Question 1

A group of concerned people ask the community nurse speaking at a local town hall meeting if there is a vaccine for anthrax and,if so,if they should get it.The nurse's best response would be:

Accepted Answer

The anthrax vaccine is indeed available but its use is primarily limited to certain groups at higher risk of exposure, such as military personnel, laboratory workers handling anthrax, and individuals who handle potentially infected animal products in areas where anthrax is common.

Question 2

The nurse needs to find out what antibiotics are being stored by the Strategic National Stockpile (SNS).What agency will the nurse contact for this information?

Accepted Answer

The Strategic National Stockpile (SNS) is managed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and they have a comprehensive list of antibiotics that are stored in the SNS.

Question 3

Clients arrive in the emergency department complaining of difficulty breathing and eye tearing after a bomb explosion in a nearby store.The priority intervention of the health care team initially should be to:

Accepted Answer

The priority intervention should be to flush the skin and eyes with water to remove any potential chemical irritants that may have been released in the explosion. This can help prevent further damage and minimize the effects of the exposure. Once this has been done, the healthcare team can then move on to identifying the offending agent and completing a history and physical. Notification of local law enforcement may also be necessary, but it is not the priority at this time.

Question 4

A client was exposed to cyanogen chloride.What will the nurse do to help this client?

Accepted Answer

The first priority in managing cyanogen chloride exposure is to remove contaminated clothing and flush skin and eyes with water. Sodium bicarbonate may be used for decontamination of skin lesions but it is not the initial priority. Antibiotics are not effective against cyanogen chloride exposure. Emetic measures are contraindicated as they may worsen respiratory symptoms.

Question 5

Which agent would the nurse administer to prevent the absorption of a poison that the client ingested?

Accepted Answer

Activated charcoal is used to prevent absorption of poison by adsorbing the toxic substance in the gastrointestinal tract before it can enter the bloodstream. It is commonly used in cases of overdose or poisoning. Syrup of ipecac is no longer recommended as it can cause vomiting, leading to further damage. Sodium bicarbonate and furosemide (Lasix) are not used to prevent absorption of poison.

Question 6

The nurse is reviewing the components of the Strategic National Stockpile (SNS),which include: Note: Credit will be given only if all correct choices and no incorrect choices are selected.Standard Text: Select all that apply.

Accepted Answer

The Strategic National Stockpile (SNS) includes intravenous administration equipment, antibiotics, life-support medications, and chemical antidotes, among other items. Hospital beds are not typically included in the SNS, as they are typically sourced locally during an emergency.

Question 7

The nurse is helping stock Push Packages.The purpose of these packages is to:

Accepted Answer

Push Packages are designed to maintain emergency supplies that can be rapidly deployed within 12 hours of a disaster. The purpose is to ensure that essential supplies such as medical equipment, medications, and personal protective gear are available when needed. It is not related to the transport of personnel, equipment management, or information booklets.

Question 8

A client is diagnosed with acute poisoning of acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin).The nurse knows that ion trapping will be the therapy of choice for this medication and prepares to:

Accepted Answer

Ion trapping occurs when there is a significant difference in the pH on either side of a membrane, which results in the drug accumulating on one side of the membrane. Aspirin is an acidic drug, and when given in overdose, can cause an acidic shift leading to ion trapping within urine. Sodium bicarbonate raises the urinary pH, promoting the elimination of aspirin. Furosemide increases urine output, leading to greater elimination of aspirin. Therefore, administering sodium bicarbonate and furosemide intravenously is the best choice for ion trapping the aspirin and promoting its excretion from the body.

Question 9

Which medication will the nurse prepare to administer as the primary antibiotic of choice for the treatment of anthrax?

Accepted Answer

Ciprofloxacin is the primary antibiotic of choice for the treatment of anthrax due to its effectiveness against the anthrax bacteria and its ability to be administered orally. Erythromycin and Ampicillin are less effective against anthrax, while Vancomycin is not effective at all.

