Public Health Preparedness Pandemic Influenza: California Update 2005

A brief proposal describes the use of satellite-based distance learning paired with a tabletop exercise to prepare public health nurses for the unique challenges that may be posed by an influenza pandemic. The exercise format described in the paper is well-organized, activities-based, and able to be managed locally. The practice is noteworthy, since it describes how a local network developed a comprehensive training tool for mass distribution and designed hand-outs to assist communities with their own needs assessments. The distance-learning methodology used to develop and distribute training materials may be useful for employee groups other than nurses and could be transferable to other jurisdictions that require training networks.