Chapter 68: Disaster Nursing || Objectively Answered
Questions | 100% Correct.
1. The emergency department (ED) received news of a train derailment locally and the number
of clients injured is reported between 50 and 100. The hospital has determined that it can
accommodate 50 clients and still remain self-sufficient. What criteria is the hospital using to
project the number of clients it can support?
A. The understanding that the institution can rely on outside services after 3 days
B. Based on the emergency operations plan that incorporates assistance from the
Red Cross
C. Decided by the institution's ability to sustain core services for at least 96 hours
D. Based on the hospital's incident command system that updates the hospital on
the severity of injuries correct answers ANS: C
Decided by the institution's ability to sustain core services for at least 96 hour
Rationale: The emergency preparedness planning committee must have a realistic understanding
of its resources. The goal of each health care institution is to remain self-sufficient to provide and
sustain core services without the support of external assistance for at least 96 hours from the
inception of the incident; ideally, this self-sufficiency should last for 7 days. The institution
cannot expect outside services to be available to help until after 96 hours, which is 4 days. The
emergency operations plan details how the facility will respond to a mass casualty incident and
may include criteria for utilizing external resources, but external assistance from the Red Cross
would not be a factor in determining how many clients the facility can realistically care for
immediately. External resources such as the Red Cross cannot be accessed and utilized
immediately. The field incident command, not the hospital's incident command center, will
provide an estimate of number of clients that will be arriving, though severity of injuries and
number of clients self-reporting may not be known.
2. A workplace explosion has left a 40-year-old client with full thickness burns over 75%
of the body. Despite these injuries, the client is conscious. How would this person be
triaged?
A. Green
B. Yellow
C. Red
D. Black correct answers D. Black
Rationale: The purpose of triaging in a disaster is to do the greatest good for the greatest number
of people. The client would be triaged as black due to the unlikelihood of survival. Persons
triaged as green, yellow, or red have a higher chance of recovery.
3. A client has been witness to a disaster involving a large number of injuries. The client
appears upset, but states feeling capable of dealing with the emotions involved. What is
the nurse's most appropriate intervention?
, A. Educate the client about the potential harm in denying their emotions.
B. Refer the client to social work or spiritual care.
C. Encourage the client to take a leave of absence from their job to facilitate
emotional healing.
D. Encourage the client to return to normal social roles when appropriate correct answers D.
Encourage the client to return to normal social roles when appropriate
Rationale: The client should be encouraged to return to normal social roles when appropriate if
confident and genuinely able to cope. The nurse should use active listening to the client's
concerns and emotions to enable the client to process the situation. The client is not necessarily
being unrealistic or dishonest. As a result, social work or spiritual care may not be needed. Time
away from work may not be required.
4. A nurse is caring for clients exposed to a terrorist attack involving chemicals. The nurse
has been advised that personal protective equipment must be worn in order to give the
highest level of respiratory protection with a lesser level of skin and eye protection. What
level protection is this considered?
A. Level A
B. Level B
C. Level C
D. Level D correct answers B.
Level B
Rationale: Level B personal protective equipment provides the highest level of respiratory
protection, with a lesser level of skin and eye protection. Level A provides the highest level of
respiratory, mucous membrane, skin, and eye protection. Level C incorporates the use of an air-
purified respirator, a chemical resistant coverall with splash hood, chemical resistant gloves, and
boots. Level D is the same as a work uniform.
5. A client who has been exposed to anthrax is being treated in the local hospital. The nurse
should prioritize what health assessments?
A. Integumentary assessment
B. Assessment for signs of hemorrhage
C. Neurologic assessment
D. Assessment of respiratory status correct answers D.
Assessment of respiratory status
Rationale: The second stage of anthrax infection by inhalation includes severe respiratory
distress, including stridor, cyanosis, hypoxia, diaphoresis, hypotension, and shock. The first stage
includes flu-like symptoms. The second stage of infection by inhalation does not include
headache, vomiting, or syncope.
