Public health nursing practice: aftermath of September 11, 2001.

America's experience on September 11, 2001, forms the backdrop of this review of the public health nursing role in bioterrorism preparedness. The risks and challenges to the public health infrastructure are reviewed in order to place bioterrorism preparedness in a public health context. A review of the literature provides background material on the extent to which public health has evolved in planning for a bioterrorism event. The skills and competencies that will prepare public health nurses in their planning for and response to threats of bioterrorism are addressed. Anthrax is used as an example to illustrate how public health nursing can assist in a bioterrorism response.