Disaster Nursing - 2026 Emergency Response: Midterm Exam
(Units 1-7) - Questions with Correct Answers
100 questions
1. A disaster is best defined as:
A. Any emergency department visit
B. A single car crash
C. An event that overwhelms a community's ability to respond with its own resources
D. A routine hospital admission
Correct Answer: C. An event that overwhelms a community's ability to respond with its own
resources
Rationale: The mismatch between needs and resources defines a disaster. The same event may
be a disaster in one place and routine in another.
2. A mass casualty incident (MCI) occurs when:
A. Any two patients arrive at once
B. The number of casualties exceeds the resources normally available to respond
C. A single patient dies
D. A hospital is full of elective cases
Correct Answer: B. The number of casualties exceeds the resources normally available to
respond
Rationale: MCIs require a shift in care priorities. Triage directs limited resources.
3. Lessons from past disasters, such as Hurricane Katrina, highlighted:
A. That hospitals are always safe
B. That no planning is needed
C. That communication never fails
D. The need for hospital evacuation planning, backup power and protection of vulnerable
patients
Correct Answer: D. The need for hospital evacuation planning, backup power and protection
of vulnerable patients
Rationale: Patients died in hospitals without power. Planning has improved since.
,4. Nurses' scope of practice during declared disasters:
A. Is unlimited
B. Never changes
C. May be modified by emergency orders, but nurses should practice within competence
D. Is suspended
Correct Answer: C. May be modified by emergency orders, but nurses should practice within
competence
Rationale: Emergency declarations may expand roles. Competence and safety remain essential.
5. The Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030 aims to:
A. Eliminate all disasters
B. Only fund rebuilding
C. Replace national laws
D. Substantially reduce disaster risk and losses in lives, livelihoods and health
Correct Answer: D. Substantially reduce disaster risk and losses in lives, livelihoods and health
Rationale: It is a UN-endorsed global framework. Health system resilience is a priority.
6. Disaster preparedness is a community responsibility because:
A. Only hospitals respond
B. Only government responds
C. Effective response depends on coordination among individuals, organizations and
governments
D. Individuals have no role
Correct Answer: C. Effective response depends on coordination among individuals,
organizations and governments
Rationale: Whole-community approaches engage all sectors. Nurses connect health and
community.
,7. Situational awareness in disasters refers to:
A. Understanding what is happening, what it means and how it may evolve
B. Ignoring updates
C. Knowing only one's own tasks
D. Avoiding communication
Correct Answer: A. Understanding what is happening, what it means and how it may evolve
Rationale: Shared awareness supports decisions. Incident briefings maintain it.
8. The recovery phase involves:
A. Only the first hour after impact
B. Restoring services, infrastructure and community functioning, which may take years
C. Only search and rescue
D. Only planning
Correct Answer: B. Restoring services, infrastructure and community functioning, which may
take years
Rationale: Health systems must restore services and address long-term health needs. Mental
health needs persist.
9. Human-made (anthropogenic) disasters include:
A. Tornadoes
B. Earthquakes
C. Tsunamis
D. Terrorism, mass shootings, industrial accidents and armed conflict
Correct Answer: D. Terrorism, mass shootings, industrial accidents and armed conflict
Rationale: They may be intentional or unintentional. Both require coordinated responses.
, 10. Surge capacity is commonly described by the "4 S" framework of:
A. Speed, safety, sanitation and security
B. Staff, stuff (supplies), structure (space) and systems
C. Search, stabilize, sort and send
D. Shelter, supply, staff and sanitation
Correct Answer: B. Staff, stuff (supplies), structure (space) and systems
Rationale: Each element can limit surge. Systems include policies and coordination.
11. The CDC Social Vulnerability Index (SVI) uses census data on factors such as:
A. Only weather
B. Only hospital beds
C. Only income
D. Socioeconomic status, household characteristics, racial and ethnic minority status, housing
type and transportation
Correct Answer: D. Socioeconomic status, household characteristics, racial and ethnic
minority status, housing type and transportation
Rationale: SVI helps identify communities needing support. Planners use it for resource
allocation.
12. All nurses, regardless of specialty, are expected to:
A. Have basic disaster preparedness knowledge, including their facility's plan and their role
B. Avoid disaster response
C. Only respond if specially trained
D. Leave disaster response to physicians
Correct Answer: A. Have basic disaster preparedness knowledge, including their facility's plan
and their role
Rationale: Every nurse may be called on in an emergency. Knowing the plan is essential.
