,ATI Disaster Nursing Assessment Exam Questions And Answers
2026/2027
1.** A community health nurse is assisting with the development of a
disaster management plan. The nurse is engaged in which phase of disaster
management when conducting community disaster drills and updating
emergency supply stockpiles?
A) Mitigation/Prevention
B) Preparedness
C) Response
D) Recovery
**Correct Answer:** B) Preparedness
**Rationale:** The preparedness phase involves activities that increase a
community's ability to respond when a disaster occurs. This includes disaster
drills, training, stockpiling supplies, and developing emergency plans.
Mitigation (A) involves reducing the impact of future disasters through
building codes and land-use planning. Response (C) is the immediate action
during/after a disaster. Recovery (D) is the long-term restoration of services
and infrastructure.
**2.** A nurse is participating in the recovery phase of emergency response
to a hurricane. Which of the following actions should the nurse take first?
A) Conducting disaster drills for local emergency responders
B) Performing a rapid needs assessment of the community
C) Providing trauma counseling to disaster survivors
D) Restoring healthcare services and infrastructure
,**Correct Answer:** B) Performing a rapid needs assessment of the
community
**Rationale:** During the recovery phase, the first step is to perform a rapid
needs assessment to determine the health and safety needs of the affected
community. This assessment guides subsequent recovery interventions,
including restoring services, providing mental health support, and rebuilding
infrastructure.
**3.** A nurse is serving on a state task force for disaster planning. The
nurse is engaging in disaster preparedness efforts when performing which of
the following actions?
A) Participating in a community-wide disaster drill
B) Administering immunizations at a temporary shelter
C) Conducting epidemiological surveillance after a flood
D) Advocating for building code improvements
**Correct Answer:** A) Participating in a community-wide disaster drill
**Rationale:** Disaster preparedness includes activities such as participating
in drills and mock events to test response capabilities. Immunizations (B) and
surveillance (C) are response-phase activities. Building code advocacy (D) is
a mitigation activity.
**4.** A nurse is teaching a community group about disaster preparedness.
Which of the following actions is an example of the **mitigation** phase of
disaster management?
A) Creating a family emergency communication plan
B) Strengthening local building codes to withstand high winds
, C) Activating the disaster plan after a tornado warning
D) Providing long-term mental health counseling after a flood
**Correct Answer:** B) Strengthening local building codes to withstand high
winds
**Rationale:** Mitigation (prevention) involves activities that reduce or
eliminate the risk of disasters or minimize their impact, such as improving
infrastructure, enforcing building codes, and implementing land-use
regulations. Creating a communication plan (A) is preparedness. Activating a
plan (C) is response. Counseling (D) is recovery.
**5.** A nurse is working at a community health center following a natural
disaster. Which action is most consistent with the **recovery** phase of
disaster management?
A) Triaging victims at the scene of the disaster
B) Conducting disaster drills for staff
C) Providing grief counseling and mental health support
D) Establishing a temporary shelter for displaced families
**Correct Answer:** C) Providing grief counseling and mental health support
**Rationale:** The recovery phase involves restoring services, providing
mental health support, and helping communities return to normal
functioning. Triaging victims (A) is response. Disaster drills (B) are
preparedness. Establishing shelters (D) is response.
**6.** A nurse is participating in the preparedness phase of disaster
management. Which of the following actions is most appropriate?
2026/2027
1.** A community health nurse is assisting with the development of a
disaster management plan. The nurse is engaged in which phase of disaster
management when conducting community disaster drills and updating
emergency supply stockpiles?
A) Mitigation/Prevention
B) Preparedness
C) Response
D) Recovery
**Correct Answer:** B) Preparedness
**Rationale:** The preparedness phase involves activities that increase a
community's ability to respond when a disaster occurs. This includes disaster
drills, training, stockpiling supplies, and developing emergency plans.
Mitigation (A) involves reducing the impact of future disasters through
building codes and land-use planning. Response (C) is the immediate action
during/after a disaster. Recovery (D) is the long-term restoration of services
and infrastructure.
**2.** A nurse is participating in the recovery phase of emergency response
to a hurricane. Which of the following actions should the nurse take first?
A) Conducting disaster drills for local emergency responders
B) Performing a rapid needs assessment of the community
C) Providing trauma counseling to disaster survivors
D) Restoring healthcare services and infrastructure
,**Correct Answer:** B) Performing a rapid needs assessment of the
community
**Rationale:** During the recovery phase, the first step is to perform a rapid
needs assessment to determine the health and safety needs of the affected
community. This assessment guides subsequent recovery interventions,
including restoring services, providing mental health support, and rebuilding
infrastructure.
**3.** A nurse is serving on a state task force for disaster planning. The
nurse is engaging in disaster preparedness efforts when performing which of
the following actions?
A) Participating in a community-wide disaster drill
B) Administering immunizations at a temporary shelter
C) Conducting epidemiological surveillance after a flood
D) Advocating for building code improvements
**Correct Answer:** A) Participating in a community-wide disaster drill
**Rationale:** Disaster preparedness includes activities such as participating
in drills and mock events to test response capabilities. Immunizations (B) and
surveillance (C) are response-phase activities. Building code advocacy (D) is
a mitigation activity.
**4.** A nurse is teaching a community group about disaster preparedness.
Which of the following actions is an example of the **mitigation** phase of
disaster management?
A) Creating a family emergency communication plan
B) Strengthening local building codes to withstand high winds
, C) Activating the disaster plan after a tornado warning
D) Providing long-term mental health counseling after a flood
**Correct Answer:** B) Strengthening local building codes to withstand high
winds
**Rationale:** Mitigation (prevention) involves activities that reduce or
eliminate the risk of disasters or minimize their impact, such as improving
infrastructure, enforcing building codes, and implementing land-use
regulations. Creating a communication plan (A) is preparedness. Activating a
plan (C) is response. Counseling (D) is recovery.
**5.** A nurse is working at a community health center following a natural
disaster. Which action is most consistent with the **recovery** phase of
disaster management?
A) Triaging victims at the scene of the disaster
B) Conducting disaster drills for staff
C) Providing grief counseling and mental health support
D) Establishing a temporary shelter for displaced families
**Correct Answer:** C) Providing grief counseling and mental health support
**Rationale:** The recovery phase involves restoring services, providing
mental health support, and helping communities return to normal
functioning. Triaging victims (A) is response. Disaster drills (B) are
preparedness. Establishing shelters (D) is response.
**6.** A nurse is participating in the preparedness phase of disaster
management. Which of the following actions is most appropriate?
