Question 1

The hospital is preparing for a tabletop test of its emergency operations plan. What is the potential for an interruption in services from this drill?

Accepted Answer

1. A tabletop drill occurs when key players in the emergency operations plan gather and "walk" through a drill.
2. There is no expected interruption in these services.
3. There is no requirement for an enormous table for this drill.
4. There are no simulated clients or real scenarios in this drill.

Question 2

A hospital's disaster management team is reviewing the disaster plan after reading about a hospital that was hit directly and destroyed by a tornado. What questions should team members ask themselves? Note: Credit will be given only if all correct choices and no incorrect choices are selected. Select all that apply.

Accepted Answer

1. Evacuation of clients, visitors, and staff should be of primary interest to this team.
2. The team should consider its resources. What would happen if the hospital campus were damaged? Where are other resources available?
3. Training for a disaster is essential.
4. Education about disasters and training for a disaster are two different topics. Training involves physical skills as well as learning.
5. This is a valid question, but it is outside the scope of a disaster plan.

Question 3

A small creek has flooded, requiring the rescue of one person from a stranded automobile. Electrical service was interrupted for a short period, and traffic will be diverted around flooded roads for several hours. Local law enforcement and fire departments have been well equipped to manage the disaster. The newspaper should report that the town suffered a level ________ disaster.

Accepted Answer

I
Explanation: If the response at the local level is sufficient, the disaster is categorized as level I.

Question 4

A hospital has sustained massive destruction after being struck by a tornado. The disaster plan has been activated. The administrator would expect help from which agency to coordinate the disaster efforts?

Accepted Answer

1. Congress directed FEMA to coordinate disaster efforts.
2. The Joint Commission does not coordinate disaster efforts, but it does ensure that the hospital has a plan.
3. The Office of Homeland Security would be part of the disaster recovery effort, but it would not be the coordinating service.
4. Congress has designated organizations to coordinate relief efforts, but it would not direct those efforts.

Question 5

During discussion about the hospital's disaster plan, the administrator says, "I am concerned about our current surge capacity." How should the members of the group interpret this concern?

Accepted Answer

1. In this context, surge capacity is not about electrical power.
2. In this context, surge capacity is not about flood waters.
3. Surge capacity, when discussed in disaster planning, describes the facility's ability to mobilize when suddenly confronted with a vast increase in client demand.
4. In this context, surge capacity is not only about media and family.

Question 6

Which statements would the nurse manager interpret as indicating a nurse understands the critical thinking skills necessary for disaster management? Note: Credit will be given only if all correct choices and no incorrect choices are selected. Select all that apply.

Accepted Answer

1. Critical thinking in disasters is different compared to normal healthcare situations. For example, the triage system is reversed.
2. Normal prioritization will not be helpful in a disaster.
3. The nurse's clinical judgment will be essential in making rapid assessments and treatment decisions.
4. Disaster situations cannot be scripted with protocols. Decisions must be made quickly and accurately based upon the situation and may change in a moment-to-moment fashion.
5. Nursing will be a big part of management of a disaster, and good nursing skills will make a difference.

Question 7

An emergency department has been notified that hundreds of injuries have occurred following the collapse of bleachers at a football game. The emergency department nurses should prepare to make which types of assessments? Note: Credit will be given only if all correct choices and no incorrect choices are selected. Select all that apply.

Accepted Answer

1. Physical assessment skills will be necessary as victim's injuries are assessed.
2. The nurse must be able to conduct a self-assessment of abilities to manage a victim and of personal reaction to the disaster.
3. The nurse must make situational assessments at all times during the disaster to ensure a flow of clients, equipment, personnel, and information. The nurse must also assess the safety of the situation.
4. Victim families are also involved in the disaster. The nurse must assess the families' coping abilities.
5. The nurse will not be involved in community assessment at the time of the disaster but may be called on for this skill in the days and weeks to follow.

Question 8

Multiple casualties have arrived at the emergency department following a tornado. Which instruction from the manager to staff is incorrect?

Accepted Answer

1. This is an essential time to use personal protective equipment.
2. In a tornado, many structures are damaged or destroyed, including those housing hazardous chemicals. The victims may have been exposed to those substances.
3. Client safety must continue to be an important consideration.
4. Some clients may require isolation, and these techniques should be used if necessary.

Question 9

A hospital on the Gulf Coast of the United States would list which situations among its top vulnerabilities? Note: Credit will be given only if all correct choices and no incorrect choices are selected. Select all that apply.

Accepted Answer

1. Flooding would be a big concern for a hospital on the Gulf Coast.
2. Hurricane would be a big concern for a hospital on the Gulf Coast.
3. Earthquakes may occur on any fault line, but this is not a primary concern on the Gulf Coast.
4. Tornadoes often accompany hurricanes and would be a big concern on the Gulf Coast.
5. Industrial accidents would be of concern related to the large oil production capacity of the Gulf waters.

