Question 1

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?
Select all that apply.

Accepted Answer

A,D,E

Question 2

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 3

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

Accepted Answer

Charcoal is the best choice for preventing the absorption of a poison because it works by adsorbing the toxin in the gastrointestinal tract and preventing it from entering the bloodstream. Syrup of ipecac is no longer recommended for routine use as it can cause vomiting and aspiration, sodium bicarbonate is used to treat acidosis and has no role in preventing toxin absorption, and furosemide (Lasix) is a diuretic and has no role in preventing toxin absorption.

Question 4

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

Accepted Answer

The first step in treating someone exposed to cyanogen chloride is to remove any contaminated clothing they may be wearing to prevent further absorption through the skin.

Question 5

The danger from radiation exposure arises primarily from:
Select all that apply.

Accepted Answer

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

Question 6

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 7

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. It is used to counteract the effects of the nerve agent by blocking the action of acetylcholine, which is overstimulating the nervous system. Methylprednisolone is a steroid used for inflammation and allergies, acetylcysteine is used to treat acetaminophen overdose, and protamine sulfate is used to reverse the effects of heparin.

Question 8

The most essential competency for nurses in this age of bioterrorism is:

Accepted Answer

Emergency preparedness is the most essential competency for nurses in this age of bioterrorism as it involves not only being knowledgeable about the potential bioterrorist agents but also having the necessary skills and techniques to ensure the safety of patients, staff, and themselves during a bioterrorist attack. This includes having a plan in place, knowing how to identify the signs and symptoms of bioterrorism, and being able to rapidly respond to an emergency situation to prevent further spread of the disease or infection. Managing mass casualties and teaching awareness of bioterrorism are valuable competencies but not as essential as emergency preparedness. Knowing the offending agent is important but may not always be possible during a bioterrorist attack.

Question 9

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 in this situation is to flush the skin and eyes with water to remove any contaminating agents that could potentially cause further harm to the patients. Once this has been done, the team can proceed with identifying the offending agent and completing a history and physical. However, notifying local law enforcement is not the priority intervention in this situation.

Question 10

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, as the radiation can damage the lining of the digestive tract. Bleeding, bruises, and hair loss are also possible symptoms, but they typically occur several days after exposure, not within 6 hours.

Question 11

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

Diltiazem is a calcium channel blocker and the antidote for calcium channel blocker toxicity is calcium. Naloxone is an opioid antagonist used for opioid overdose, pyridoxine is used for isoniazid overdose, and atropine is used for anticholinesterase poisoning.

Question 12

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

Accepted Answer

Leukemia is a well-known health problem that is a direct effect of exposure to ionizing radiation. This is because ionizing radiation can damage the DNA in cells, leading to mutations and the development of cancer, including leukemia. Type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and gout are not directly caused by exposure to ionizing radiation.

Question 13

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 bacterium causing the infection, Bacillus anthracis. Other antibiotics, such as erythromycin and ampicillin, may be used as alternative treatments or in combination with ciprofloxacin. Vancomycin is not effective against Bacillus anthracis and would not be an appropriate choice for treatment of anthrax.

Question 14

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 15

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. The other options may have some overlap with these principles, but they do not fully encompass them. Option A includes health teaching and modification of lifestyle, but these are not among the standard principles of treatment for acute poisoning. Option C includes dialysis and absorbent administration, which may be used in some cases, but they are not universally applicable. Option D includes modification of lifestyle and decontamination, which are useful in some cases, but they do not encompass all of the principles of treatment.

Question 16

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 is a way of increasing the elimination of a drug that is weakly acidic or basic. Aspirin is an acidic drug that can be trapped and eliminated by alkalinizing urine with the administration of sodium bicarbonate. Furosemide is also given to promote diuresis and enhance the elimination of the drug. Therefore, administering sodium bicarbonate and furosemide intravenously is the best choice to promote ion trapping and eliminate the aspirin from the body. Inserting a nasogastric tube for lavage, providing supportive therapy, or hanging a bag of normal saline with regular insulin would not promote ion trapping and increase the elimination of aspirin.

Question 17

The nurse is reviewing the components of the Strategic National Stockpile (SNS),which include:
Select all that apply.

Accepted Answer

The Strategic National Stockpile is a collection of medications, medical supplies, and equipment that can be rapidly deployed to assist in an emergency. The components of the SNS include intravenous administration equipment, antibiotics, life-support medications, and chemical antidotes. Although hospital beds may be necessary during an emergency response, they are not typically included in the SNS.

Question 18

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 19

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 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) manage the Strategic National Stockpile (SNS) and would therefore have information regarding the antibiotics stored in it.

Question 20

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

Accepted Answer

Push Packages are pre-packaged emergency supplies that are stocked and maintained at strategic locations to be deployed during sudden disasters or emergencies. They are meant to ensure that necessary supplies are available within 12 hours of an emergency.

Quiz 75: Emergency Preparedness: Bioterrorism and Management of Poisoning

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? Select all that apply.