(Units 1-7) - Questions with Correct Answers
100 questions
1. A disaster is best defined as:
A. Any emergency department visit
B. A single car crash
C. An event that overwhelms a community's ability to respond with its own resources
D. A routine hospital admission
Correct Answer: C. An event that overwhelms a community's ability to respond with its own
resources
Rationale: The mismatch between needs and resources defines a disaster. The same event may
be a disaster in one place and routine in another.
2. A mass casualty incident (MCI) occurs when:
A. Any two patients arrive at once
B. The number of casualties exceeds the resources normally available to respond
C. A single patient dies
D. A hospital is full of elective cases
Correct Answer: B. The number of casualties exceeds the resources normally available to
respond
Rationale: MCIs require a shift in care priorities. Triage directs limited resources.
3. Lessons from past disasters, such as Hurricane Katrina, highlighted:
A. That hospitals are always safe
B. That no planning is needed
C. That communication never fails
D. The need for hospital evacuation planning, backup power and protection of vulnerable
patients
Correct Answer: D. The need for hospital evacuation planning, backup power and protection
of vulnerable patients
Rationale: Patients died in hospitals without power. Planning has improved since.
,4. Nurses' scope of practice during declared disasters:
A. Is unlimited
B. Never changes
C. May be modified by emergency orders, but nurses should practice within competence
D. Is suspended
Correct Answer: C. May be modified by emergency orders, but nurses should practice within
competence
Rationale: Emergency declarations may expand roles. Competence and safety remain essential.
5. The Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030 aims to:
A. Eliminate all disasters
B. Only fund rebuilding
C. Replace national laws
D. Substantially reduce disaster risk and losses in lives, livelihoods and health
Correct Answer: D. Substantially reduce disaster risk and losses in lives, livelihoods and health
Rationale: It is a UN-endorsed global framework. Health system resilience is a priority.
6. Disaster preparedness is a community responsibility because:
A. Only hospitals respond
B. Only government responds
C. Effective response depends on coordination among individuals, organizations and
governments
D. Individuals have no role
Correct Answer: C. Effective response depends on coordination among individuals,
organizations and governments
Rationale: Whole-community approaches engage all sectors. Nurses connect health and
community.
,7. Situational awareness in disasters refers to:
A. Understanding what is happening, what it means and how it may evolve
B. Ignoring updates
C. Knowing only one's own tasks
D. Avoiding communication
Correct Answer: A. Understanding what is happening, what it means and how it may evolve
Rationale: Shared awareness supports decisions. Incident briefings maintain it.
8. The recovery phase involves:
A. Only the first hour after impact
B. Restoring services, infrastructure and community functioning, which may take years
C. Only search and rescue
D. Only planning
Correct Answer: B. Restoring services, infrastructure and community functioning, which may
take years
Rationale: Health systems must restore services and address long-term health needs. Mental
health needs persist.
9. Human-made (anthropogenic) disasters include:
A. Tornadoes
B. Earthquakes
C. Tsunamis
D. Terrorism, mass shootings, industrial accidents and armed conflict
Correct Answer: D. Terrorism, mass shootings, industrial accidents and armed conflict
Rationale: They may be intentional or unintentional. Both require coordinated responses.
, 10. Surge capacity is commonly described by the "4 S" framework of:
A. Speed, safety, sanitation and security
B. Staff, stuff (supplies), structure (space) and systems
C. Search, stabilize, sort and send
D. Shelter, supply, staff and sanitation
Correct Answer: B. Staff, stuff (supplies), structure (space) and systems
Rationale: Each element can limit surge. Systems include policies and coordination.
11. The CDC Social Vulnerability Index (SVI) uses census data on factors such as:
A. Only weather
B. Only hospital beds
C. Only income
D. Socioeconomic status, household characteristics, racial and ethnic minority status, housing
type and transportation
Correct Answer: D. Socioeconomic status, household characteristics, racial and ethnic
minority status, housing type and transportation
Rationale: SVI helps identify communities needing support. Planners use it for resource
allocation.
12. All nurses, regardless of specialty, are expected to:
A. Have basic disaster preparedness knowledge, including their facility's plan and their role
B. Avoid disaster response
C. Only respond if specially trained
D. Leave disaster response to physicians
Correct Answer: A. Have basic disaster preparedness knowledge, including their facility's plan
and their role
Rationale: Every nurse may be called on in an emergency. Knowing the plan is essential.