Question 10

The nurse executive of a hospital is surveying hospitals in a four-state area regarding their disaster preparedness. The nurse would expect to hear which response to the question, "What have you done to prepare for a disaster?"

Accepted Answer

1. Only half of the hospitals in the United States have conducted healthcare professional registration.
2. Only about half of hospitals report having plans for an alternative care delivery site with beds and equipment.
3. Most hospitals have at least some level of preparation for a disaster.
4. More than half of U.S. hospitals report conducting practice disaster drills.

Question 11

A disaster planning task force has been asked to focus on communication. Which instruction should this group provide to nursing staff?

Accepted Answer

1. The nurse will be communicating with multiple people in multiple roles during the disaster.
2. A system to track the client's presence in the facility should be a part of the disaster plan. It is essential to maintain this system so that victims can be accounted for by rescuers.
3. The nurse may be communicating directly with law enforcement officers who bring victims to the hospital. All status reports should be given through PR.
4. Communication is very unlikely to be like the daily pattern.

Question 12

Fire departments from a three county area have responded to a wildfire that has threatened several homes and a hospital in a wooded area. The fire is now under control, and the fire chief is completing paperwork on the response. The disaster should be classified at level ________.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Fire departments from a three county area...

Question 13

The hospital is conducting a drill of its emergency operations plan (EOP). A nurse is acting as triage officer. Which client would be triaged for immediate care?

Accepted Answer

1. The least serious people are seen first in a disaster.
2. This child is unlikely to survive and would be triaged as last.
3. This client may be having a myocardial infarction but would not be triaged as high as another client.
4. A compound fracture is complicated, and therefore this client would be triaged later than another client.

Question 14

A nurse manager is leading an education session regarding disaster triage for emergency department nurses. Which statement should the manager include in this instruction?

Accepted Answer

1. Triage in a disaster is vastly different than "normal" triage.
2. Triage is reversed during a disaster. The least injured clients are seen first.
3. Triage is essential during disasters.
4. Triage follows a designated plan and is not first-come, first-served.

Question 15

A nurse manager is working on a task force to develop policy for man-made disasters. There is some discussion in the committee about whether fire should be included in the policy. Which suggestion by a task force member would be most useful?

Accepted Answer

1. Fire is natural, but not all are from a natural source.
2. Fires can be a major disaster.
3. Wildfires are natural disasters.
4. Because arson fires are man-made, they would be included in this plan.

Question 16

A nurse manager has provided education to emergency department nurses regarding disaster management. Which statement would the manager interpret as indicating understanding of this education?

Accepted Answer

1. This is the goal of emergency treatment in a disaster.
2. There is no indication to take the time to do this separation.
3. In a disaster, those with minor injuries are treated first.
4. There is no indication that clients would be sent home without treatment.

Question 17

As part of the disaster plan, the nurse executive is planning an education session on the core competencies for nurses established by the National Emergency Preparedness Education Coalition. Which topics should be included in the handout being written for this session? Note: Credit will be given only if all correct choices and no incorrect choices are selected. Select all that apply.

Accepted Answer

1. Cost control is not one of the core competencies for nurses established by this group.
2. Conflict management is not one of the core competencies for nurses established by this group.
3. Communication is a core competency for nurses established by this group.
4. Handling the media is not one of the core competencies for nurses established by this group.
5. Technical skills are a core competency for nurses established by this group.

Question 18

A nurse is working with a hospital team to create an emergency response plan that will meet Joint Commission requirements. Which sections should be included in this plan? Note: Credit will be given only if all correct choices and no incorrect choices are selected. Select all that apply.

Accepted Answer

1. It is not possible to predict when a disaster will occur.
2. This section of the plan would address mitigation of the disaster.
3. This section would be titled, "Preparedness."
4. This is the "response" section.
5. This is the "recovery" section.

Question 19

Healthcare providers are bracing for a worldwide outbreak of H1N1 influenza. How would this outbreak be classified in planning literature? Note: Credit will be given only if all correct choices and no incorrect choices are selected. Select all that apply.

Accepted Answer

1. H1N1 occurs naturally and is therefore a natural disaster.
2. If H1N1 spreads around the world, it is a pandemic.
3. H1N1 that spreads around the world would be a health disaster.
4. H1N1 is naturally occurring and is therefore a natural disaster.
5. If the illness spreads around the world, it is considered a pandemic.

Question 20

A tornado destroyed 65% of the businesses and homes in a small midwestern city. Aid would be requested based on categorization as a level ________ disaster.

Accepted Answer

The answer of A tornado destroyed 65% of the businesses...

Quiz 23: Preparing for Emergencies