Question 1

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

2

Question 2

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 a period of 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

The given information describes a minor disaster with limited impact on the town. The rescue of one person and short interruption of electrical service and traffic diversion for several hours indicate that the town is able to handle and manage the situation with its available resources. Hence, the town suffered a level True disaster.

Question 3

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 4

Health care providers are preparing for a worldwide outbreak of H1N1 influenza. How would this outbreak be classified in planning literature?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Health care providers are preparing for a...

Question 5

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 6

A hospital on the Gulf Coast of the United States would list which situations among its top vulnerabilities?

Accepted Answer

The answer of A hospital on the Gulf Coast of...

Question 7

A hospital's disaster management team is reviewing the disaster plan after reading about a hospital that was destroyed by a tornado's direct hit. What

Accepted Answer

The answer of A hospital's disaster management team is reviewing...

Question 8

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?

Accepted Answer

The answer of An emergency department has been notified that...

Question 9

The nurse executive of a hospital is surveying hospitals in a four-state area in regard to 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

The best response would be hospitals stating that they conduct practice disaster drills to ensure that staff are trained and prepared for potential disasters. Option A is helpful, but it only addresses the registration of health care professionals, not necessarily the hospital's own preparedness. Option B is a good start, but it does not demonstrate that the hospital has a comprehensive plan in place. Option C is unacceptable, as all hospitals should have disaster plans in place.

Question 10

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 11

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

Surge capacity refers to a hospital's ability to manage a sudden influx of patients during a disaster or emergency situation. Therefore, the administrator's concern about surge capacity means they are worried about the hospital's ability to respond to a large influx of clients from a disaster.

Question 12

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?

Accepted Answer

The answer of As part of the disaster plan, the...

Question 13

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

Accepted Answer

Maintaining the client tracking system is crucial in a disaster as it helps ensure client safety and helps prevent confusion and loss of information about clients. It is important for nursing staff to be trained on how to properly use and maintain this system. Communication with law enforcement and other public resources officers may also be necessary, but it is not the primary focus of the disaster planning task force. Limiting communication to physicians and other nurses is not appropriate in a disaster scenario as collaboration with other healthcare professionals and emergency responders is essential. Communication patterns may also change in a disaster, so it is important for nursing staff to be prepared for this.

Question 14

Which statements would the nurse manager interpret as indicating a nurse understands the critical thinking skills necessary for disaster management?

Accepted Answer

The nurse understanding that prioritization will be different, clinical judgment skills are essential, and their abilities will make a difference indicate that they understand the critical thinking skills necessary for disaster management. Option A implies that critical thinking in a disaster is just like in other situations, which may not encompass the specific challenges and complexities of a disaster. Option D suggests that decision making is entirely protocol-driven, which is not always the case in a disaster where there may be unprecedented circumstances that require a nurse to think outside the standard protocols.

Question 15

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

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is the agency responsible for coordinating disaster efforts in the United States, including natural disasters such as tornadoes. As such, the hospital administrator would expect help from FEMA to coordinate the disaster response. The Joint Commission focuses on accrediting hospitals and healthcare organizations, while the Office of Homeland Security primarily deals with national security and terrorism issues. Congress, as a legislative body, does not have a direct role in coordinating disaster response efforts.

Question 16

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?

Accepted Answer

The emergency response plan should include a method to recognize when a disaster is imminent or occurring, policies and procedures as well as equipment and personnel to handle disasters, policies and procedures that operationalize actual activities during the disaster, and policies and procedures describing what will occur immediately after the disaster. A method to predict when a disaster will occur is not necessary or feasible.

Question 17

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...

Question 18

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

During a disaster, the standard triage system may be overwhelmed and unable to function effectively. Therefore, the nurse manager should instruct emergency department nurses to reverse their normal triage system during a disaster. This means that the most critically injured or ill patients would be treated first, rather than the first-come, first-served approach used during normal circumstances.

Question 19

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

A tabletop exercise is a discussion-based session where team members meet in an informal setting to discuss their roles during an emergency and their responses to a particular emergency situation. It does not involve actual deployment of resources or interruption of services.

Question 20

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

Accepted Answer

This instruction is incorrect because personal protective equipment (PPE) should be used to protect both the staff and patients from any potential hazardous materials or debris that may have been present during the tornado. It is important to prioritize safety for all individuals involved.

Quiz 22: Preparing for Emergencies