6. When assessing clients who are victims of a chemical agent attack, the nurse is aware
Questions | 100% Correct.
1. The emergency department (ED) received news of a train derailment locally and the number
of clients injured is reported between 50 and 100. The hospital has determined that it can
accommodate 50 clients and still remain self-sufficient. What criteria is the hospital using to
project the number of clients it can support?
A. The understanding that the institution can rely on outside services after 3 days
B. Based on the emergency operations plan that incorporates assistance from the
Red Cross
C. Decided by the institution's ability to sustain core services for at least 96 hours
D. Based on the hospital's incident command system that updates the hospital on
the severity of injuries correct answers ANS: C
Decided by the institution's ability to sustain core services for at least 96 hour
Rationale: The emergency preparedness planning committee must have a realistic understanding
of its resources. The goal of each health care institution is to remain self-sufficient to provide and
sustain core services without the support of external assistance for at least 96 hours from the
inception of the incident; ideally, this self-sufficiency should last for 7 days. The institution
cannot expect outside services to be available to help until after 96 hours, which is 4 days. The
emergency operations plan details how the facility will respond to a mass casualty incident and
may include criteria for utilizing external resources, but external assistance from the Red Cross
would not be a factor in determining how many clients the facility can realistically care for
immediately. External resources such as the Red Cross cannot be accessed and utilized
immediately. The field incident command, not the hospital's incident command center, will
provide an estimate of number of clients that will be arriving, though severity of injuries and
number of clients self-reporting may not be known.
2. A workplace explosion has left a 40-year-old client with full thickness burns over 75%
of the body. Despite these injuries, the client is conscious. How would this person be
triaged?
A. Green
B. Yellow
C. Red
D. Black correct answers D. Black
Rationale: The purpose of triaging in a disaster is to do the greatest good for the greatest number
of people. The client would be triaged as black due to the unlikelihood of survival. Persons
triaged as green, yellow, or red have a higher chance of recovery.
3. A client has been witness to a disaster involving a large number of injuries. The client
appears upset, but states feeling capable of dealing with the emotions involved. What is
the nurse's most appropriate intervention?
, A. Educate the client about the potential harm in denying their emotions.
B. Refer the client to social work or spiritual care.
C. Encourage the client to take a leave of absence from their job to facilitate
emotional healing.
D. Encourage the client to return to normal social roles when appropriate correct answers D.
Encourage the client to return to normal social roles when appropriate
Rationale: The client should be encouraged to return to normal social roles when appropriate if
confident and genuinely able to cope. The nurse should use active listening to the client's
concerns and emotions to enable the client to process the situation. The client is not necessarily
being unrealistic or dishonest. As a result, social work or spiritual care may not be needed. Time
away from work may not be required.
4. A nurse is caring for clients exposed to a terrorist attack involving chemicals. The nurse
has been advised that personal protective equipment must be worn in order to give the
highest level of respiratory protection with a lesser level of skin and eye protection. What
level protection is this considered?
A. Level A
B. Level B
C. Level C
D. Level D correct answers B.
Level B
Rationale: Level B personal protective equipment provides the highest level of respiratory
protection, with a lesser level of skin and eye protection. Level A provides the highest level of
respiratory, mucous membrane, skin, and eye protection. Level C incorporates the use of an air-
purified respirator, a chemical resistant coverall with splash hood, chemical resistant gloves, and
boots. Level D is the same as a work uniform.
5. A client who has been exposed to anthrax is being treated in the local hospital. The nurse
should prioritize what health assessments?
A. Integumentary assessment
B. Assessment for signs of hemorrhage
C. Neurologic assessment
D. Assessment of respiratory status correct answers D.
Assessment of respiratory status
Rationale: The second stage of anthrax infection by inhalation includes severe respiratory
distress, including stridor, cyanosis, hypoxia, diaphoresis, hypotension, and shock. The first stage
includes flu-like symptoms. The second stage of infection by inhalation does not include
headache, vomiting, or syncope.
6. When assessing clients who are victims of a chemical agent attack, the nurse is aware
