Reflections on critical care emergency preparedness: the necessity of planned education and leadership training for nurses.

ICU nurses who are involved in pandemic planning must advocate for the education and training they need to assume clinical leadership roles in emergency situations such as an infectious disease outbreak. Although many ICU nurses do advance to become clinical leaders, preparation is often inadequate and sometimes absent. This article focuses on two aspects of preparedness: the further development and integration of leadership competencies into day-to-day practice, and education and training using a computerized simulator.