The cognition of SARS is significantly better in the senior age group (31 – 40 years old), in high monthly income group (50,000); 3. The level of satisfaction on taking care of SARS patients is significantly higher in the senior age group, in the long working year group (11-15 years), and in the married nurses; 4. The factors favoring the willingness of taking care of SARS patients are as follows: higher age, longer working years, higher monthly income; 5. Cognition of SARS, level of satisfaction, and willingness of taking care of SARS patients are positively co-related with each other. The results of the study may provide some perspectives on the prevention SARS or other unknown infection outbreaks in the future and on the strategy for handling any infection outbreaks.

Key words: SARS, cognition, satisfaction, willingness, nurses