Question 1

The hospital has been notified of a subway derailment with approximately 250 passengers. Many of the passengers are reported to be injured. This situation would be classified as being which of the following?

Accepted Answer

A mass casualty incident is defined as an event in which the number of casualties exceeds the resources and capabilities of the first responders and healthcare system. A subway derailment with 250 injured passengers would likely fall under this category, requiring significant coordination and resources from the hospital and emergency responders. A natural disaster typically involves a large-scale event caused by environmental factors, while an accidental disaster implies an unintentional event causing harm. A multiple casualty incident may involve multiple patients but may not necessarily exceed the capabilities of the healthcare system.

Question 2

A community patient arrives to the site of a disaster, hysterically crying because she was in the building that had collapsed just minutes before the disaster. Which of the following should be done with this patient?

Accepted Answer

In a disaster situation, a patient exhibiting signs of acute stress or hysteria should be referred to psychiatric service personnel for immediate psychological support and intervention.

Question 3

A patient says to the nurse, "I'm scared about a terrorist attack since I live so close to the airport." Which of the following would be an appropriate response for the nurse to make to this patient?

Accepted Answer

The nurse should provide a response that acknowledges the patient's concern and encourages them to think about practical steps they can take to feel more prepared and secure.

Question 4

The nursing staff is planning to attend a disaster prevention presentation. The purpose of this education is

Accepted Answer

The answer of The nursing staff is planning to attend...

Question 5

The nurse is planning to attend a program to learn how to respond to mass casualty incidents. There are core competencies within this program. The nurse knows that these competencies are which of the following?  Select all that apply.

Accepted Answer

When responding to mass casualty incidents, nurses need to have strong critical thinking skills to assess and prioritize patient needs, technical skills to perform necessary interventions, communication skills to effectively communicate with other healthcare team members, and assessment skills to quickly and accurately assess patient conditions. The nursing process, although important, may not be as applicable in this situation where rapid and efficient triage and intervention are critical.

Question 6

The care area has been alerted to a possible illness associated with the tainting of a popular over-the-counter pain reliever. The nurse realizes the tainting of this pain reliever could be classified as being which of the following?

Accepted Answer

The tainting of an over-the-counter pain reliever with the intent to cause harm can be classified as a non-conventional terrorist attack because it involves the deliberate contamination of products to inflict harm on the public, which does not involve conventional weapons or warfare methods.

Question 7

The nurse is providing a program to residents of a local senior citizen housing facility about preparations in the event of a disaster. Which of the following should the nurse instruct the participants to do regarding essential preparations?

Accepted Answer

Having a list of medications, emergency contact numbers, and important survival items can be incredibly useful in the event of a disaster. This information should be readily available and easily accessible. Turning off electrical devices before leaving the premises, packing nonperishable food items, and bringing recreational items are also important, but not as essential as having necessary information and supplies.

Question 8

During the disaster preparedness presentation, the nurse learns about the harmful effects of a dirty bomb. Which of the following treatments will preserve life in the event of this disaster?

Accepted Answer

The answer of During the disaster preparedness presentation, the nurse...

Question 9

A group of nurses are attending a meeting to discuss the outcome and results of care provided to victims of a recent building collapse. The nurse is participating in which phase of the disaster planning process?

Accepted Answer

The answer of A group of nurses are attending a...

Question 10

A patient who was exposed to a thermal nuclear blast is experiencing blindness. Which of the following can the nurse instruct this patient about the eye injury?

Accepted Answer

The intense light from the thermal nuclear blast can cause temporary blindness and the nurse can inform the patient that the blindness will resolve in time.

Question 11

A patient comes into the clinic with the onset of itching after opening a letter received about a week ago that contained "quite a bit of white powder." It is suspected that this patient has had an anthrax exposure. Which medication can the nurse anticipate that this patient will most likely be prescribed?

