The idea for the READI emerged in 1996, shortly after the United States began to play a major role in sustained humanitarian operations. The threat changed from conventional war in the 1980's to low intensity conflict in the 1990's. The low intensity conflict, then, grew into global terrorism at the turn of the 21st century. The need for nurses to be ready to practice clinical nursing skills in austere environments on a moment's notice, treating not only wounds but non-battle diseases is clear.

In 1996, the author of the READI asked subject matter experts with previous deployed nursing experience to detail their experiences. This was accomplished in professionally facilitated focus groups in 1996 and 1997, funded by a grant from the Tri-Service Nursing Research Program. Electronic brainstorming was used to capture the response of focus group members.

Text data from the focus groups were categorized into six conceptual dimensions of readiness. The Principal Investigator asked clinical nurses to write questionnaire items to assess the perceived competency along the six dimensions. The resulting pilot version of the READI was then sent to content experts for a determination of the relevance, clarity and uniqueness of each item (content validity). A small group of Army Nurse Corps personnel was asked to take the READI on two measurement occasions to test for stability of responses over time (test-retest reliability). Adjustments were made on the READI after pilot testing. Results of psychometric testing, funded by a second grant from the Congressional Tri-Service Nursing Research Program, are discussed in the article in Military Medicine, 2001.

The READI was tested with deploying units in Europe and the United States, in the active and reserve components, with nurses in the practice environment as well as those completing their Basic Officer Orientation, and with nurses in both fixed and mobile hospitals. The Air Force version was developed by LTC Terri Dremsa during her doctoral dissertation. A description of the Air Force testing of the READI will be published in Military Medicine in 2004. The Civilian version of the READI was developed by Paula Chamberlain and Carol Reineck in 2003. The READI is poised to be an instrument with great value for assessment of individual nurses in the federal, state, and private sectors. It is evolving and can continually be improved upon. Feedback on the instruments is invited and may be sent to Dr. Carol Reineck at Reineck@uthscsa.edu.

Biography - Lieutenant Colonel Theresa L. Dremsa

Biography - Lieutenant Commander Lonnie S. Hosea