The NurseResponse emergency database: lessons learned.

After Sept. 11, 2001, it became evident that there was a need in New York State for a database of registered nurses who would be able to volunteer in public health emergencies. The New York State Nurses Association worked with the New York State Department of Health to develop the NurseResponse program, which eventually registered more than 1,000 RNs. Although the system was not used for the Hurricane Katrina disaster, that event demonstrated that NurseResponse could be activated on short notice when the need arose.