Preparing nurses for the inevitable: the New Madrid earthquake.

Although this article discusses earthquake preparedness for the New Madrid seismic zone, registered nurses in any location will be on the front line as patient caregivers and managers in the event of a damaging earthquake. Two self-instructional modules were developed to educate registered nurses about earthquake preparedness. Statistical analyses of pretest and posttest scores from nurses who completed the modules and from nurses who participated in a control group reveal that the modules are effective educational tools. This information will make them more effective as nurses during and after an earthquake and emphasizes the need for their involvement in disaster mitigation and planning.