Accepted Answer

The patient is suspected to have been exposed to anthrax, which is a bacterial infection. Penicillin is the first-line antibiotic used to treat anthrax. It is important to administer treatment as soon as possible to prevent the progression of the infection. Normal saline solution flush may be used to remove any remaining spores on the skin surface, but it is not a medication. Acetaminophen may be used to relieve symptoms such as fever, but it does not treat the underlying infection. Solu-Medrol is a steroid medication used to treat inflammation and is not indicated for the treatment of anthrax.

Question 12

The nurse is planning a program to address disaster mitigation activities in the community. Which of the following should the nurse consult when preparing this program?

Accepted Answer

The community disaster preparedness plan is the best resource for the nurse to consult when preparing a program on disaster mitigation activities. This plan will provide information on the specific risks facing the community, existing resources to manage disasters, and potential gaps that need to be addressed. Consultation with hospital administrators, physicians, schools, and day care centers may also be useful, but the disaster preparedness plan should be consulted first as a starting point for planning.

Question 13

The community is holding a memorial service to honor those members whose lives were lost in a flood one year ago. In which stage of the disaster recovery process is this community?

Accepted Answer

The community is in the reconstitution stage of the disaster recovery process, which involves memorializing and honoring those who were lost during the disaster. The restoration stage typically involves rebuilding and repairing infrastructure and homes, while mitigation involves preparing for future disasters. Disaster reflection is not a stage of the disaster recovery process.

Question 14

An elderly patient asks the nurse, "What can we do to be prepared if there's a disaster in our community?" With which of the following can the nurse respond to this patient?

Accepted Answer

Having all important documents and health information in one place can be crucial in case of a disaster. It can help emergency responders provide appropriate care and ensure that the patient's medications and health issues are taken into account. Having next-of-kin information readily available can also be helpful in case of an emergency. Options A, B, and D do not provide sufficient information or guidance on how to prepare for a disaster.

Question 15

The nurse is reviewing the stages and phases of a disaster as part of a routine continuing education program in the hospital. Which of the following correctly lists the order of the stages of a disaster?

Accepted Answer

The correct order of the stages of a disaster begins with the nondisaster stage (normal conditions), followed by the predisaster stage (warning or threat), then the impact stage (occurrence of the disaster), followed by the emergency stage (immediate response), and finally the reconstruction stage (recovery and return to normal).

Question 16

A patient is brought into the emergency department with chemical burns. Which of the following should the nurse do to help this patient?

Accepted Answer

The nurse should check to see if all of the clothing has been removed and begin flushing the patient's skin with water. This will help remove any remaining chemical and prevent further tissue damage. It may also be necessary to remove any jewelry to ensure that the areas underneath can be properly flushed. Contact lenses should be removed if possible. Warm water should be used if available, but the temperature of the water is less important than the duration of the flushing process.

Question 17

The emergency response team is setting up an area to triage victims of a building blast in a major metropolitan area. Which of the following areas can be used to set up this triage location?

Accepted Answer

The cold zone is the safest area for setting up a triage location as it is farthest from the danger and contamination, allowing for safe treatment and evaluation of victims.

Question 18

The emergency department nurses are noting an unusually high number of patients coming in with complaints of nausea, vomiting, and severe headache. What should be done with this information?

Accepted Answer

The symptoms described could be indicative of a potential outbreak or infectious disease. Therefore, it is important to involve the Infection Control Department and Laboratory Medicine to investigate and potentially prevent further spread of illness.

Question 19

The National Weather Service has announced the likelihood of a large snow event in a major metropolitan area. Which of the following is most likely to occur with this weather event?

Accepted Answer

A major snow event can cause an increase in physical demand and activity, which can lead to an increase in heart attacks and myocardial infarctions. Stress-related injuries, crushing injuries, and burns are not typically associated with snow events, although slips and falls may occur leading to minor injuries.

Question 20

The nurse is planning the coding for a triage disaster plan. What are the colors most associated with triage?  Select all that apply.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The nurse is planning the coding for...

Quiz 7: Nursing Care of Patients Experiencing Disasters