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The Volunteer Potential of Inactive Nurses for Disaster Preparedness
Author(s) -
Fothergill Alice,
Palumbo Mary Val,
Rambur Betty,
Reinier Kyndaron,
McIntosh Barbara
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
public health nursing
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.471
H-Index - 55
eISSN - 1525-1446
pISSN - 0737-1209
DOI - 10.1111/j.0737-1209.2005.220506.x
Subject(s) - volunteer , preparedness , homeland security , medicine , nursing , medical emergency , emergency response , family medicine , psychology , political science , terrorism , law , agronomy , biology
Objectives:Inactive nurses' interest in volunteering for emergency preparedness was examined. Methods: A mail survey was sent to the entire Vermont Board of Nursing list of in‐state inactive and lapsed registered nurses ( n = 3,682). A high rate of undeliverable surveys (60%) was found and 611 surveys were returned for a 20% response rate. Results: Twenty‐seven percent of the respondents were interested in volunteering. Those interested in participating in volunteer work as part of a national homeland security effort were significantly more likely to (a) be younger in age ( p < 0.0001); (b) identify themselves as “being a nurse” ( p = 0.001); (c) be employed versus retired ( p = 0.002); and (d) be currently volunteers ( p = 0.001). Conclusions: Because 33% of the nation's nurses are over age 50, inactive nurses offer a potentially large pool of volunteers for emergency preparedness training and response in the years to come.