Question 10

The nurse contacts the pharmacy to have the antidote for nerve agent poisoning available when victims of a mass casualty event arrive in the emergency department.The agent that the nurse is requesting is:

Accepted Answer

The antidote for nerve agent poisoning is atropine sulfate, which is a medication that blocks the effects of acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter that is overproduced in nerve agent poisoning. Methylprednisolone is a steroid used to reduce inflammation and is not effective in treating nerve agent poisoning. Acetylcysteine is an antidote for acetaminophen overdose. Protamine sulfate is an antidote for heparin overdose.

Question 11

At a local health fair,the community nurse is educating the public on poison-control strategies.Which strategy should the nurse emphasize as the most important to follow?

Accepted Answer

Preventing potential household poisoning is the most effective strategy because it addresses the issue at its source by eliminating or reducing the risk of exposure to poisons, thereby reducing the likelihood of poisoning incidents occurring in the first place.

Question 12

A client is found at home unconscious with an empty bottle of diltiazem (Cardizem)near the couch.The emergency response team prepares to administer which antidote?

Accepted Answer

The antidote for diltiazem overdose is calcium. Diltiazem is a calcium channel blocker, and calcium can act as an antidote by increasing intracellular calcium levels and improving cardiac contractility. Naloxone is used for opioid overdose, pyridoxine is used for isoniazid overdose, and atropine is used for excessive cholinergic activity.

Question 13

The nurse is reviewing a list from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that identifies bioterrorism agents that can easily be spread by person-to-person contact.What agents would be on this list?

Accepted Answer

The answer of The nurse is reviewing a list from...

Question 14

Which of the five general principles for treating acute poisoning would the nurse use to treat a client who was exposed to an external chemical agent? Note: Credit will be given only if all correct choices and no incorrect choices are selected.Standard Text: Select all that apply.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which of the five general principles for...

Question 15

A client who experienced whole-body radiation exposure 6 hours ago is brought to the emergency department with radiation sickness.On assessment,the nurse would expect the client to report:

Accepted Answer

Nausea and vomiting are common symptoms of radiation sickness that occur within hours of exposure. Bleeding from gums and nose, bruises on skin, and hair loss are symptoms that may take days or weeks to develop.

Question 16

The difference between the standard emergency triage practice and the current emergency triage of mass casualties is that:

Accepted Answer

Standard emergency triage aims to prioritize treatment based on the severity of injuries and the likelihood of survival, not on the order of arrival or the least serious injuries first. In mass casualty situations, the focus intensifies on saving as many lives as possible by prioritizing those with the best chance of survival. Choices A, B, and C are incorrect as they misrepresent standard triage principles or historical practices.

Question 17

The danger from radiation exposure arises primarily from: Note: Credit will be given only if all correct choices and no incorrect choices are selected.Standard Text: Select all that apply.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The danger from radiation exposure arises primarily...

Question 18

Which health problem is a direct effect of exposure to ionizing radiation?

Accepted Answer

Leukemia is a type of cancer that affects the blood and bone marrow, and it is a direct effect of exposure to ionizing radiation. Ionizing radiation can damage DNA and lead to mutations that can cause cancer, including leukemia. Type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and gout are not direct effects of exposure to ionizing radiation.

Question 19

The nurse instructs a group of adults with young families that the five general principles for the treatment of acute poisoning are:

Accepted Answer

The five general principles for the treatment of acute poisoning are antidote therapy, decontamination, neutralization, prevention of absorption, and increase in the rate of excretion. Option A includes absorbent administration and modification of lifestyle, which are not general principles for the treatment of acute poisoning. Option C includes dialysis, which is not always needed in the treatment of acute poisoning. Option D includes modification of lifestyle, which is not a general principle for the treatment of acute poisoning.

Question 20

A client was exposed to iodine-131. Which medication would the nurse administer to counteract the effects of this exposure?

Accepted Answer

Potassium iodide can be used to prevent the uptake of radioactive iodine by the thyroid gland, reducing the risk of developing radiation-induced thyroid cancer. Anti-iodine vaccine, penicillin, and antiviral nasal spray are not effective in countering the effects of exposure to iodine-131.

Quiz 75: Emergency Preparedness: Bioterrorism and Management of Poisoning