Biological threats to America's health

Nurses are critical in the public health role of conducting disease surveillance and contact tracing, administering vaccines or prophylactic medications, implementing restrictive measures, and collecting specimens for analysis. Currently, a window of opportunity exists where nursing can set forth a framework for action. Limited research presently exists in this new area of biodefense, and nurses can make a difference. This special issue of Biological Research for Nursing provides some insight and guidance into an area of study that is unfamiliar to many health care providers.